METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DISPLAYING DATA SETS INDICATIVE OF PHYSICAL PARAMETERS ASSOCIATED WITH A FORMATION PENETRATED BY A WELLBORE

• US 20110157235A1
• Filed: 12/28/2009
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: FitzSimmons, Clark D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,297,924 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/672
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/20 Processor architectures; Processor configuration, e.g. pipelining
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/20 Finite element generation, e.g. wire-frame surface description, tesselation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2215/16 Using real world measurements to influence rendering

Abstract

Displaying data sets indicative of physical parameters associated with a formation penetrated by a wellbore. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: obtaining data regarding a trajectory of a wellbore; obtaining a first data set indicative of a first physical parameter associated with a formation penetrated by the wellbore; obtaining a second data set indicative of a second physical parameter associated with the formation; displaying a two-dimensional image that simulates a three-dimensional trajectory of the wellbore, the two-dimensional image from a particular viewpoint relative to the three-dimensional trajectory of the wellbore; displaying along the two-dimensional image a representation of the first data set on a first surface that abuts the trajectory of the wellbore; and displaying along the two-dimensional image a representation of the second data set on a second surface that abuts the trajectory of the wellbore.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining, by a computer system, data regarding a trajectory of a wellbore;

obtaining, by the computer system, a first data set indicative of a first physical parameter associated with a formation penetrated by the wellbore;

obtaining, by the computer system, a second data set indicative of a second physical parameter associated with the formation, the second physical parameter distinct from the first physical parameter;

displaying on a display device of the computer system a two-dimensional image that simulates a three-dimensional trajectory of the wellbore, the two-dimensional image from a particular viewpoint relative to the three-dimensional trajectory of the wellbore;

displaying along the two-dimensional image a representation of the first data set on a first surface that abuts the trajectory of the well bore; and

displaying along the two-dimensional image a representation of the second data set on a second surface, distinct from first surface, the second surface abuts the trajectory of the wellbore.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to the displaying steps, performing, by the computer system, a mathematical rotation of the first surface such that first surface has consistent orientation relative to the trajectory of the wellbore.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the first data set further comprises obtaining a data series, where each datum of the data series represents a physical parameter of the formation, and each datum in the data series is correlated to a location in the wellbore.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the first data set further comprises obtaining a raster image of a data set that represents a physical parameter associated with the formation.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising animating movement on the display device, the movement relative to the trajectory of the wellbore, and the animating as a user changes the viewpoint relative to the trajectory of the wellbore.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein animating further comprises updating at least a portion of the display at a rate of at least 20 frames per second.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the representation of the first data set further comprises displaying a mathematical curve where relative distance from the wellbore trajectory to a datum represents magnitude of the physical parameter represented by the datum.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein displaying the mathematical curve further comprises setting a color attribute of pixels between the wellbore trajectory and the curve based on the magnitude of the physical parameter.

9. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program that, when executed by a main processor of a computer system, causes the main processor to:

read trajectory data that indicates a trajectory of a wellbore;

read a first data set indicative of a first physical parameter of a formation penetrated by the wellbore;

read a second data set indicative of a second physical parameter of the formation, the second physical parameter distinct from the first physical parameter;

calculate a first three-dimensional representation of the trajectory of the wellbore along with an indication of position of a plurality of imaging surfaces relative to the trajectory of the wellbore;

send at least a portion of the first three-dimensional representation to the graphics processing unit distinct from the main processor;

send a first indication of viewing position to the graphics processing unit; and

command the graphics processing unit to;

calculate a second three-dimensional representation of the wellbore trajectory with data of the first data set on a first imaging surface that emanates from the trajectory, and with data of the second data set on a second imaging surface, distinct from the second imaging surface, where the second imaging surface emanates from the trajectory; and

generate a two-dimensional projection of the second three-dimensional representation from a viewing position given by the first indication and display the two-dimensional projection on a display device.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein, prior to sending the first three-dimensional representation to the graphics processing unit, the program further causes the main processor to compute a mathematical rotation of the first imaging surface such that first surface has consistent orientation relative to the trajectory of the wellbore.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein, prior to commanding the graphics processing unit to generate the two-dimensional projection, the program causes the main processor to command the graphics processing unit to cull data from based on the first indication of viewing position.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein when the program commands the graphics processing unit, the program further causes the processor to send an executable program to the graphics processing unit that, when executed by the graphics processing unit, causes the graphics processing unit to generate the two-dimensional projection.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the program further causes the main processor to:

receive second indication of viewing position, distinct from the first indication; and

send a series of indications of viewing position between the first and second viewing positions such that the graphics processing unit animates on the display device movement between the first viewing position and the second viewing position.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein when the program reads the first data set, the program further causes the main processor to read at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a series of data points correlated to distance within the wellbore;

a series of data points correlated to time; and

a raster image of one or more series of data points.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein when the main processor commands the graphics processing unit, the program further causes the main processor to command the graphics processing unit to select a position on the first surface for a datum of the first data set where distance from the wellbore trajectory to the position represents magnitude of the physical parameter represented by the datum.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein when the main processor commands the graphics processing unit, the program further causes the main processor to command the graphics processing unit to select color attribute of pixels between the wellbore trajectory and a datum of the first data set, the color attribute selected based on the magnitude of the physical parameter.

17. A computer system comprising:

a main processor;

a graphics processing unit distinct from and coupled to the main processor;

a display device coupled to the graphics processing unit;

a memory coupled to the main processor, the memory stores a program that, when executed by the main processor, causes the main processor to;

read trajectory data that indicates a trajectory of a wellbore, read a first data set indicative of a first physical parameter of a formation penetrated by the wellbore, and read a second data set indicative of a second physical parameter of the formation;

calculate a first three-dimensional representation of the trajectory of the wellbore along with an indication of position of a plurality of imaging surfaces relative to the trajectory of the wellbore;

send at least a portion of the first three-dimensional representation to the graphics processing unit distinct from the main processor;

send a first indication of viewing position to the graphics processing unit; and

command the graphics processing unit to;

calculate a second three-dimensional representation of the wellbore trajectory with data of the first data set on a first imaging surface that emanates from the trajectory, and with data of the second data set on a second imaging surface, distinct from the second imaging surface, where the second imaging surface emanates from the trajectory; and

generate a two-dimensional projection of the second three-dimensional representation from a viewing position given by the first indication and display the two-dimensional projection on a display device.

18. The computer system of claim 17 wherein prior to sending the first three-dimensional representation to the graphics processing unit, the program on the memory further causes the main processor to compute a mathematical rotation of the first imaging surface such that first imaging surface has consistent orientation relative to the trajectory of the wellbore.

19. The computer system of claim 17 wherein when the main processor commands the graphics processing unit, the program on the memory further causes the main processor to send an executable program to the graphics processing unit that, when executed by the graphics processing unit, causes the graphics processing unit to generate the two-dimensional projection.

20. The computer system of claim 17 wherein when the main processor commands the graphics processing unit, the program on the memory further causes the main processor to send an executable program to the graphics processing unit that, when executed by the graphics processing unit, causes the graphics processing unit to calculate the second three-dimensional representation.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein the program on the memory further causes the main processor to:

receive second indication of viewing position, distinct from the first indication; and

send a series of indications of viewing position between the first and second viewing positions such that the graphics processing unit animates on the display device movement between the first viewing position and the second viewing position.

22. The computer system of claim 17 wherein when the program on the memory causes main processor to calculate the three-dimensional representation, the program further causes the main processor to send a program that, when executed by the graphics processing unit, causes the graphics processing unit to select a position on the first imaging surface for a datum of the first data set where a distance from the wellbore trajectory to the position represents magnitude of the physical parameter represented by the datum.

23. The computer system of claim 17 wherein when the program on the memory causes main processor calculates the three-dimensional representation, the program further causes the main processor to send a program that, when executed by the graphics processing unit, causes the graphics processing unit to select color attribute of pixels between the wellbore trajectory and a datum of the first data set, the color attribute selected based on the magnitude of the physical parameter.