Fault Removal in Geological Models via Reverse Chronological Ordering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for fault removal in geological models often result in significant distortion and non-physical deformation near faults, particularly when transforming discontinuous faulted regions into continuous spaces for geologically plausible models, and fail to address the quality of mapping back to the original faulted domain effectively.
Innovation Solution
The method involves ordering faults in reverse chronological order and using a combination of rigid body transformations and Laplace's equation to iteratively solve an optimal control problem, minimizing distortion by solving for optimal rigid body transformations and boundary displacement vectors, and computing a precise mapping back to the faulted space to maintain geological accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional fault removal methods are used to transform discontinuous faulted regions into continuous spaces, then the fault removal is achieved, but significant distortion and non-physical deformation occur near faults
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fault removal process into multiple sequential steps, removing faults one at a time in reverse chronological order rather than attempting simultaneous removal. This segmentation allows each individual fault removal to be controlled and monitored, preventing cumulative distortion that would occur with bulk removal methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by removing faults in reverse chronological order (youngest faults first) rather than oldest faults first. This inversion ensures that older, more fundamental geological structures are removed last, preserving the geological integrity and minimizing non-physical deformation in the continuous space.
2Ease of manufacture
If faults are removed one-by-one in no particular order, then the process is simple to implement, but the mapping quality between faulted and continuous spaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the chronological order of faults before beginning the removal process. By pre-planning the sequence based on geological age, the method ensures optimal mapping quality from the start, rather than attempting to adjust ordering during the removal process itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamics by adapting the removal sequence based on the specific geological context and fault characteristics. The method dynamically adjusts the process to handle different fault types and configurations while maintaining the reverse chronological ordering principle, balancing simplicity with precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If new data is incorporated or geological interpretation is changed in faulted models, then model updates are possible, but the model must be rebuilt from scratch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a continuous, fault-free copy of the geological model that can be independently manipulated and updated. This copied continuous space serves as a template that can be modified with new data or alternative interpretations without affecting the original faulted model, enabling rapid updates without complete rebuilds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary fault removal to create the continuous space template in advance. This pre-processed continuous model serves as a foundation for future updates, allowing geologists to incorporate new data or test alternative interpretations by simply modifying the continuous template rather than rebuilding entire faulted models.
4Manufacturing precision
If rigid body transformations and optimization are used to minimize distortion, then the computational complexity increases, but the mapping quality improves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes key parameters including the optimization objective function (minimizing distortion), the transformation type (rigid body transformations), and the fault removal sequence (reverse chronological order). These parameter changes systematically improve mapping precision while managing computational complexity through efficient algorithm selection.
Data Source
AI summary
Method for transforming a discontinuous, faulted subsurface reservoir into a continuous, fault-free space where a complete geological model based on selected geological concepts can be built and updated efficiently. Faults are removed in reverse chronological order (62) to generate a pseudo-physical continuous layered model, which is populated with information according to the selected geological concept (68). The fault removal is posed as an optimal control problem where unknown rigid body transformations and relative displacements on fault surfaces are found such that deformation of the bounding horizons and within the volume near the fault surface are minimized (63). A boundary-element-method discretization in an infinite domain is used, with boundary data imposed only on fault surfaces. The data populated model may then be mapped back to the original faulted domain such that a one-to-one mapping between continuous and faulted spaces may be found to a desired tolerance (72).