Data processing: structural design – modeling – simulation – and em – Simulating nonelectrical device or system – Fluid
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-05
2001-07-03
Teska, Kevin J. (Department: 2123)
Data processing: structural design, modeling, simulation, and em
Simulating nonelectrical device or system
Fluid
C703S005000, C702S006000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256603
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to performing geoscience interpretation with simulated data.
Geologists, geophysicists, petroleum engineers and production engineers use models, including computerized models, of the earth's shell to plan exploration and production of hydrocarbons and, to a lesser extent, other minerals. As hydrocarbons become more and more scarce, the accuracy of the computerized models becomes increasingly important to limiting the cost of locating and producing hydrocarbons and the associated cost of hydrocarbon products, such as gasoline and heating oil.
Existing modeling systems use an “inversion” technique to model geoscience structures from acquired data. Acquired data, such as velocity measurements or data collected through seismic instrumentation, is “inverted” and used to predict the location of subsurface structures and the physical properties of those subsurface structures.
Once the inversion process produces predictions of the locations and physical properties of the subsurface structures, they are modeled geometrically. Such models must be capable of representing complicated geometrical shapes, such as the shape of a salt dome or salt wall or the shape of a group of folded sedimentary beds.
Commonly, modeling systems use a grid system to represent subsurface structures. In a grid system, the subsurface structures are represented by points in space regularly spaced in the x-y plane and having a single value in the z plane. The values corresponding to those subsurface structures between the regularly-spaced points are determined by interpolation. In a model for a large subsurface region, the number of points in space can be numerous, requiring a great deal of storage, even if the subsurface structures are uniform in topography and physical properties across that space.
Another modeling system that has been applied to the problem of modeling subsurface structures is constructional solid geometry (“CSG”). Under this approach, two or more solid primitives (such as cylinders or spheres) are combined to form a more complicated solid. The process begins with objects that are known to be solid and adds or subtracts other solids to create new shapes. For example, subtracting a cylinder from a box will produce a box with a hole in it.
SUMMARY
In general, in one aspect, the invention features a method for analyzing geological data stored in a geoscience model on a magnetic media, comprising building a simulation input model from the geoscience model.
Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following. The method may further comprise acquiring data; interpreting the acquired data to produce the geoscience model; applying a simulator to the simulation input model to produce synthetic data; comparing the acquired data to the synthetic data to produce a difference; and editing the geoscience model to reduce the difference. The simulator may comprise a simulation program used to develop acquisition equipment. Building the simulation model may comprise producing a finite element mesh. Building the simulation model may comprise producing a finite difference grid. Building the simulation input model may comprise producing a tessellated model. The simulation input model may have a different format than the geoscience model.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a method for analyzing geological data representing a subsurface region, the geological data being stored in a geoscience model on a magnetic media, comprising constructing a boundary for dividing the region into a first sub-region and a second sub-region; storing on the magnetic media the shape of the boundary as a parametric function whose parameter density can vary.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a method for analyzing geological data sampled from a subsurface region, the geological data and an analysis of the geological data being stored in a geoscience model on a magnetic media, the method comprising dividing the region into sub-regions, in each of which a material property varies without discontinuities.
Implementation of the invention may include one or more of the following. The method may further comprise describing the variation of the material property with a parametric function.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a computer system for analyzing geological data stored in a geoscience model on a computer-readable magnetic media, comprising means for building a simulation input model from the geoscience model.
Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following. The computer system may further comprise means for acquiring data; means for interpreting the acquired data to produce the geoscience model; means for applying a simulator to the simulation input model to produce synthetic data; means for comparing the acquired data to the synthetic data to produce a difference; and means for editing the geoscience model to reduce the difference. The simulator may comprise a simulation program used to develop acquisition equipment. The means for building the simulation input model may comprise a means for producing a finite element mesh. The means for building the simulation data input model may comprise a means for producing a finite difference grid. The means for building the simulation input model may comprise a means for producing a tessellated model. The simulation input model may have a different format than the geoscience model.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a computer system for analyzing geological data sampled from a subsurface region, the geological data and an analysis of the geological data being stored in a geoscience model on a computer-readable magnetic media, comprising means for constructing a boundary for dividing the region into a first sub-region and a second sub-region; means for storing on the magnetic media the shape of the boundary as a parametric function whose parameter density can vary.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a computer system for analyzing geological data sampled from a subsurface region, the geological data and an analysis of the geological data being stored in a geoscience model on a magnetic media, the computer system comprising means for dividing the region into sub-regions, in each of which a material property varies without discontinuities.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for analyzing geological data sampled from a subsurface region and an analysis of the geological data stored in a geoscience model on a magnetic media, comprising instructions for causing a computer to build a simulation input model from the geoscience model.
Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following. The computer program may further comprise instructions for causing the computer to acquire data; interpret the acquired data to produce the geoscience model; apply a simulator to the simulation input model to produce synthetic data; compare the acquired data to the synthetic data to produce a difference; and edit the geoscience model to reduce the difference. The simulator may comprise a simulation program used to develop acquisition equipment. The instructions which cause the computer to build the simulation input model may comprise instructions which cause the computer to produce a finite element mesh. The instructions which cause the computer to build the simulation input model may comprise instructions which cause the computer to produce a finite difference grid. The instructions which cause the computer to build the simulation input model may comprise instructions which cause the computer to produce a tessellated model. The simulation input model may have a different format than the geoscience model.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for analyzing geological data sampled from a subsurface region, the geological data and an analysis of the geological data
Broda Samuel
Jansson Pehr B.
Schlumberger Technology Corporation
Speight Howard L.
Teska Kevin J.
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