From Pressure-Volume Relationship to Volume-Energy Relationship: A Thermo-Statistical Model for Alveolar Micromechanics

The connective tissue fiber system and the surfactant system are essential and interdependent components of lung elasticity. Despite considerable efforts over the last decades, we are still far from understanding the quantitative roles of either the connective tissue fiber or the surfactant systems. Through thermo-statistic considerations of alveolar micromechanics, the author introduced a thermo-statistic state function “entropy” to analyze the elastic property of pulmonary parenchyma based on the origami model of alveolar polyhedron. By use of the entropy for alveolar micromechanics, from the logistic equation for the static pressure (P)-volume (V) curves including parameters a, b, c, and k (V - a = b/[1+ exp{-k (P - c)}]), a set of equations was obtained to define the internal energy of lungs (UL) and its corresponding lung volume (VL). Then, by use of parameters a, b, c, and k, an individual volume-internal energy (VL - UL) diagram was constructed from reported data in patients on mechanical ventilation. Each VL - UL diagram constructed was discussed that its minimal value Uo = c (a + b/2) and its shape parameter b/k represent quantitatively the energy of tissue force and the energy of surface force. Furthermore, by use of the VL - UL relationship, the hysteresis of lungs estimated by entropy production was discussed as dependent on the difference in the number of contributing pulmonary lobules. That is, entropy production might be a novel quantitative indicator to estimate the dynamics of the bronchial tree. These values obtained by combinations of parameters of the logistic P-V curve seem useful indicators to optimize setting a mechanical ventilator. Thus, it is necessary to develop easy tools for fitting the individual sigmoid pressure-volume curve measured in the intensive care unit to the logistic equation.

The influence of pore structure on P-& S-wave velocities in complex carbonate reservoirs with secondary storage space

Secondary storage spaces with very complex geometries are well developed in Ordovician carbonate reservoirs in the Tarim Basin,which is taken as a study case in this paper.It is still not clear how the secondary storage space shape influences the P-＆ S-wave velocities （or elastic properties） in complex carbonate reservoirs.In this paper,three classical rock physics models （Wyllie timeaverage equation,Gassmann equation and the Kuster-Toks z model） are comparably analyzed for their construction principles and actual velocity prediction results,aiming at determining the most favourable rock physics model to consider the influence of secondary storage space shape.Then relationships between the P-＆ S-wave velocities in carbonate reservoirs and geometric shapes of secondary storage spaces are discussed from different aspects based on actual well data by employing the favourable rock physics model.To explain the influence of secondary storage space shape on V P-V S relationship,it is analyzed for the differences of S-wave velocities between derived from common empirical relationships （including Castagna＇s mud rock line and Greenberg-Castagna V P-V S relationship） and predicted by the rock physics model.We advocate that V P-V S relationship for complex carbonate reservoirs should be built for different storage space types.For the carbonate reservoirs in the Tarim Basin,the V P-V S relationships for fractured,fractured-cavernous,and fractured-hole-vuggy reservoirs are respectively built on the basis of velocity prediction and secondary storage space type determination.Through the discussion above,it is expected that the velocity prediction and the V P-V S relationships for complex carbonate reservoirs should fully consider the influence of secondary storage space shape,thus providing more reasonable constraints for prestack inversion,further building a foundation for realizing carbonate reservoir prediction and fluid prediction.