Seismic Velocity Model Updating via Basin Modeling Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional seismic imaging relies on static velocity models developed from limited seismic data, lacking dynamic geological information, which results in inaccurate subsurface imaging, especially in complex geological structures like faults and salt bodies.
Innovation Solution
A method is developed to create a more accurate velocity model by integrating seismic data with basin modeling, which includes deriving a first velocity model, building a basin model using geological structures and non-seismic data, validating the model, and updating the initial velocity model based on the basin model-derived second velocity model, incorporating effective stress data and transform functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a velocity model is developed from seismic data alone using seismic tomography, then the model can be generated quickly, but the model lacks dynamic geological information and is static, resulting in reduced accuracy for complex geological structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines basin modeling results with seismic tomography velocity models by integrating effective stress data, burial history, and thermal history from basin models with seismic-derived velocity models. This merging allows the velocity model to incorporate dynamic geological information while maintaining the computational efficiency of seismic tomography, resolving the contradiction between accuracy and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses effective stress as an intermediary parameter to bridge basin modeling and seismic velocity modeling. By calculating effective stress from basin model outputs (burial history, pore pressure) and using it to adjust seismic velocity models through transform functions, the system transfers dynamic geological information into the velocity model without requiring complete remodeling, thus balancing accuracy improvement with process complexity.
2Measurement precision
If basin modeling is integrated to improve velocity model accuracy, then dynamic geological information is incorporated, but the processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs basin modeling in advance to generate effective stress, burial history, and thermal history data before the velocity model construction phase. These pre-computed basin model results are then integrated with seismic tomography results, allowing the velocity model to benefit from dynamic geological information without requiring real-time basin modeling during seismic processing, thus reducing overall processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the velocity model construction into independent modules: seismic tomography processing, basin modeling, effective stress calculation, and integration through transform functions. This segmentation allows each component to be processed separately and efficiently, reducing computational overhead and enabling parallel processing, which mitigates the time penalty of integrating basin modeling.
3Productivity
If traditional seismic tomography is used for velocity model building, then the process is straightforward and fast, but the model fails to represent complex geological structures like faults and salt bodies accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static velocity model from traditional seismic tomography into a dynamic model by incorporating time-evolving geological parameters from basin modeling, such as burial history and thermal history. The effective stress calculated from these dynamic parameters continuously updates the velocity model, allowing it to adapt and represent complex geological structures like faults and salt bodies more accurately while maintaining modeling efficiency through modular integration.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of developing a velocity model for processing a seismic dataset is implemented at a computer system having a processor and memory. The method includes: deriving a first velocity model from the seismic dataset; building a basin model based on the first velocity model and interpretation of the seismic dataset; validating the basin model using calibration data; deriving a second velocity model from the validated basin model; and updating the first velocity model based, at least in part, on the second velocity model.