The ultimate aim of the oil exploration industry is to determine the distribution of rock types and underground fluids. At this stage, we can actually determine the distribution of several underground physical properties with a certain accuracy. The challenge for the rock physicist is to translate those physical properties (P-velocity, S-velocity, density) into rock types and fluids (gas-, or oil-, or water-bearing sand, shale). If performed correctly, dry holes can be avoided and millions of dollars can be saved. Ultimately, an integrated approach is required. This book deals with a series of topics in rock physics, including elasticity, pore pressure, incompressibility of rocks and the Gassmann equation, fluid substitution, forward modelling and empirical equations, rock physics applications to AVO studies and inversion studies, and the Differential Effective Medium (DEM) method. It is generally addressed to the practitioner (geophysicist, geologist), and in some instances, detail
