Adjoint-based conditioning of process-based geologic models

• US 8,892,412 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2009
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Ghayour, Kaveh, Sun, Tao
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Kamini S
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIERRE LOUIS, ANDRE
• Application Number:
  US13/148,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20110308811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,811 Days
• Field of Search: 703/9, 703/10, 166/250.01
• US Class Current: 703/9
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/30 Analysis G01V1/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method for correlating data predicted by a processor physics-based geologic model to describe a subsurface region with obtained data describing the subsurface region. Data is obtained describing an initial state of the subsurface region. Data describing a subsequent state of the subsurface region is predicted. The predicted data is compared with the obtained data taking into account whether the obtained data or the predicted data represent a discontinuous event. A sensitivity of the predicted data is determined if the predicted data is not within an acceptable range of the obtained data. The data describing the initial state of the subsurface region is adjusted based on the sensitivity before performing a subsequent iteration of predicting data describing the subsequent state of the subsurface region. A representation of the subsurface region based on the data describing the subsequent state of the subsurface region is outputted.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for correlating data predicted by a process-based model or physics-based model to describe a subsurface region with known data describing the subsurface region, the method comprising:

obtaining data describing the subsurface region;

estimating model parameters of an initial state of the subsurface region;

predicting data describing a subsequent state of the subsurface region with a computer, wherein the predicting data comprises using the model parameters to simulate with a model the evolution of a channel by modeling dynamics of interplay between channel migration and changing sedimentary environment;

comparing the predicted data with the obtained data by computing an objective function taking into account whether the predicted data represent a discontinuous event, wherein the objective function is defined using the following formulation;

2. The method for correlating predicted data recited in claim 1, comprising terminating the method if the predicted data is within the acceptable range of the obtained data.

3. The method for correlating predicted data recited in claim 1, comprising taking into account whether the predicted data represents an adaptation by uniformly distributing a series of data points corresponding to a region of curvature of the subsurface region and determining the sensitivity of predicted data at each of the uniformly distributed data points.

4. The method for correlating predicted data recited in claim 1, comprising taking into account whether the predicted data represents an adaptation by clustering a series of data points corresponding to a region of high curvature of the subsurface region and determining the sensitivity of predicted data at each of the clustered data points.

5. The method for correlating predicted data recited in claim 1, wherein taking into account whether the predicted data represents a discontinuous event comprises recognizing co-existing profiles at a time of the event and determining an accurate relationship between adjoint variables before and after the event.

6. The method for correlating predicted data recited in claim 1, comprising performing hierarchical conditioning by obtaining an acceptable correlation at a coarse level before evaluating the sensitivity level at a fine level.

7. The method for correlating predicted data recited in claim 1, comprising predicting data describing a subsequent state of the subsurface region for a region of the subsurface region for which no data is obtained.

8. The method for correlating predicted data recited in claim 1, wherein predicting data describing a subsequent state of the subsurface region is performed via a process-based model.

9. The method for correlating predicted data recited in claim 1, wherein the discontinuous event is a cut-off.

10. The method for correlating predicted data recited in claim 1, wherein outputting the representation of the subsurface region comprises displaying a visual representation of the subsurface region based on the data describing the subsequent state of the subsurface region.

11. The method of correlating predicted data recited in claim 1, further comprising sequestering a carbon-containing substance using the outputted representation of the subsurface region.

12. A method for producing hydrocarbons from an oil and/or gas field, the method comprising:

obtaining data describing an oil and/or gas field;

estimating model parameters of an initial state of the subsurface region;

predicting data describing a subsequent state of the oil and/or gas field, wherein the predicting data comprises using input model parameters to simulate with a model evolution of a channel by modeling dynamics of interplay between channel migration and changing sedimentary environment;

comparing the predicted data with the obtained data by computing an objective function taking into account whether the predicted data represents a discontinuous event, wherein the objective function is defined using the following formulation;

13. The method for producing hydrocarbons recited in claim 12, comprising taking into account whether the predicted data represents an adaptation by uniformly distributing a series of data points corresponding to a region of curvature of the subsurface region and determining the sensitivity of predicted data at each of the uniformly distributed data points.

14. The method for producing hydrocarbons recited in claim 12, comprising taking into account whether the predicted data represents an adaptation by clustering a series of data points corresponding to a region of high curvature of the subsurface region and determining the sensitivity of predicted data at each of the clustered data points.

15. The method for producing hydrocarbons recited in claim 12, wherein taking into account whether the predicted data represents a discontinuous event comprises recognizing co-existing profiles at a time of the event and determining an accurate relationship between adjoint variables before and after the event.

16. The method for producing hydrocarbons recited in claim 12, further comprising performing hierarchical conditioning by obtaining an acceptable correlation at a coarse level before evaluating the sensitivity level at a fine level.

17. The method for producing hydrocarbons recited in claim 12, further comprising predicting data describing a subsequent state of the subsurface region for a region of the subsurface region for which no data is obtained.

18. The method for producing hydrocarbons recited in claim 12, wherein predicting data describing a subsequent state of the oil and/or gas field is performed via a process-based model.

19. The method for producing hydrocarbons recited in claim 12, comprising displaying a visual representation of the oil and/or gas field based on the data describing the subsequent state of the oil and/or gas field.

20. The method for producing hydrocarbons recited in claim 12, comprising transforming data representative of the sensitivity of the predicted data from a physical space to a computational space.

21. A computer system that is configured to correlate data predicted by a process-based model or physics-based model to describe a subsurface region with known data describing the subsurface region, the computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a tangible, machine-readable storage medium that stores tangible, machine-readable instructions for execution by the processor, the tangible, machine-readable instructions comprising;

code that is configured to obtain data describing the subsurface region;

code that is configured to obtain estimates of input model parameters of an initial state of the subsurface region;

code that is configured to predict data describing a subsequent state of the subsurface region, wherein the code is configured to use input model parameters to simulate with a model the evolution of a channel by modeling dynamics of interplay between channel migration and changing sedimentary environment;

code that is configured to compare the predicted data with the obtained data by computing an objective function taking into account whether the predicted data represents a discontinuous event, wherein the objective function is defined using the following formulation;

22. The computer system of claim 21, further comprising:

a display for displaying a visual representation of the subsurface region based on the data describing the subsequent state of the subsurface region, wherein the tangible, machine-readable instructions further include code for outputting said visual representation to the display.

23. The computer system of claim 21, further comprising:

code that is configured to take into account whether the predicted data represents an adaptation by uniformly distributing a series of data points corresponding to a region of curvature of the subsurface region and determining the sensitivity of predicted data at each of the uniformly distributed data points.