System and Method for Reducing Uncertainties in Thermal Histories
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsDaniel B. PALMOWSKI, Thomas FUCHS, Adrian KLEINE
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method includes determining a present-day thickness of a lithosphere. The method also includes determining whether the determined present-day thickness of the lithosphere substantially matches an interpreted present-day thickness of the lithosphere. The method also includes generating or updating a temperature history model in response to determining that the determined present-day thickness of the lithosphere substantially matches the interpreted present-day thickness of the lithosphere.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- determining a present-day thickness of a lithosphere;
- determining whether the determined present-day thickness of the lithosphere substantially matches an interpreted present-day thickness of the lithosphere;
- and
- generating or updating a temperature history model in response to determining that the determined present-day thickness of the lithosphere substantially matches the interpreted present-day thickness of the lithosphere.
A computing system comprising:
- one or more processors;
- and
- a memory system comprising one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:
- determining a first estimate of a tectonic subsidence through time in a subterranean formation;
- determining a first estimate of an initial thickness of a lithosphere in the subterranean formation;
- running a model of the subterranean formation;
- determining an amount that an upper mantle of the lithosphere varies in thickness through time;
- determining a second estimate of the tectonic subsidence through time in the subterranean formation;
- and
- determining a present-day thickness of the lithosphere based at least partially upon the amount that the upper mantle of the lithosphere varies in thickness, the second estimate of the tectonic subsidence through time, or both.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:
- determining a first estimate of a tectonic subsidence through time in a subterranean formation based at least partially upon a burial history of the subterranean formation;
- determining a first estimate of an initial thickness of a lithosphere in the subterranean formation, wherein the first estimate of the initial thickness of the lithosphere comprises a sum of an initial thickness of a crust and an initial thickness of an upper mantle;
- running a model of the subterranean formation based at least partially upon the first estimate of the tectonic subsidence through time, the first estimate of the initial thickness of the lithosphere, or both;
- determining an amount that an upper mantle of the lithosphere varies in thickness through time based at least partially upon the model;
- determining a second estimate of the tectonic subsidence through time in the subterranean formation based at least partially upon the model;
- determining a present-day thickness of the lithosphere based at least partially upon the amount that the upper mantle of the lithosphere varies in thickness, the second estimate of the tectonic subsidence through time, or both;
- and
- generating or updating a temperature history model of the subterranean formation based at least partially upon the determined present-day thickness of the lithosphere.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.