Image symmetry for dip determination
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- conveying a downhole imaging tool of a dip determination system within a borehole, wherein the borehole extends from a wellsite surface to a subterranean formation, and wherein the dip determination system further comprises surface equipment disposed at the wellsite surface;
operating the downhole imaging tool to obtain an image of a geologic feature within the subterranean formation; and
operating the dip determination system to determine an aspect of the geologic feature by;
determining a symmetry axis of the image;
determining a longitudinal component of the feature based on the determined symmetry axis;
determining a transverse component of the feature based on the determined symmetry axis;
splitting the longitudinal component into sections;
combining the longitudinal component sections with the transverse component to determine one or more corresponding sinusoid segments; and
assigning a single dip value to each depth based on the one or more sinusoid segments.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for dip determination from an image obtained by a down-hole imaging tool. For each pixel forming the image, a probability that a symmetry axis coincides with the pixel is determined. A probability map is then generated, depicting the determined probability of each pixel coinciding with the symmetry axis. The probability map and the image are then superposed to generate a mapped image. The symmetry axis is then estimated based on the mapped image. Image pixels coinciding with a boundary of the geologic feature are then selected in multiple depth zones, and a segment of a sinusoid is fitted to the selected image pixels within each depth zone. Dip within each of the depth zones is then determined based on the fitted sinusoid segments therein.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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conveying a downhole imaging tool of a dip determination system within a borehole, wherein the borehole extends from a wellsite surface to a subterranean formation, and wherein the dip determination system further comprises surface equipment disposed at the wellsite surface; operating the downhole imaging tool to obtain an image of a geologic feature within the subterranean formation; and operating the dip determination system to determine an aspect of the geologic feature by; determining a symmetry axis of the image; determining a longitudinal component of the feature based on the determined symmetry axis; determining a transverse component of the feature based on the determined symmetry axis; splitting the longitudinal component into sections; combining the longitudinal component sections with the transverse component to determine one or more corresponding sinusoid segments; and assigning a single dip value to each depth based on the one or more sinusoid segments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method, comprising:
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conveying a downhole imaging tool of a dip determination system within a borehole, wherein the borehole extends from a wellsite surface to a subterranean formation, and wherein the dip determination system further comprises surface equipment disposed at the wellsite surface; operating the downhole imaging tool to obtain an image of a geologic feature within the subterranean formation; and operating the dip determination system to determine an aspect of the geologic feature by; for each of a plurality of pixels forming the image, determining a probability that a symmetry axis coincides with the pixel; generating a probability map depicting the determined probability of each pixel coinciding with the symmetry axis; superposing the probability map and the image to generate a mapped image; estimating the symmetry axis based on the mapped image; selecting a plurality of image pixels coinciding with a boundary of the geologic feature in each of a plurality of depth zones; fitting a segment of a sinusoid to the plurality of selected image pixels within each of the plurality of depth zones; and determining dip within each of the plurality of depth zones based on the fitted sinusoid segments therein. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus, comprising:
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a dip determination system comprising; a downhole imaging tool conveyable within a borehole that extends from a wellsite surface to a subterranean formation, wherein the downhole imaging tool is operable to obtain an image of a geologic feature within the subterranean formation while disposed in the borehole proximate the geologic feature; and surface equipment disposed at the wellsite surface and in electrical communication with the downhole image tool; wherein the dip determination system is operable to determine an aspect of the geologic feature by; for each of a plurality of pixels forming the image, determining a probability that a symmetry axis coincides with the pixel; generating a probability map depicting the determined probability of each pixel coinciding with the symmetry axis; superposing the probability map and the image to generate a mapped image; estimating the symmetry axis based on the mapped image; selecting a plurality of image pixels coinciding with a boundary of the geologic feature in each of a plurality of depth zones; fitting a segment of a sinusoid to the plurality of selected image pixels within each of the plurality of depth zones; and determining dip within each of the plurality of depth zones based on the fitted sinusoid segments therein. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification