Method and System for Geophysical Modeling of Subsurface Volumes Based on Computed Vectors
AssigneeExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
InventorsPavel DIMITROV, Matthias IMHOF
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Abstract
Method and system are described for modeling one or more geophysical properties of a subsurface volume. The method includes computing vector volumes to enhance subsurface modeling and update these vector volumes. The vectors are estimated (106) from the data, for example dip or azimuth, and then the vector volume may be updated by an optimization process (808). Flattening the original data (802) may assist the vector estimation, and associating data traces and samples of traces with labels (108) may assist the flattening. The vector volume may then be used to extract horizons (110) and generate a stratigraphic model (112) to enhance the process of producing hydrocarbons (114).
Claims29
A method of modeling the subsurface comprising:
- (a) obtaining measurement data in a data volume associated with a subsurface region;
- (b) computing initial vector estimates for the data volume to form a vector volume;
- (c) flattening at least a portion of the data volume based on the vector volume;
- (d) computing an error estimate based on the flattened at least a portion of the data volume for each sample;
- (e) determining whether the error estimate is within a threshold;
- (f) updating the vector estimates in the vector volume based on the computed error estimate, if the threshold is not satisfied;
- (g) one or more of storing the vector volume in memory accessible by a computer system and displaying the vector volume on a display accessible by a computer system, if the threshold is satisfied;
- and
- (h) using the vector volume to generate a subsurface model;
- wherein (b)-(g) are performed using a computer.
A method of producing hydrocarbons comprising:
- utilizing a vector volume to determine the location of hydrocarbons, wherein the vector volume is created by:
- a) obtaining measurement data in a data volume associated with a subsurface region;
- b) computing initial vector estimates for the data volume to form a vector volume;
- c) flattening at least a portion of the data volume based on the vector volume;
- d) computing an error estimate based on the flattened at least a portion of the data volume for each sample;
- e) determining whether the error estimate is within a threshold;
- f) updating the vector estimate in the vector volume based on the computed error estimate, if the threshold is not satisfied;
- and
- g) one or more of storing the vector volume in memory accessible by a computer system and displaying the vector volume on a display accessible by a computer system, if the threshold is satisfied;
- drilling a well to access the hydrocarbons based at least in part on the vector volume;
- and
- producing the hydrocarbons from the well.
A system for converting data into a subsurface model comprising:
- a processor;
- a tangible, non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that stores a set of instructions for execution by the processor, wherein the set of instructions are configured to:
- a) obtain measurement data in a data volume associated with a subsurface region;
- b) compute initial vector estimates for the data volume to form a vector volume;
- c) flatten at least a portion of the data volume based on the vector volume;
- d) compute an error estimate based on the flattened at least a portion of the data volume for each sample;
- e) determine whether the error estimate is within a threshold;
- f) update the vector estimates in the vector volume based on the computed error estimate, if the threshold is not satisfied;
- g) provide access to one or more of store the labeled volume in memory accessible by the processor and display the labeled volume on a display, if the threshold is satisfied;
- and
- h) use the vector volume to generate a subsurface model.
A method of modeling the subsurface comprising:
- (a) obtaining measurement data in a data volume associated with a subsurface region;
- (b) computing initial vector estimates for at least a portion of the data volume to form a vector volume;
- (c) computing a error estimate for at least a portion of the samples, for which there is a vector estimate, wherein the error estimate is based on a comparison of a predicted data volume and the at least a portion of the data volume;
- (d) determining whether the error estimate is within a threshold;
- (e) updating the vector estimates in the vector volume based on the computed error estimates, if the threshold is not satisfied;
- and
- (f) one or more of storing the vector volume in memory accessible by a computer system and displaying the vector volume on a display accessible by a computer system, if the threshold is satisfied;
- and
- (g) using the vector volume to generate a subsurface model.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.