Method and System for Geophysical Modeling of Subsurface Volumes

• US 20140278311A1
• Filed: 02/20/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John S. Lien, Martin Terrell, Matthias Imhof, Pavel Dimitrov
• Original Assignee: John S. Lien, Martin Terrell, Matthias Imhof, Pavel Dimitrov
• Inventors: Dimitrov, Pavel, Imhof, Matthias, Terrell, Martin, Lien, John S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,733,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/6
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/282 Application of seismic models, synthetic seismograms
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 20/00 Geomodelling in general
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/641 Continuity of geobodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/66 Subsurface modeling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]

Abstract

Method and system is described for modeling one or more geophysical properties of a subsurface volume. In one embodiment, a method of modeling the subsurface comprises obtaining one or more subsurface volume and obtaining an interpretation of the subsurface volume. One or more flexible geologic concepts are defined and applied to the interpretation of the subsurface volume. The one or more geologic concepts comprise one or more flexible geologic concepts. A modified interpretation of the subsurface volume is obtained based upon the applied geologic concepts.

Claims

1. A method of modeling the subsurface comprising:

(a) obtaining one or more subsurface volume;

(b) obtaining an interpretation of the subsurface volume;

(c) defining one or more flexible geologic concepts;

(d) applying, by a computer system, one or more geologic concepts to the interpretation of the subsurface volume, wherein the one or more geologic concepts comprise one or more flexible geologic concepts;

(e) obtaining a modified interpretation of the subsurface volume based upon the applied geologic concepts.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more flexible geologic rules are provided via pattern language.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible geologic concepts are provided by creating and defining a plurality of conceptual slots;

assigning candidate surfaces to the plurality of conceptual slots;

selecting a representative surface from the candidate surface for each conceptual slot;

applying geologic rules to the plurality of representative surfaces to create a stack of surfaces.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the stack of surfaces is updated by creating new conceptual slots or deleting defined conceptual slots.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the stack of surfaces is updated by changing the candidate surfaces.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the stack of surfaces is updated by changing the selection of the representative surfaces for at least one conceptual slot.