Subsurface Grid Mapping via Geometric Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for constructing a conceptual 3D grid in subsurface reservoir modeling are inefficient in handling domain discontinuities, leading to performance limitations and significant volume distortion, particularly when dealing with faults and horizons in hydrocarbon reservoirs.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates a mapping of a faulted subsurface domain to a continuous design space using grid optimization techniques, minimizing deformation in mesh cells by stitching discontinuities through geometric constraints, allowing for the efficient representation of material properties and reducing volume distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional methods (physics-based computation or constrained optimization) are used to map faulted domains to design space, then the mapping can be constructed, but the computation is complex and has performance limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fault discontinuities from the domain by creating a mapping that removes fault throws, transforming the faulted physical domain into a continuous design space. This extraction approach eliminates the need for complex physics-based computations while preserving the essential geometric relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of directly computing the complex forward mapping from physical to design space using physics-based methods, the patent uses an inverse approach by defining the mapping through grid optimization that minimizes deformation, thereby inverting the problem formulation to achieve better performance.
2Reliability
If tetrahedral mesh with constrained optimization is used, then mapping can be achieved, but the device complexity increases and special handling is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal grid optimization framework that can handle various types of domains and faults without requiring special case handling. The grid optimization technique provides a multi-functional approach that works for different mesh types and fault configurations, reducing overall system complexity.
3Device complexity
If corner point grid with ijk indexing is used for mapping, then the mapping logic is simplified, but volume distortion increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic grid optimization that allows the mesh to adapt and deform minimally during the mapping process. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to maintain high manufacturing precision by optimizing grid cell deformation, unlike static corner point grids that suffer from significant distortion.
4Manufacturing precision
If grid optimization is used to minimize deformation, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the computation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary grid setup and initialization before the optimization process, pre-positioning grid points and establishing initial configurations. This preliminary action reduces the computational burden during the actual optimization phase, thereby minimizing total computation time while maintaining high manufacturing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Method for mapping a 3D grid or mesh from a faulted subsurface domain to a continuous design domain, wherein the grid may be used to represent a discrete model of a subsurface material property (such as permeability) to use, for example, in a reservoir simulator. The mapping is geometry-based, not physics-based. The mapping is determined by an iterative optimization procedure designed to penalize deformation of tessellated mesh cells (703) in the design domain compared to their geometric quality in the faulted domain (701), but subject to stitching constraints (702) appearing as a penalty term or Lagrange multiplier term in the optimization objective function to influence the final mesh to co-locate pairs of points identified on opposite sides of a fault as having been located together before the fault occurred.