Faulted Structural Earth Model for Seismic Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current earth models in seismic exploration lack the complexity and detail needed to accurately represent geological structures, particularly faults and rock properties, leading to inaccurate seismic images and hindered hydrocarbon exploration.
Innovation Solution
A method that combines horizon, fault, and rock property models to generate a faulted structural model by determining intersections between horizons and faults, and assigning physical rock properties to this model for seismic forward modeling, enhancing the resolution of seismic sections and refining earth models.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current earth models are used for seismic exploration, then the modeling process is simple, but the models lack the level of detail, resolution, and complexity needed for accurate hydrocarbon exploration
Solution Approach 1:
The earth model is segmented into multiple discrete components: horizon models representing geological layers, fault models representing discontinuities, and rock property models representing physical properties. Each component is built and processed separately, then integrated to form the complete earth model. This segmentation allows for detailed representation of complex geological structures while maintaining manageable processing of individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional 2D seismic sections to 3D earth models by incorporating spatial coordinates (x, y, z) and integrating multiple geological parameters. The horizon models, fault models, and rock property models are all constructed in three-dimensional space, enabling comprehensive representation of subsurface geological structures with enhanced detail and resolution.
2Reliability
If detailed fault and horizon models are integrated, then the earth model accuracy improves, but the computational complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integration process is segmented into distinct computational stages: first determining intersections between horizons and faults, then calculating the faulted structural model, and finally assigning rock properties. This staged approach breaks down the complex integration task into manageable steps, improving reliability while controlling computational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by first determining the intersections between horizon models and fault models before constructing the faulted structural model. Rock properties are assigned after the structural framework is established. This preliminary ordering of operations ensures geometric consistency and reduces computational iterations, thereby improving model accuracy while managing processing requirements.
3Measurement precision
If traditional seismic modeling methods are used, then the processing is faster, but the seismic images lack resolution and detail for complex geological structures
Solution Approach 1:
The modeling process is segmented into specialized sub-processes: horizon intersection determination, faulted structural model calculation, and rock property assignment. Each segment can be optimized independently and processed in parallel where possible, improving seismic section resolution while mitigating the impact on overall processing time through efficient resource utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters by integrating multiple geological parameters (horizon geometry, fault geometry, rock properties) that were traditionally modeled separately or simplified. This multi-parameter approach enhances seismic section resolution by capturing complex geological structures more accurately, while the systematic integration methodology maintains reasonable processing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is described that includes accessing, for a geological medium: a horizon model including a plurality of horizons in the geological medium; a fault model including a plurality of faults in the geological medium; and a rock property model including one or more physical rock properties at a plurality of spatial locations on a first grid corresponding to the geological medium. The method further includes determining intersections between the horizons and the faults by correlating the horizon model with the fault model and calculating a faulted structural model for the geological medium in accordance with the intersections between the horizons and the faults. The method further includes generating an earth model for seismic forward modeling by assigning one or more physical rock properties to the faulted structural model in accordance with the rock property model.