METHOD FOR PHYSICAL MODELING OF RESERVOIRS

• US 20120303347A1
• Filed: 03/29/2012
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: DiFoggio, Rocco
• Granted Patent: US 9,207,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/10
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/16 by embedding the binder within the powder bed
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/80 Data acquisition or data processing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/40 Structures for supporting 3D objects during manufacture and intended to be sacrificed after completion thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/34 Displaying seismic recordings or visualisation of seismic data or attributes
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

Disclosed is method for simulating materials subsurface to the earth. The method includes: receiving dimensions of each subsurface material to be simulated; receiving a value of a property for each of subsurface materials to be simulated; and constructing a three-dimensional physical model of the subsurface materials using a three-dimensional printer, the three-dimensional printer being configured to print one or more layers of a print material for each of the subsurface materials being represented in the model wherein dimensions and a property value of the print material for each subsurface material being represented corresponds to the dimensions and the property value for that subsurface material.

Claims

1. A method for simulating materials subsurface to the earth, the method comprising:

receiving dimensions of each subsurface material to be simulated using a processor;

receiving a value of a property for each of the subsurface materials to be simulated using the processor; and

constructing a three-dimensional physical model of the subsurface materials using a three-dimensional printer, the three-dimensional printer being configured to print one or more layers of a print material for each of the subsurface materials being represented in the model wherein dimensions and a property value of the print material for each subsurface material being represented correspond to the dimensions and the property value for that subsurface material.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the subsurface materials comprise a reservoir.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the property is electrical resistivity.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising estimating a property of the reservoir by applying an electrical stimulus to the physical model and receiving an electrical signal in response to the electrical stimulus.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the electrical stimulus is a voltage or current applied using one or more electrodes and the received electrical signal is a voltage or current received using one or more electrodes.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the electrical stimulus is first electromagnetic energy transmitted using an antenna and the received electrical signal is second electromagnetic energy received using an antenna.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the reservoir property is conductivity, permeability, or flow rate of the reservoir.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the conductivity or permeability is estimated from a measured impedance of the physical model.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a borehole traverses the physical model.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein an outer boundary of the physical model exceeds a depth of investigation of a logging tool disposed in the borehole.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

placing a logging tool in the borehole of the physical model;

applying an electrical stimulus to the physical model using the logging tool;

receiving an electrical signal in response to the applied electrical signal; and

calibrating the logging tool using the received electrical signal.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

placing a logging tool in the borehole of the physical model;

applying an electrical stimulus to the physical model using the logging tool;

receiving an electrical signal using the logging tool in response to the applied electrical signal; and

validating or calibrating a mathematical inversion model configured to estimate one or more characteristics of the subsurface materials that would provide the electrical signal received by the logging tool.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise one or more dimensions, conductivity, permeability, or some combination thereof.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the physical model is a full-scale model of at least a portion of the subsurface materials.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the physical model is a scaled-down model of at least a portion of the subsurface materials.

16. The method according to claim 1, where the property is acoustic impedance.

17. An apparatus for simulating materials subsurface to the earth, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to receive dimensions and a value of a property for each subsurface material to be simulated; and

a three-dimensional printer coupled to the processor and configured to construct a three-dimensional physical model of the subsurface materials by printing one or more layers of a print material for each of the subsurface materials being represented in the model wherein dimensions and a property value of the print material for each subsurface material being represented correspond to the dimensions and the property value for that subsurface material.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the property is resistivity.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the print material comprises a first print material having a first resistivity value and a second print material having a second resistivity value and wherein the electrical resistivity values of the subsurface materials are within a range of resistivity values between the first resistivity value and the second resistivity value.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the print material comprises carbon nanotubes.

21. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the property is acoustic impedance.

22. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising an array of electrodes configured to apply a voltage to the three-dimensional physical model and to measure a resulting current in order to simulate a fluid flow in the subsurface materials.

23. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for simulating materials subsurface to the earth by implementing a method comprising:

receiving dimensions of each subsurface material to be simulated;

receiving a value of a property for each of subsurface materials to be simulated; and

sending instructions to a three-dimensional printer to construct a three-dimensional physical model of the subsurface materials by printing one or more layers of a print material for each of the subsurface materials being represented in the model wherein dimensions and a property value of the print material for each subsurface material being represented correspond to the dimensions and the property value for that subsurface material.