Systems and methods for connectivity analysis using functional objects

• US 9,733,388 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Cheng, Yao-Chou, Holl, James E., Dobin, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): YANG, ANDREW GUS
• Application Number:
  US12/920,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20110063292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,066 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/00 Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/00 Prospecting or detecting by methods combining techniques covered by two or more of main groups G01V1/00 - G01V9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 20/00 Geomodelling in general
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/66 Subsurface modeling
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/663 Modeling production-induced effects

Abstract

Systems and methods which utilize functional objects in connectivity analysis are shown. Functional objects may be denoted by a geological feature, a user-defined location, a critical point in a connection network, a region within a 3D volume, etc. Each functional object preferably possesses and/or has associated therewith an ability to obtain information such as relevant connection pathways, linked regions of interest, statistical connection information, etc. Such functional objects may have dynamic regions associated therewith, such as to define an area of uncertainty, for facilitating exploring connectivity. Desired connectivity information can be revealed interactively from within a confusing web of connection pathways through use of the functional objects. Through interactive manipulation of functional objects analysis may be refined or revised. Additionally or alternatively, logical operations may be applied with respect to one or more functional objects to extend or reduce the connectivity of interest.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a subsurface geologic model of a geologic area of interest, said model including representations of objects within said geologic area of interest;

defining one or more functional objects within said model;

identifying a set of fluid reservoir connection pathways within said model associated with said one or more functional objects;

identifying one or more fluid reservoir connection pathways not associated with said one or more functional objects;

analyzing fluid connectivity within said geologic area of interest with respect to said one or more functional objects using said set of fluid reservoir connection pathways; and

presenting said set of fluid reservoir connection pathways to be readily identifiable visually in said visualization environment, relative to said one or more reservoir connection pathways not part of said set of said fluid reservoir connection pathways.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more functional objects comprise a set of structural objects within said geologic area of interest selected as being relevant to a functional attribute of said geologic area of interest to be analyzed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said structural objects comprise a geologic object of said objects.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said structural objects comprise an engineering object of said objects.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said defining one or more functional objects comprises:

defining a dynamic region in association with a functional object of said one or more functional objects.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said dynamic region comprises an area of uncertainty with respect to at least one attribute of said functional object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one functional object of said one or more functional objects has information associated therewith regarding at least one functional attribute of said geologic area of interest, and wherein said analyzing fluid connectivity within said geologic area of interest with respect to said one or more function objects is further with respect to said at least one functional attribute.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying a set of fluid reservoir connection pathways comprises:

applying logic operations with respect to said one or more functional objects.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing fluid connectivity within said geologic area of interest comprises:

dynamically manipulating at least one functional object of said one or more functional objects to thereby alter said set of fluid reservoir connection pathways.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said dynamically manipulating said at least one functional object comprises:

changing a size of said at least one functional object.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said dynamically manipulating said at least one functional object comprises:

changing a shape of said at least one functional object.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said dynamically manipulating said at least one functional object comprises:

changing a position of said at least one functional object.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said dynamically manipulating said at least one functional object comprises:

changing an area of uncertainty associated with said at least one functional object.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said dynamically manipulating said at least one functional object comprises:

deselecting said at least one functional object.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising de-emphasizing, in said visualization environment, fluid reservoir connection pathways associated with said deselected functional object.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing fluid connectivity within said geologic area of interest comprises:

dynamically changing a logical operation associated with at least one functional object of said one or more functional objects to thereby alter said set of fluid reservoir connection pathways.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing hydrocarbons from said geologic area of interest from at least one of the functional objects that is associated with one or more of said plurality of fluid reservoir connection pathways.

18. A method comprising:

providing a first subsurface geologic model of a geologic area of interest, said first model including representations of structural objects within said geologic area of interest and having a first plurality of fluid reservoir connection pathways defined therein;

providing a second subsurface geologic model of said geologic area of interest, said second model including representations of at least a portion of said structural objects and having a second plurality of fluid reservoir connection pathways defined therein; and

correlating points within said first model with corresponding points in said second model using said structural objects and said fluid reservoir connection pathways to thereby provide a correlated model of said geological area of interest.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

identifying an area of inconsistency between said first model and said second model; and

modifying at least one aspect of said correlated model as a function of said area of inconsistency.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

defining one or more functional objects within said correlated model;

identifying a subset of fluid reservoir connection pathways of said correlated model associated with said one or more functional objects; and

analyzing connectivity within said geologic area of interest using said subset of fluid reservoir connection pathways.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

de-emphasizing, in a visualization environment, fluid reservoir connection pathways of said correlated model not part of said subset of fluid reservoir connection pathways to thereby present said subset of fluid reservoir connection pathways in said visualization environment so as to be readily identifiable visually.