Abstract: Provided are methods of locating a well bore to optimize fluid extraction from a region of interest. In this manner, well production may be better predicted without having to go through the time and effort of drilling exploratory-type wells. The methods analyze semblance values of voxels within a full activity volume, and identify near well activity (NWA) voxels based on voxels that exceed the mean semblance value by a cut-off value. For example, the cut-off value may correspond to one or two standard deviations greater than the mean semblance value. Optimal fluid recovery corresponds to a well bore location at or near the putative location corresponding to the maximum number of NWA voxels in the region of interest.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for mapping a volume of the Earth's subsurface encompassing a selected path within said volume, comprising dividing the volume of the Earth's subsurface into a three-dimensional grid of voxels and transforming detected seismic signals representing seismic energy originating from said volume of the Earth's subsurface when no induced fracturing activity is occurring along said selected path and conducted to a recording unit for recording into signals representing energy originating from the voxels included in said grid of voxels, and utilizing said transformed seismic signals to estimate spatially continuous flow paths for reservoir fluids through said volume of the Earth's subsurface to said selected path.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for mapping a volume of the Earth's subsurface encompassing a selected path within said volume, comprising dividing the volume of the Earth's subsurface into a three-dimensional grid of voxels and transforming detected seismic signals representing seismic energy originating from said volume of the Earth's subsurface when no induced fracturing activity is occurring along said selected path and conducted to a recording unit for recording into signals representing energy originating from the voxels included in said grid of voxels, and utilizing said transformed seismic signals to estimate spatially continuous flow paths for reservoir fluids through said volume of the Earth's subsurface to said selected path.

Abstract: Multi-phase fluid flow in a pipeline or other flowline is monitored using a combination of flow type detectors. One set of detectors monitors the interfaces between fluid interfaces and the other monitors the presence of different fluid phases around the periphery of the flowline. The relative volumetric fluid flow rates can be measured by detecting changes in the phase interfaces between two sets of sensor rings using sensors spaced around the flowline with the fluid flow type being detected across the flowline with an annular capacitance detector. The sensor rings typically use ultrasonic transducers for detecting the phase interfaces while the capacitance device indicates the presence (or absence) of different phases around the periphery of the flowline. By combining the outputs of the different detectors, an indication of the flow phenomena in the flowline can be obtained.