Rocks under strain Strain-induced time-lapse time shifts are observed for depleting reservoirs

Pressure depletion as a result of oil and gas production creates changes in the stress and strain fields of the rock material both inside and outside the reservoir. Seismic waves propagating through these rocks have different traveltimes before and after depletion because the layer thicknesses change and the seismic velocity is altered by the changes in the stress and strain fields. The cumulative change in two-way traveltimes with depth is referred to as time-lapse time shift.