Method for predicting quantitative values of a rock or fluid property in a reservoir using seismic data

A method for determining an error-minimized value of a designated rock or fluid property at a location in a subterranean geologic volume, said method comprising:

• characterizing said geologic volume by a multi-dimensional layered model volume having a plurality of model subvolumes;
• assigning a first predicted value of a designated rock or fluid property to each of said plurality of model subvolumes;
• calculating a first predicted value of a seismic response for the interface between at least two groups of subvolumes;
• comparing at least one synthetic trace that is generated from said first predicted value of seismic response to the corresponding trace obtained from one or more sets of actual seismic data corresponding to the subterranean geologic volume to determine a first difference between said synthetic trace and said corresponding trace, said step of comparing involving maintaining consistency between the types, scales and dimensions of said first predicted value of a designated rock or fluid property and said actual seismic data;
• and
• adjusting said first predicted value of said designated rock or fluid property in response to said difference to create a second predicted value of said designated rock or fluid property, wherein said second predicted value generally reduces said first difference.

A method of integrating different data types, scales and/or domains into multi-dimensional model that is correlated to a subterranean geologic volume comprising:

• providing a multi-dimensional layered model having X, Y and multiple Z axes to store and manipulate data obtained from different domains;
• assigning first data on one of the Z axis based in a given domain to a volume within said multi-dimensional layered model;
• assigning second data on another of the Z axis based in the same or another domain to said volume within said multi-dimensional layered model;
• changing a variable in one of the first data or the second data;
• and
• updating the other of the first data or the second data in response to a rule of change so as to provide consistency between the first data and the second data.

A method of integrating different resolutions of data into multi-dimensional layered model that is correlated to a subterranean geologic volume comprising:

• providing a multi-dimensional layered model having at least one axis for storing and manipulating data;
• assigning first data for a property on said at least one axis based in a first scale to a volume within said multi-dimensional layered model;
• assigning second data for said property on said at least one axis based in a second scale to said volume within said multi-dimensional layered model;
• and
• converting one of said first data and said second data to same scale as the other of said first data and said second data.