Geologic Simulation Grid Generation via Design-Space Mapping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current gridding methods for geologic modeling in hydrocarbon operations are inefficient in capturing key geologic features while minimizing computational burden, often requiring complex processes that are time-consuming and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
The method employs design-space to design-space mapping to generate simulation grids, allowing for the transformation of physical space geologic models with different structural interpretations into unfaulted design space models, followed by gridding and partitioning to create simulation meshes that can be reverse-mapped for use in hydrocarbon operations, such as fluid flow simulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conformal mesh and vertically structured grid are used, then grid alignment with geological discontinuities is improved, but device complexity and computation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary transformation process that maps the complex faulted physical space to a simplified unfaulted design space, performs gridding in the simplified space, then maps back to physical space. This intermediary design space acts as a mediator that decouples the complexity of fault representation from the gridding process, achieving accurate grid alignment without requiring complex conformal meshing algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the problem from three-dimensional faulted space to a two-dimensional unfaulted design space by collapsing fault displacements. This dimensional reduction simplifies the gridding process while preserving the essential geological features, allowing standard gridding algorithms to produce accurate results without the complexity of three-dimensional conformal meshing.
2Measurement precision
If more numerous smaller volumetric elements are used, then simulation accuracy is improved, but computational burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local refinement selectively in regions where geological features require higher resolution, rather than uniformly refining the entire grid. By concentrating computational resources only where needed (near faults, horizons, and other discontinuities), the method achieves high simulation accuracy in critical areas while maintaining coarser resolution elsewhere, thus reducing overall computational burden.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex gridding strategies are employed to capture key geologic features, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by first transforming the faulted physical space to an unfaulted design space before gridding. This preliminary transformation simplifies the subsequent gridding process, allowing standard algorithms to efficiently capture geological features without requiring complex adaptive gridding strategies during the main gridding phase.
Data Source
AI summary
Geologic modeling methods and systems may use design-space to design-space mapping to facilitate simulation grid generation for multiple interpretations of a subsurface region. As one example, one or more embodiments of a geologic modeling method may comprise: obtaining first and second geologic models having different structural interpretations of a subsurface region; mapping each of the geologic models to associated design space models representing an unfaulted subsurface region; determining a design-to-design space mapping from the first design space model to the second design space model; using said mapping to copy parameter values from the first design space model to the second of the design space model; gridding each of the design space models to obtain design space meshes; partitioning cells in the first and second design space meshes along faults; reverse mapping the partitioned design space meshes to the physical space to obtain first and second physical space simulation meshes.