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.
2 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