Well Trajectory Deformation for Geomodel Consistency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for achieving consistency between well trajectories and geomodels in hydrocarbon flow simulation often fail, particularly when the geomodel lacks detailed subsoil information such as sub-seismic faults or layer thickness variations, leading to inaccurate data association and simulation results.
Innovation Solution
A method that deforms well trajectories based on horizon markers and geological unit logs to ensure consistency with the geomodel, allowing discontinuities at fault markers, rather than deforming the geomodel itself, thereby maintaining accurate and robust simulation results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the geomodel is deformed to adjust consistency with well trajectories, then the consistency between geomodel and well data is improved, but the method performs poorly or fails when the geomodel lacks detailed subsoil information such as sub-seismic faults or layer thickness variations
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of deforming the geomodel to match well trajectories (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by deforming the well trajectories to match the geomodel. This is achieved through a deformation module that applies displacement vectors to well trajectory points based on differences between well-derived geomodel features and reference geomodel features, thereby resolving inconsistency without requiring the geomodel to be modified
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing selective deformation of well trajectories only in regions where inconsistencies are detected. The deformation is localized to specific segments of well trajectories based on comparison with reference geomodel features, rather than globally deforming all trajectories or the entire geomodel
2Measurement precision
If the well trajectory is deformed to ensure consistency with the geomodel, then the accuracy of data association is improved, but the complexity of processing multiple constraints (horizon markers, fault markers, geological unit logs) increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the well trajectory into multiple discrete points and processes each point independently through the deformation module. Each trajectory point is evaluated against geomodel constraints (horizon markers, fault markers, geological unit logs) and deformed individually based on calculated displacement vectors, making the complex constraint processing manageable through point-wise operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary deformation module that acts as a mediator between the well trajectory data and the geomodel constraints. This module translates multiple geometric and geological constraints into displacement vectors that guide the deformation of trajectory points, simplifying the integration of multiple constraints through a unified deformation framework
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention notably relates to a computer-implemented method comprising providing (S10) a geomodel representing horizons and geological units of the reservoir; providing (S20), for each well a trajectory representing the path of the well in the reservoir, and data distributed along the trajectory. The data include horizon markers, one or more fault markers, and a geological unit log. The method comprises deforming (S30) the trajectory of at least one well based on the geomodel. The deforming is constrained by consistency of the horizon markers and of the geological unit log with the geomodel, a discontinuity being allowed at each fault marker. This provides an improved solution for obtaining consistency between the geomodel and the trajectory of the at least one well.