US 9,418,182 B2 · Systems and methods for building axes, co-axes and paleo-geographic coordinates related to a stratified geological volume

Abstract

A method and system for modeling a subsurface structure at a time when the structure was originally formed. A first model having non-planar horizons representing a current subsurface structure may be used to calculate a vector field based on the non-planar geometry of the horizons of the model. The vector field may be non-uniform or uniform. Geographic coordinates of the first model may be transformed to paleo-geographic coordinates of a model representing the subsurface structure in the past, where the non-planar horizons in the first model are transformed to planar horizons in the second model. A set of points describing one or more fractures in the subsurface structure may be used to calculate a tuning parameter to correct a first set of paleo-geographic coordinates. A second set of coordinates representing an improved prediction at a time period when the subsurface structure was originally formed may be generated.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for modeling a subsurface structure at a time period when the structure was originally formed, comprising:

generating a first set of paleo-geographic coordinates representing a predicted state of the subsurface structure at a time period when the subsurface structure was originally formed;
defining a set of points describing one or more fractures in the subsurface structure;
determining, based on the defined set of points, at least one tuning parameter to correct the first set of paleo-geographic coordinates that minimizes discrepancy between an estimated direction of potential fracture and an observed direction of fracture;
generating, based on the at least one tuning parameter, a second set of paleo-geographic coordinates representing an improved predicted state of the subsurface structure at a time period when the subsurface structure was originally formed;
and
displaying a visualization of the second set of paleo-geographic coordinates representing the improved predicted state of the subsurface structure.

3 more elements

A system configured to model a subsurface structure at a time period when the structure was originally formed, the system comprising:

a memory configured to store set of points describing one or more fractures in the subsurface structure;
a processor configured to:
generate a first set of paleo-geographic coordinates representing a predicted state of the subsurface structure at a time period when the subsurface structure was originally formed;
determine, based the set of points, at least one tuning parameter to correct the first set of paleo-geographic coordinates that minimizes discrepancy between an estimated direction of potential fracture and an observed direction of fracture;
generate, based on the at least one tuning parameter, a second set of paleo-geographic coordinates representing an improved predicted state of the subsurface structure at a time period when the subsurface structure was originally formed;
and
display a visualization of the second set of paleo-geographic coordinates representing the improved predicted state of the subsurface structure.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for building axes, co-axes and paleo-geographic coordinates related to a stratified geological volume

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for building axes, co-axes and paleo-geographic coordinates related to a stratified geological volume

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18