58 results about "Hydrocarbon exploration" patented technology

A hydrocarbon exploration method is disclosed for developing a model of at least one effective material property of a subsurface reservoir as a function of the composition and structure of the reservoir rock. In one embodiment, the method comprises: obtaining a 3D image (102) of a rock sample characteristic of a reservoir of interest (101); segmenting the 3D image into compositional classes (103) based on similarities in mineralogy, structure and spatial distribution; selecting a model (105) that relates an effective material property of interest to the volume fractions of each compositional class; and determining the parameters of the model (106). The model may be used to assess the commercial potential of the subsurface reservoir (107).

A system and method for drawing in a three-dimensional space. The drawings may include dots, line segments, arrows, polylines (open and closed), polygons, surfaces and 3D volumes. The method may include receiving user input that specifies a drawing in a displayed window and mapping the drawing into the 3D space. The mapping process may involve mapping the drawing onto a surface of an existing graphical object in the 3D space, or, mapping the drawing onto a user-specified plane in the 3D space. The drawing may represent a user's interpretation of a geological feature present on the graphical object surface. The graphical object may represent an object of significance in hydrocarbon exploration and production, e.g., an interpreted section or horizon in the earth's subsurface.

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.

A method and apparatus for seismic image processing is disclosed. A preferred embodiment aids in the identification of subterranean faults, which are significant in hydrocarbon exploration. The method includes steps of: a) reading a three dimensional seismic data volume; b) computing the three-dimensional orientation of the subsurface; c) subdividing the original volume into small data volumes that are rotated at a predetermined set of dips and azimuths related to those of the subsurface orientation; volumes formed in step c; e) performing a 3-D contrast enhancement operation in each of the small volumes; f) filtering the result of the contrast enhancement with selected 3-D filters at the predetermined set of dips and azimuths; g) skeletonizing the results of the filtering operation; h) separating the individual fault surfaces, and i) labelling the individual fault surfaces for further interpretation and exploration.

A method and apparatus for use in hydrocarbon exploration. The method and apparatus improve downhole flow back control in oil and/or gas wells by controlling fluid entry into the well bore. Either a single limited entry opening or a small cluster of limited entry openings is provided in a well liner or casing and cement sheath allowing fluid communication between a region of a well bore and a subterranean reservoir. The method also uses the limited entry opening or the cluster during an injection treatment of the subterranean reservoir to control fluid entry. The method also provides a proppant flow back treatment following the injection treatment of the subterranean reservoir.

An improved methodology for managing hydrocarbon exploration of at least one prospect. The methodology involves iterative processing that allows decision makers to iterate on assumptions and refine underlying probabilistic models as well as optimize the set of recommended exploration activities that are to be performed over time as additional knowledge is gained.

A method for hydrocarbon exploration and extraction is described. Specifically, the method includes using synthesis in reservoir modeling. The method may include obtaining local coordinates associated with a subsurface region. Then, a synthesis is performed with the local coordinates to determine continuous parameters and/or categorical parameters based on the synthesis. Then, a fluid flow simulation is performed from the continuous parameters and/or categorical parameters.

This invention relates to a method for determining direction and relative magnitude of maximum horizontal stress in sedimentary basins within Earth's crust. In particular the method uses seismic reflection data in determining the direction and magnitude of stresses. The method involves identifying from seismic data faults which cut the upper continental crust and uses those faults in conjunction with globally simultaneous compressional structures such as anticline to map the horizontal stresses. The invention has a particular application in the hydrocarbon exploration and production industry and has the advantage of providing the results pre-drill.

A hydrocarbon exploration method for determining subsurface properties from geophysical survey data. Rock physics trends are identified and for each trend a rock physics model is determined that relates the subsurface property to geophysical properties (103). The uncertainty in the rock physics trends is also estimated (104). A geophysical forward model is selected (105), and its uncertainty is estimated (106). These quantities are used in an optimization process (107) resulting in an estimate of the subsurface property and its uncertainty.

A system for determining resistivity of a region below a geologic surface by transmitting a signal from a marine location above the sea floor to a receiver comprises a vertical dipole, vertical coil, or other antenna. The receiver may have a vertical dipole, including a first conductor structure and a second conductor structure, as well as a first member. The first conductor structure may be disposed below the sea floor and the second conductor structure may be disposed above the first conductor structure. The receiver may receive the signal at the sea floor. The system may be used in a method that includes releasing the remote reader from a surface vessel, activating a drive head on the remote reader, creating a hole in the sea floor, and disposing a first conductor structure within the hole.

There is provided herein a system and method of collecting, EM data in the context(s) of hydrocarbon exploration, appraisal, development, and surveillance, which provides improved ground coupling between the electrodes and the earth or surface ice and, as a consequence, a higher quality transmitted and received signal is obtained thereby. Where the surface of the ground is saturated and frozen (e.g., in the case of a survey conducted on sea ice or frozen tundra), the survey instruments (sources and receivers) may be coupled more faithfully to the surface by drilling or melting holes into the ice (or frozen tundra) and inserting electrodes into the resulting holes. Each hole may (or may not) be lined with material to retard the loss of water therefrom. Preferably, each of the holes (source and receiver) will be filled with water (fresh or salt) before data collection begins.

The invention provides a hydrocarbon detecting method and a hydrocarbon detecting device based on wavelet energy attenuation features of generalized S transform, belonging to the field of seismic data processing of petroleum geophysical exploration. The method comprises that a time-frequency spectrum of each seismic channel is calculated according to the generalized S transform; a time-frequency spectrum of a wavelet of a corresponding sampling point is obtained from the time-frequency spectrum of each seismic channel via a spectrum simulation technology; a dominant frequency of each wavelet is found out from the time-frequency spectrum of the wavelet; between a zero frequency and the dominant frequency of each wavelet, an attenuation coefficient QL of the wavelet in a charging hole portion at an objective exploration layer is calculated; between the dominant frequency and a cutoff frequency of each wavelet, an attenuation coefficient QG of the wavelet in a gassing hole portion at the objective exploration layer is calculated; and gas hydrocarbon exploration results in the objective exploration layer are obtained according to the acquired energy attenuation feature of each wavelet. Due to the fact that change speed of attenuation coefficients at high/low frequency end of the wavelet is directly related to whether a reservoir contains gas, the method and device of the invention can obviously improve success rate of gas hydrocarbon exploration.