Geoscience Data Analysis Automation for Interdependency Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Geophysicists face challenges in manually interpreting and combining large numbers of geoscience data elements and attributes, leading to difficulties in identifying relevant information, relationships, and optimizing parameter values for analysis, which is cumbersome and often results in overlooking important features or neglecting potential relationships between data elements.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced that allows geophysicists to input data analysis questions through a user interface, with the system automatically deriving and computing measures to evaluate these questions, simplifying the analysis process by automating the determination of necessary approaches and computations, thereby focusing on the geologic and geophysical meaning of the data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If geophysicists manually interpret and combine multiple geoscience data elements and attributes, then they can identify relevant information and relationships, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming, leading to overlooking important features or neglecting potential relationships between data elements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterpretation accuracyVSAvoidanalysis time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically deriving and computing measures to evaluate data analysis questions without requiring manual intervention. The computer system autonomously processes geoscience data elements, computes interdependencies, and generates interpretations, freeing geophysicists from tedious manual analysis while maintaining high accuracy through systematic computational approaches

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual interpretation process with an automated computer-based system. Instead of geophysicists manually examining and combining data elements, the system uses computational algorithms to automatically derive measures, compute relationships, and identify features, significantly reducing analysis time while preserving interpretation quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If geophysicists manually combine multiple data elements into their interpretation, then they can integrate diverse information sources, but the increasing number of data elements overloads the interpreter and makes it difficult to keep track of what is happening in each data element simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integration capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The computer system acts as an intermediary between multiple geoscience data elements and the geophysicist's interpretation. The system automatically manages the complexity of combining numerous data elements by deriving and computing measures that synthesize information from multiple sources, allowing geophysicists to work with integrated results rather than manually coordinating each data element

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides universal functionality by handling multiple types of geoscience data elements through a unified automated approach. The computer program can process various data sources, derive different measures, and compute interdependencies using the same framework, enabling versatile data integration without increasing operational complexity for the user

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If geophysicists fix parameter values for attributes beforehand, then they can simplify the analysis process, but the parameter is chosen independently of other attributes, neglecting potential relationships between the attribute and other data elements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidparameter selection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by automatically computing measures that evaluate relationships between attributes and data elements. Instead of fixing parameters in advance, the system derives measures from the data itself, allowing parameter values to be optimized based on actual relationships observed in the dataset, thereby improving parameter selection accuracy while maintaining operational simplicity through automation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9014982B2Method for analysis of relevance and interdependencies in geoscience data

Publication Date: 2015.04.21 EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RESEARCH COMPANY(US)

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for evaluating a geoscience data analysis question. The user inputs the question to the computer through a graphical user interface or a text command interface (11). The computer is programmed to derive a statistical measure for evaluating the question (12). One or more data elements (14) are inputted to the computer, and the derived statistical measure is applied to the data elements and computed (13).