US 8,473,213 B2 · Method for generating anisotropic resistivity volumes from seismic and log data using a rock physics model

Abstract

A hydrocarbon exploration method is disclosed for generating anisotropic resistivity models of a subsurface reservoir from seismic and well data using a rock physics model. In one embodiment, the method comprises: selecting wells within a region of interest (101); obtaining a plurality of rock properties (102) and adjusting selected rock parameters (103) in the calibration of the rock physics model at the well locations; inverting porosity and shale content from seismic data (107); propagating the calibrated rock physics model to the region of interest (109) and calculating effective resistivity for the entire region of interest (109). The inventive method also provides for analyzing the uncertainty associated with the prediction of the resistivity volume.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A method for predicting an anisotropic electrical property of a subsurface region from seismic and well data, wherein the term well data can include well logs or core analyses or both from at least one well in the subsurface region, comprising the following steps:

(a) choosing a mathematical form of a rock physics model relating both elastic and electrical properties to rock properties of the subsurface region, and able to predict anisotropic behavior in a subsurface region being modeled;
(b) calibrating the model by using well data from one or more wells;
and
(c) using the model and location dependent rock properties obtained from inverting seismic data to predict values of an electrical property at a plurality of locations away from the one or more wells in the subsurface region.

1 more element

A method for predicting anisotropic resistivity in a subsurface region from seismic and well data, wherein the term well data can include well logs or core analyses or both from at least one well in the subsurface region, comprising the following:

(a) choosing a mathematical form of a rock physics model relating effective values of elastic and electrical properties to in-situ (i.e. microscopic) rock properties of the subsurface region, and able to predict anisotropic behavior in a subsurface region being modeled;
(b) calibrating the rock physics model using well data measuring elastic and electrical properties of the subsurface region at one or more well locations;
(c) obtaining data volumes for shale content and porosity from inversion of the seismic data;
(d) interpolating or extrapolating the calibrated rock physics model away from the at least one well;
and
(e) generating a resistivity tensor data volume using the seismic-derived shale content and porosity volumes and the calibrated rock physics model.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for generating anisotropic resistivity volumes from seismic and log data using a rock physics model

Life of this patent

Method for generating anisotropic resistivity volumes from seismic and log data using a rock physics model

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28