GENERATING AND DISPLAYING A VIRTUAL CORE AND A VIRTUAL PLUG ASSOCIATED WITH A SELECTED PIECE OF THE VIRTUAL CORE

• US 20040204857A1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Essawi, Amr, Gibson, William Dean, Ramamoorthy, Raghu, Srivastava, Ashok
• Granted Patent: US 6,816,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/7
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/00 Prospecting or detecting by methods combining techniques covered by two or more of main groups G01V1/00 - G01V9/00

Abstract

A visualization application will generate a Virtual Core representing a compilation of any formation property data, the compilation being a 2 and ½ D representation of any formation property. The compilation is generated by creating, in response to an integrated formation evaluation in 1D, a 2 and ½ D representation of each 1D formation property in the 1D formation evaluation, when the 1D property can be related to the 2 and ½ D physical magnitude combining the 2 and ½ D physical magnitude image with the 1D facies log thereby generating a 2 and ½ D facies image. The Software will also generate a Virtual Plug representing an average estimate of all formation properties over a prescribed surface or volume in the vicinity of a selection made on the compilation (i.e., on the Virtual Core). When an interaction with the Virtual Core occurs, all results generated by those interactions will be restored.

Claims

1. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine, to perform method steps for generating a compilation of formation property data as a function of depth and azimuth in a wellbore, said method steps comprising:

creating, in response to an integrated formation evaluation which includes one or more physical measurements as functions of depth in a wellbore and one or more formation properties as functions of depth in a wellbore and a facies log measurement as a function of depth in the wellbore and an image as a function of depth and azimuth in the wellbore of a physical measurement, a representation of the physical measurements and formation properties as functions of depth and azimuth in the wellbore on the condition that the each of said physical measurements and each of said formation properties as a function of depth in said wellbore can be related to said physical measurement in said image; and

combining the physical measurement image as a function of depth and azimuth in said wellbore with the facies log measurement as a function of depth in said wellbore thereby generating a facies image as a function of depth and azimuth in the wellbore and determining a representation of any formation property as a function of depth and azimuth in the wellbore corresponding to the facies image on the condition that said formation property cannot be related to the physical measurement image.

2. A method of generating a compilation of formation property data as a function of depth and azimuth in a wellbore, the method comprising:

creating, in response to an integrated formation evaluation which includes one or more physical measurements as functions of depth in a wellbore and one or more formation properties as functions of depth in a wellbore and a facies log measurement as a function of depth in the wellbore and an image as a function of depth and azimuth in the wellbore of a physical measurement, a representation of the physical measurements and formation properties as functions of depth and azimuth in the wellbore on the condition that the each of the physical measurements and each of the formation properties can be related to said physical measurement in said image; and

combining the physical measurement image as a function of depth and azimuth in said wellbore with the facies log measurement as a function of depth in said wellbore thereby generating a facies image as a function of depth and azimuth in the wellbore and determining a representation of any formation property as a function of depth and azimuth in the wellbore corresponding to the facies image on the condition that said formation property cannot be related to the physical measurement image.

3. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine, to perform method steps for generating a compilation of formation property data representing a 2 and ½

D representation of any formation property, said method steps comprising;

(a) generating an integrated formation evaluation in 1D including one or more physical 1D measurements, one or more interpreted formation properties in 1D, a 1D facies log and a 2 and ½

D measurement of a physical magnitude;

(b) in response to the 1D property from the integrated formation evaluation and the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude measurement, creating a 2 and ½

D representation of the formation property on the condition that the said property can be related to the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude; and

(c) in response to said 1D facies log and to said 2 and ½

D physical magnitude image, combining said 2 and ½

D physical magnitude image with said 1D facies log thereby generating a 2 and ½

D facies image.

4. The program storage device of claim 3, said method steps further comprising:

(d) determining average values of any formation property for each facies type encountered in the facies log and, in response to said 2 and ½

D facies image generated by the combining step (c), determining a 2 and ½

D representation of any formation property that cannot be related to the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude as in step (b) above,

said 2 and ½

D representation of the 1D formation property that can be related to the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude, said 2 and ½

D facies image, and said 2 and ½

D representation of any formation property that cannot be related to the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude collectively producing said compilation of formation property data representing said 2 and ½

D representation of any formation property.

5. A method of generating a compilation of formation property data representing a 2 and ½

D representation of any formation property, said method comprising;

(a) generating an integrated formation evaluation in 1D including one or more physical 1D measurements, and one or more interpreted formation properties in 1D, a 1D facies log and a 2 and ½

D measurement of a physical magnitude;

(b) in response to the 1D property from the integrated formation evaluation and the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude measurement, creating a 2 and ½

D representation of the formation property on the condition that the said property can be related to the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude; and

(c) in response to said 1D facies log and to said 2 and ½

D physical magnitude image, combining said 2 and ½

D physical magnitude image with said 1D facies log thereby generating a 2 and ½

D facies image.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

(d) determining average values of any formation property for each facies type encountered in the facies log and, in response to said 2 and ½

D facies image generated by the combining step (c), determining a 2 and ½

D representation of any formation property that cannot be related to the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude as in step (b) above,

said 2 and ½

D representation of the 1D formation property that can be related to the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude, said 2 and ½

D facies image, and said 2 and ½

D representation of any formation property that cannot be related to the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude collectively producing said compilation of formation property data representing said 2 and ½

D representation of any formation property.

7. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine, to perform method steps that are responsive to a compilation of formation property data representing a 2 and ½

D representation of any formation property for deriving an average estimate of all formation properties over a prescribed surface or volume in the vicinity of a selection made on said compilation, said method steps comprising

selecting a location on said compilation, said compilation including one or more formation properties; and

estimating an average of each formation property that falls within a predetermined diameter around said location on said compilation which was selected in the selecting step.

8. The program storage device of claim 7, wherein said compilation of formation property data represents formation property data obtained on a wall of a wellbore, a real core plug adapted to be obtained from said wellbore at a location corresponding to said location on said compilation, said method further comprising:

converting said average of each formation property estimated in the estimating step to units systems; and

comparing said units systems associated with said average of said each formation property with said real core plug thereby facilitating core-log integration and accurate formation evaluation.

9. A method responsive to a compilation of formation property data representing a 2 and ½

D representation of any formation property for deriving an average estimate of all formation properties over a prescribed surface or volume in the vicinity of a selection made on said compilation, said method comprising;

selecting a location on said compilation, said compilation including one or more formation properties; and

estimating an average of each formation property that falls within a predetermined diameter around said location on said compilation which was selected in the selecting step.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said compilation of formation property data represents formation property data obtained on a wall of a wellbore, a real core plug adapted to be obtained from said wellbore at a location corresponding to said location on said compilation, said method further comprising:

converting said average of each formation property estimated in the estimating step to units systems; and

comparing said units systems associated with said average of said each formation property with said real core plug thereby facilitating core-log integration and accurate formation evaluation.

11. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine, to perform method steps for deriving an average estimate of all formation properties over a prescribed surface or volume, said method steps comprising

(a) generating an integrated formation evaluation in 1D including one or more physical 1D measurements, and one or more interpreted formation properties in 1D, a 1D facies log, and a 2 and ½

D measurement of a physical magnitude;

(b) in response to the 1D property from the integrated formation evaluation and the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude measurement, creating a 2 and ½

D representation of the formation property on the condition that the said property can be related to the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude;

(c) in response to said 1D facies log and to said 2 and ½

D physical magnitude image, combining said 2 and ½

D physical magnitude image with said 1D facies log thereby generating a 2 and ½

D facies image;

(d) determining average values of any formation property for each facies type encountered in the facies log and, in response to said 2 and ½

D facies image generated by the combining step (c), determining a 2 and ½

D representation of any formation property that cannot be related to the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude as in step (b) above,

said 2 and ½

D representation of the 1D formation property that can be related to the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude, said 2 and ½

D facies image, and said 2 and ½

D representation of any formation property that cannot be related to the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude collectively producing said compilation of formation property data representing said 2 and ½

D representation of any formation property;

(e) selecting a location on said compilation, said compilation including one or more formation properties; and

(f) estimating an average of each formation property that falls within a predetermined diameter around said location on said compilation which was selected in the selecting step.

12. The program storage device of claim 11, wherein said compilation of formation property data represents formation property data obtained on a wall of a wellbore, a real core plug adapted to be obtained from said wellbore at a location corresponding to said location on said compilation, said method further comprising:

(g) converting said average of each formation property estimated in the estimating step to units systems; and

(h) comparing said units systems associated with said average of said each formation property with said real core plug thereby facilitating core-log integration and accurate formation evaluation.

13. A method for deriving an average estimate of all formation properties over a prescribed surface or volume, said method comprising:

(a) generating an integrated formation evaluation in 1D including one or more physical 1D measurements, and one or more interpreted formation properties in 1D, a 1D facies log and a 2 and ½

D measurement of a physical magnitude, said physical magnitude including either resistivity or acoustic impedence,

(b) in response to the 1D property from the integrated formation evaluation and the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude measurement, creating a 2 and ½

D representation of the formation property on the condition that the said property can be related to the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude;

(c) in response to said 1D facies log and to said 2 and ½

D physical magnitude image, combining said 2 and ½

D physical magnitude image with said 1D facies log thereby generating a 2 and ½

D facies image;

(d) determining average values of any formation property for each facies type encountered in the facies log and, in response to said 2 and ½

D facies image generated by the combining step (c), determining a 2 and ½

D representation of any formation property that cannot be related to the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude as in step (b) above,

said 2 and ½

D representation of the 1D formation property that can be related to the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude, said 2 and ½

D facies image, and said 2 and ½

D representation of any formation property that cannot be related to the 2 and ½

D physical magnitude collectively producing said compilation of formation property data representing said 2 and ½

D representation of any formation property;

(e) selecting a location on said compilation, said compilation including one or more formation properties; and

(f) estimating an average of each formation property that falls within a predetermined diameter around said location on said compilation which was selected in the selecting step.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said compilation of formation property data represents formation property data obtained on a wall of a wellbore, a real core plug adapted to be obtained from said wellbore at a location corresponding to said location on said compilation, said method further comprising:

(g) converting said average of each formation property estimated in the estimating step to units systems; and

(h) comparing said units systems associated with said average of said each formation property with said real core plug thereby facilitating core-log integration and accurate formation evaluation.

15. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine, to perform method steps responsive to a compilation of formation property data as a function of depth and azimuth in a wellbore for interacting with said compilation, said method steps comprising:

interacting with said compilation of formation property data as a function of depth and azimuth in said wellbore thereby generating at least one result; and

storing said at least one result back into said compilation in response to the interacting step.

16. A method responsive to a compilation of formation property data as a function of depth and azimuth in a wellbore for interacting with said compilation, said method comprising:

interacting with said compilation of formation property data as a function of depth and azimuth in said wellbore thereby generating at least one result; and

storing said at least one result back into said compilation in response to the interacting step.

17. A method for representing earth formation properties of a region surrounding a borehole, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a first set of data representing a first property of an earth formation for a first region surrounding a borehole, the first set of data representing the first property in a first dimensionality having a first resolution;

obtaining a second set of data representing a second property of an earth formation for a first region surrounding the borehole, the second set of data representing the second property in a second dimensionality having a second resolution, the second resolution being higher than the first resolution;

generating a representation of the first region of the earth formation, the representation based on a combination of the first set of data and the second set of data and having a third dimensionality and a third resolution at least equal to the second dimensionality and the second resolution;

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

generating a second representation of a second region of an earth formation adjacent to the first region, the second representation based on a combination of the first set of data and the second set of data and having a third dimensionality and a third resolution at least equal to the second dimensionality and the second resolution;

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

displaying in a viewable medium, the first and second representations;

displaying a description of the earth formation properties associated with a portion of the first and second representations as selected by a user.

20. The method of claim 18, where in the first and second representations are multi-dimensional representations along a depth and an azimuth of the borehole.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first or second sets of data are obtained from physical measurements of formation properties.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the first set of data is based on data obtained from a earth formation core extraction.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first or second sets of data are obtained from interpretations based on physical measurements of formation properties.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

simulating completion and production scenarios based on the representation; and

selecting a preferred scenario based on the simulations.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first or second sets of data obtained from the group of a gamma ray log, a resistivity log and a neutron and density log.