Seismic Imaging via Constrained Inversion of Geobody Rock Properties
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seismic imaging and subsurface interpretation workflows face challenges in reconciling earth models with structure and stratigraphy, and reservoir properties, leading to uncertainties and non-uniqueness that are difficult to quantify, with probabilistic models often not being consistent with all data.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that utilize multi-offset-multi-attribute image volumes and identified geobodies to construct updated earth and velocity models, performing constrained seismic inversion to determine rock properties and reduce differences between observed and synthetic seismic data, thereby stabilizing the inversion process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional serial processing workflows are used for seismic imaging and subsurface interpretation, then the workflow is simple to implement, but the reconciliation between earth models, structure/stratigraphy, and reservoir properties is poor leading to unquantified uncertainties and non-uniqueness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges previously separate serial processing steps (seismic imaging, attribute extraction, interpretation, and model construction) into an integrated iterative workflow. The earth model, velocity model, and geological interpretation are updated simultaneously and used together to generate synthetic seismic data that is compared with observed data, allowing all components to be reconciled consistently throughout the inversion process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by generating synthetic seismic data from the updated earth and velocity models, comparing it with observed seismic data, and using the differences to guide further model updates. This closed-loop feedback mechanism quantifies uncertainties and ensures the final model is consistent with all input data while managing workflow complexity through systematic iteration.
2Reliability
If geostatistical methods are used to estimate uncertainties and non-uniqueness, then probabilistic models are generated, but there is no guarantee that the models are consistent with all data utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by updating the earth model and velocity model before generating synthetic seismic data for comparison. The models are prepared with constrained rock properties and geological interpretations in advance, ensuring that the subsequent synthetic data generation and comparison process can systematically quantify uncertainties while maintaining consistency with all input data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters by updating rock properties, velocity models, and earth model parameters iteratively. These parameter changes are constrained by geological interpretations and are systematically adjusted to reduce differences between synthetic and observed seismic data, thereby quantifying uncertainties while ensuring data consistency.
3Measurement precision
If constrained seismic inversion is performed without stabilizing constraints, then rock properties can be determined, but the inversion process becomes unstable and produces non-unique solutions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by constraining rock properties specifically within identified geobodies rather than applying uniform constraints throughout the entire model. This localized constraint approach stabilizes the inversion process in critical regions while allowing flexibility elsewhere, producing unique and stable rock property determinations where they matter most.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses identified geobodies and their rock property constraints as intermediaries to stabilize the inversion process. These geobody constraints act as mediators between the observed seismic data and the earth model parameters, providing stable reference points that guide the inversion toward unique and geologically reasonable solutions.
Data Source
AI summary
Self-consistency and/or differences between volume images and interpreted spatial/volumetric context may be exploited for improving seismic imaging and estimation of attributes of geobodies, in accordance with one or more embodiments. Exemplary embodiments allow exploitation of positional and/or shape discrepancies and/or similarities of geobodies in image volumes associated with a geologic model of a geologic volume of interest to improve the accuracy of the geologic model and/or the image volumes. Constraints associated with the geologic volume of interest may be determined and/or utilized to confirm and/or specify dependencies between attributes that are potentially associated with individual geobodies.