Point-vector based modeling of petroleum reservoir properties for a gridless reservoir simulation model

A system for modeling petroleum reservoir properties, the system comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor having instructions stored therein, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform functions including functions to:
• analyze an initial set of conditioning data relating to geological properties of a reservoir formation;
• generate a tiered hierarchy of geological elements within the reservoir formation at different geological scales, based on the analysis;
• categorize the geological elements at each of the different geological scales in the tiered hierarchy;
• define spatial boundaries between the categorized geological elements for a first geological scale selected from the geological scales in the tiered hierarchy, wherein defining the spatial boundaries includes connecting a plurality of data points with one or more vectors;
• generate a gridless point-vector model of the reservoir formation, based on the spatial boundaries defined for the first geological scale in the tiered hierarchy, wherein the gridless point-vector model is at least one of a two-dimensional (2D) model or a three-dimensional (3D) model of the reservoir formation generated in a vector graphics format with a first set of connected vectors representing contact boundaries between the categorized geological elements at the first geological scale in the tiered hierarchy;
• obtain additional conditioning data for modeling the geological properties of the reservoir formation at a second geological scale in the tiered hierarchy;
• adjust the spatial boundaries between the categorized geological elements for the second geological scale in the tiered hierarchy, based on the additional conditioning data;
• update the gridless point-vector model of the reservoir formation, based on the adjusted spatial boundaries, wherein the updated gridless point-vector model includes a second set of connected vectors representing the contact boundaries between the categorized geological elements at the second geological scale while preserving the first set of connected vectors representing the contact boundaries at the first geological scale;
• and
• estimate petroleum reserves of the reservoir formation based on the updated gridless point-vector model, wherein one or more wellsite operations for the reservoir formation are performed based on the estimated petroleum reserves.

A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a plurality of functions, including functions to:

• analyze an initial set of conditioning data relating to geological properties of a reservoir formation;
• generate a tiered hierarchy of geological elements within the reservoir formation at different geological scales, based on the analysis;
• categorize the geological elements at each of the different geological scales in the tiered hierarchy;
• define spatial boundaries between the categorized geological elements for a first geological scale selected from the geological scales in the tiered hierarchy, wherein defining the spatial boundaries includes connecting a plurality of data points with one or more vectors;
• generate a gridless point-vector model of the reservoir formation, based on the spatial boundaries defined for the first geological scale in the tiered hierarchy, wherein the gridless point-vector model is at least one of a two-dimensional (2D) model or a three-dimensional (3D) model of the reservoir formation generated in a vector graphics format with a first set of connected vectors representing contact boundaries between the categorized geological elements at the first geological scale in the tiered hierarchy;
• obtain additional conditioning data for modeling the geological properties of the reservoir formation at a second geological scale in the tiered hierarchy;
• adjust the spatial boundaries between the categorized geological elements for the second geological scale in the tiered hierarchy, based on the additional conditioning data;
• update the gridless point-vector model of the reservoir formation, based on the adjusted spatial boundaries, wherein the updated gridless point-vector model includes a second set of connected vectors representing the contact boundaries between the categorized geological elements at the second geological scale while preserving the first set of connected vectors representing the contact boundaries at the first geological scale;
• and
• estimate petroleum reserves of the reservoir formation based on the updated gridless point-vector model, wherein one or more wellsite operations for the reservoir formation are performed based on the estimated petroleum reserves.