Method for updating a geologic model by seismic data

• US 7,400,978 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Instituit Francais Du Pretrole
• Original Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole
• Inventors: Le Ravalec, Mickaele, Lucet, Nathalie, Langlais, Valérie
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond; Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/612,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 702/14, 702/22, 702/182, 702/188, 703/1, 703/3, 175/40, 175/50
• US Class Current: 702/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/306 for determining physical properties of the subsurface, e.g. impedance, porosity or attenuation profiles

Abstract

A method of predicting petrophysical characteristics of an underground reservoir by constructing a geologic model consistent with seismic measurements is disclosed which permits optimization of oil reservoir development schemes. A geologic model, from which seismic data are simulated in depth, is constructed in depth. The geologic model is made consistent with seismic measurements acquired in time by minimization of an objective function by comparing the seismic measurements with seismic data simulated from the geologic model and converted to time. During minimization, the interval velocities used for conversion are updated by comparing, within the objective function, an observed thickness in time ΔT_obs^m,n between two markers with a thickness in time ΔT_sim^m,n simulated from the seismic data, and by modifying simulation parameters such as the error ε_sim^m,n on the thickness of the two markers estimated in depth.

Claims

1. A method allowing prediction of petrophysical characteristics of an underground reservoir, comprising:

constructing a geologic model from geologic measurements acquired in depth;

simulating in depth seismic data, acquisition in time of seismic measurements on which at least two seismic markers distant from one another by an observed thickness in time Δ

T_obs^m,n are identified;

making the geologic model consistent with the seismic measurements by minimizing an objective function;

simulating in depth seismic velocities allowing estimation of the thickness in depth Δ

Z_est^m,n of the markers, and simulating an error ε

_sim^m,n made on this estimation;

carrying out time conversion of the seismic data simulated in depth by means of an interval velocity deduced from the observed thickness in time Δ

T_obs^m,n and from the error ε

_sim^m,n;

updating the interval velocity by comparing, within the objective function, the observed thickness in time Δ

T_obs^m,n with a thickness in time Δ

T_sim^m,n simulated from the seismic data, and by modifying said simulation of said error ε

_sim^m,n;

carrying out the consistency enforcement operation by minimization of the objective function by comparing the seismic measurements with the simulated seismic data converted to time; and

predicting the petrophysical characteristics of the underground reservoir from the geologic model.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the interval velocity represents a ratio of the thickness in depth Δ

Z_est^m,n of the markers corrected for error ε

_sim^m,n to the observed thickness in time Δ

T_obs^m,n.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

the simulated thickness in time Δ

T_sim^m,n is determined for each cell of a grid of the geologic model contained between the markers, the thickness in depth of the cell is simulated and divided by the seismic velocity of the cell and then all of the ratios obtained for the cells contained between the markers are vertically stacked.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the simulation of the error ε

_sim^m,n on an estimation of thickness in depth is performed by means of a gradual deformation technique.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the geologic model is made consistent with seismic impedances of P waves and seismic impedances of S waves.

6. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the geologic model is made consistent with seismic impedances of P waves and seismic impedances of S waves.

7. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the simulation of the error ε

_sim^m,n on an estimation of thickness in depth is performed by means of a gradual deformation technique.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the geologic model is made consistent with seismic impedances of P waves and seismic impedances of S waves.

9. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the geologic model is made consistent with seismic impedances of P waves and seismic impedances of S waves.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the simulated thickness in time Δ

T_sim^m,n is determined for each cell of a grid of the geologic model contained between the markers, the thickness in depth of the cell is simulated and divided by the seismic velocity of the cell and then all of the ratios obtained for the cells contained between the markers are vertically stacked.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the simulation of the error ε

_sim^m,n on an estimation of thickness in depth is performed by means of a gradual deformation technique.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the geologic model is made consistent with seismic impedances of P waves and seismic impedances of S waves.

13. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the geologic model is made consistent with seismic impedances of P waves and seismic impedances of S waves.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the simulation of the error ε

_sim^m,n on an estimation of thickness in depth is performed by means of a gradual deformation technique.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the geologic model is made consistent with seismic impedances of P waves and seismic impedances of S waves.

16. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the geologic model is made consistent with seismic impedances of P waves and seismic impedances of S waves.