Identification of the seismoelectric field induced by a slow compressional wave at an ultrasonic frequency

Theoretical studies predict that a slow compressional wave propagating in a fluid-saturated porous medium can produce a coseismic electric field due to the electrokinetic effect, but the experimental proof is still lacking. Laboratory experiments are conducted to measure such a seismoelectric conversion inside a synthetic rock. Fluid pressure signals are recorded by using mini hydrophones 1.6 mm in diameter, and then electric field signals generated at the liquid-solid interface and inside the rock sample based on the seismoelectric effect are recorded by electrode arrays, respectively. The seismoelectric waves induced by fast and slow compressional waves can be clearly identified in the recorded electric signals and their attenuation properties are analyzed at an ultrasonic frequency, which confirms that the seismoelectric signals induced by fast/slow compressional waves are measurable in the experiments. To support our explanation of the experimental observation, theoretical simulations are conducted according to the experimental model and then compared with the recorded experimental data. The results find that the simulated wavefields are in excellent agreement with those signals measured in the measurements, which proves the theoretical prediction of the seismoelectric signal accompanying the slow compressional wave and suggests a feasible way for detecting the slow compressional wave property with seismoelectric conversions in field measurements.

Automated summary

Experimental and theoretical studies have shown that a slow compressional wave in a fluid-saturated porous medium can generate a seismoelectric signal, providing a feasible method for detecting the properties of the slow compressional wave.