Faulted Space Surface Interpolation Using Segmented Search Neighborhoods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interpolation techniques, such as refinement gridding and traditional kriging, often produce undesirable artifacts along faults and near fault terminations when creating surfaces in faulted spaces, making it difficult to accurately locate hydrocarbons in subsurface formations.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves locating local well tops within a predefined search neighborhood, identifying and adjusting fault throw values along intersecting vectors, and performing interpolation using adjusted values to create a surface with reduced artifacts, utilizing a computer processor and data structures like KD trees and Quad trees.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If refinement gridding interpolation is used to create a surface in faulted space, then the surface generation process is simplified and can be performed directly in faulted space, but significant undesirable artifacts are created along the fault and at its edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the search neighborhood into multiple segments separated by fault lines. Instead of treating the entire search area as one continuous region, the method segments it into distinct zones on either side of the fault, allowing independent interpolation within each segment while preventing artifact propagation across the fault boundary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different interpolation qualities and search strategies to different local regions. Within fault segments, standard refinement gridding is applied for smooth surfaces, while at fault locations, the search is restricted to one side only, creating sharp edges locally without affecting the global smoothness of the surface elsewhere.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional kriging is used with search neighborhoods restricted to one side of the fault, then cleaner edges are generated along the fault, but artifacts still appear near fault terminations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the search neighborhood configuration based on the local fault geometry. At fault terminations where the fault line ends, the method automatically modifies the search strategy to account for the changing fault configuration, transitioning from one-sided search along the fault to appropriate multi-sided search away from the fault, thereby eliminating artifacts at termination points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary identification of fault termination locations and pre-configures the search neighborhoods accordingly before performing interpolation. By anticipating where artifacts might form at fault terminations, the method pre-adjusts the search parameters to prevent artifact formation rather than correcting it afterward.
3Manufacturing precision
If global unfaulting is performed to restore faulted space to unfaulted space before interpolation, then the interpolation can be performed in ideal conditions, but the process becomes very difficult especially in the presence of many faults
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of performing global unfaulting to transform faulted space into unfaulted space before interpolation, the patent inverts the approach by performing interpolation directly in the faulted space while accounting for fault geometry. This eliminates the complex unfaulting step entirely while achieving accurate results by adapting the interpolation methodology to the faulted condition.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for creating a surface in a faulted space, which includes using interpolation techniques.