Interpretation and mapping of electromagnetic survey data
AssigneeExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
InventorsOlivier M. Burtz, Mark Stiver
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A structured computer-implemented method (1000) based on graphical user interfaces for interpretation and mapping of data from a controlled-source electromagnetic survey, featuring capability to store electromagnetic data in layers (1004), each layer having the same internal structure for ease of comparison, editing, display and other manipulation by an assortment of software tools (1005) useful to an interpreter. Thus, different layers might contain actual data (1001) from different surveys and simulated results (1002) based on different resistivity models or inversion results (1003), all pertaining to the same subterranean survey region.
Claims21
A computer implemented method for interpreting data from a controlled-source electromagnetic survey of a subsurface region, comprising:
- (a) providing a graphical user interface allowing selection of electromagnetic data and their manipulation or display by one or more selected tools;
- (b) providing a plurality of data manipulation and display tools, each accessible from a graphical user interface;
- (c) providing layered data storage for frequency-domain electromagnetic field data volumes, each layer corresponding to a certain survey to source line, frequency and receiver, and being allocated to receive at least the following types of data or information:
- (A) frequency;
- (B) type of processing used for actual data, or identification of resistivity model assumed for synthetic data;
- (C) receiver identification and geometry information for survey receivers, including (x,y,z) coordinates and 3D orientation angles;
- (D) source information including (x,y,z) location and data specifying source antenna shape as a function of time;
- and
- (E) electromagnetic data corresponding to parameters (A)-(D);
- wherein the electromagnetic data in each layer, whether real data or synthetic data, are stored with the same internal structure;
- and
- (d) using a software program comprising the features provided in steps (a)-(c) to interpret the electromagnetic data to predict hydrocarbon potential of the subsurface region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.