Reservoir Model Correction via Seismic Skeleton Mapping

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current reservoir geological formation modeling methods face challenges in achieving accurate 3D grid and geological properties due to limited and indirect measurements, particularly with seismic data having low vertical resolution and non-direct observations of desired properties.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that uses seismic measurements to create a 3D image, calculates a skeleton to highlight topology, maps it onto a stratigraphic grid, determines layer gaps, and corrects the reservoir model based on these gaps to improve accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If seismic measurements are used to estimate geological properties between wells, then the coverage of measurements is improved, but the vertical resolution deteriorates (few tens of meters vs. few meters to less than a meter)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage of measurementsVSAvoidvertical resolution
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the continuous seismic volume into discrete skeleton points that are then mapped to specific stratigraphic layers. This segmentation allows the low-resolution seismic data to be effectively distributed across multiple high-resolution grid layers, resolving the contradiction between coverage and vertical resolution by creating layer-specific representations from the volumetric seismic data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If seismic measurements are used to derive geological properties, then the availability of data between wells is improved, but the accuracy deteriorates since seismic provides indirect observations of geophysical rather than geological properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveavailability of dataVSAvoidaccuracy of geological properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces skeleton points as an intermediary between the seismic measurements and the stratigraphic grid. These skeleton points serve as mediators that bridge the gap between indirect geophysical observations and direct geological property estimation, allowing seismic data to be systematically transformed into accurate geological property predictions at the grid scale.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the 3D seismic volume into a 1D skeleton representation, then maps these 1D points onto 3D stratigraphic layers. This dimensional transformation allows the indirect seismic observations to be effectively converted into accurate geological property estimates by changing the representation dimensionality rather than directly interpreting the volumetric seismic data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If a stratigraphic grid is created with high vertical resolution, then the accuracy of geological properties is improved, but the complexity of matching seismic layers to grid layers increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of geological propertiesVSAvoidcomplexity of layer matching
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the stratigraphic grid into discrete layers and the skeleton into distinct point sets, where each point set corresponds to a specific layer. This segmentation simplifies the matching process by creating clear one-to-one correspondences between skeleton points and grid layers, reducing the complexity of aligning high-resolution vertical features with seismic data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3929630B1Computer implemented method for correcting a reservoir model of a reservoir geological formation based on seismic images
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 TOTALENERGIES ONETECH
  • EP3929630B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3929630B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3929630B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present disclosure concerns a computer implemented method (90) for correcting a reservoir model comprising a stratigraphic grid (40) modeling a reservoir geological formation, said method comprising: - (S91) obtaining a 3D image representing values of a physical property obtained from seismic measurements performed on the reservoir geological formation; - (S92) calculating a skeleton (20) for the values of the physical property of the 3D image; - (S93) associating each point of the skeleton to a respective cell of the stratigraphic grid; - (S94) determining one reference layer for at least one set of points of the skeleton; - (S95) calculating, for each point of the at least one set, a layer gap between the reference layer and the cell associated to said point; - (S96) correcting the reservoir model based on the layer gaps.