Structural Volume Segmentation for Subterranean Modeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for modeling subterranean formations are limited by incomplete representations of geological features, leading to inaccurate segmentation and inefficient field operations for hydrocarbon extraction.
Innovation Solution
The method involves identifying truncated surface segments, generating extended segments using implicit functions, and merging compartments based on common boundaries within invalid portions to improve the accuracy of the structural model, thereby enhancing field operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current methods for modeling subterranean formations are used, then the modeling process is simple, but the accuracy of the structural model is insufficient due to incomplete representations of geological features
Solution Approach 1:
The volume of interest is divided into multiple compartments based on surface segments representing geological features. The segmentation process identifies truncated surface segments, extends them using implicit functions, and merges compartments with common boundaries within invalid portions, creating a detailed multi-compartment model that accurately represents complex geological structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The method performs preliminary identification of truncated surface segments and generates extended segments using implicit functions before final compartment merging. This preliminary action ensures that all geological features are properly represented before the final structural model is constructed, improving accuracy without requiring complex post-processing.
2Loss of information
If truncated surface segments are identified and extended using implicit functions, then the representation of geological features is more complete, but the computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The method extracts only the necessary surface segments that are truncated by geological features and extends only those specific segments using implicit functions. This selective approach captures the essential geological information without processing the entire volume, reducing unnecessary computational overhead while maintaining completeness of representation.
Solution Approach 2:
The implicit function creates a mathematical copy or extension of the truncated surface segment, allowing the geological feature to be represented beyond its originally observed boundaries. This copying approach enables complete representation of subsurface features without requiring additional physical data collection or complex simulations.
3Measurement precision
If compartments are merged based on common boundaries within invalid portions, then the structural model accuracy is improved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The method merges compartments that share common boundaries within invalid portions of extended surface segments. This merging operation consolidates adjacent compartments that should be geologically continuous, improving the accuracy of compartment boundaries and the overall structural model by eliminating artificial divisions caused by incomplete surface segment data.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for performing a field operation of a field. The method includes identifying, inside a volume of interest representing a portion of the field, that a first surface segment is truncated by a second surface segment, where each of the first surface segment and the second surface segment corresponds to a geological feature in the field, generating, based at least on a first implicit function, an extended first surface segment that includes the first surface segment and a first extension of the first surface segment, generating a number of compartments by dividing the volume of interest using at least the extended first surface segment and the second surface segment, merging, based on a common boundary of at least two of the compartments being within an invalid portion of the extended first surface segment, the at least two compartments into a single merged compartment, and performing, based at least on the single merged compartment, modeling of the field to generate a modeling result.