Abstract: A Distributed Framework Intertask Communication Method and Apparatus providing a method for communicating between applications using an extensible communication protocol with an intuitive user interface allowing the user to easily visualize and control the connectivity between applications. The user transmits an interest object associated with an event from a first application to a server. The server then retransmits that interest object to a second application. When the second application practices that event, information concerning the practice of that event is transmitted directly from the second application to the first application without routing that event information through the server.

Abstract: An automatic, non-artificially extended, fault surface based horizon modeling method and apparatus produces a final faulted horizon model which is a three dimensional representation of a faulted earth formation including all the horizons and all the faults in response to seismic data, well log data, and fault surfaces and relationships data. The horizon modeling apparatus produces the final faulted horizon model by filtering input horizon data and removing bad (wrong-sided) data points.

Abstract: A Petragrid method and apparatus generates grid cell property information that is adapted for use by a computer simulation apparatus. An interpretation workstation includes at least two software programs stored therein: a first program called "Petragrid" and a second simulation program for generating a set of simulation results for display. The first Petragrid software program will: receive well log and seismic data which indicates each layer of a formation, grid each layer of the formation where the grid is comprised of a plurality of cells, and generate more accurate data associated with each grid cell, such as the transmissibility. The more accurate data for each cell will be transmitted to the second simulation program which will respond by generating a set of more accurate simulation results for each cell of the grid, and overlaying the more accurate simulation result for each cell onto each of the corresponding cells of the grid being displayed on the workstation display by the Petragrid software.

Abstract: A Petragrid method and apparatus generates grid cell property information that is adapted for use by a computer simulation apparatus which simulates properties of an earth formation located near one or more wellbores. An interpretation workstation includes at least two software programs stored therein: a first program called "Petragrid" and a second simulation program which is responsive to output data produced from the first "Petragrid" program for generating a set of simulation results. The set of simulation results are displayed on a workstation display monitor of the workstation. The first Petragrid software program will: receive well log and seismic data which indicates the location of each layer of a formation near a wellbore, and then grid each layer of the formation, the grid being comprised of a plurality of cells. The first Petragrid software will then generate more accurate data associated with each cell, such as the transmissibility of well fluid through each cell.

Abstract: An operator sitting at a workstation views, on a display, a multitude of seismic traces having one or more horizons indicated therein by a plurality of sets of events (such as peaks or troughs or zero crossings) on the seismic traces. The operator uses a mouse to draw a line from left to right across a plurality of seismic traces being displayed on the workstation display screen. At this point, the line does not lie on the events (such as the peaks) of the seismic traces. Therefore, the line does not yet represent a horizon in an earth formation. The operator presses a key on the keyboard of the workstation. In response to the pressing of this key, the workstation processor executes a "snapper software" in accordance with the present invention.

Abstract: An automatic, non-artificially extended, fault surface based horizon modeling method and apparatus produces a final faulted horizon model which is a three dimensional representation of a faulted earth formation including all the horizons and all the faults in response to seismic data, well log data, and fault surfaces and relationships data. The horizon modeling apparatus produces the final faulted horizon model by filtering input horizon data and removing bad (wrong-sided) data points.

Abstract: Formation tops correlation is interpreted between sampled log curves by a weighted combination of covariance, the ratio of standard deviation, and the ratio of summed amplitude. This covariance function is computed and evaluated appropriately for the geologic environment over a sliding analysis window. Correlations are determined for any number of wells and any number of events in each well. Geologic rules are used to establish a parameter for the algorithm operation and for the analysis of the resulting function. The geologic rules include bounding guide horizons, sequence rules, and a covariance cutoff parameter. Bounding horizons are picked from pre-existing seismic or geologic interpretations and from map grids. The rule set includes onlap, truncated, conformable, and unstructured sequence definitions. Additional geologic complexity such as crossover, repeat sections, and inverted sections are accommodated by the rule set.

Abstract: An interpretation workstation based apparatus having an "Auto Fault" software stored therein automatically identifies a plurality of fault cuts in each of a plurality of horizons in a seismic data volume in response to a plurality of predetermined "horizon time structures".

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for generating time slice maps and/or horizon maps, representative of a time slice or a horizon in an earth formation that is subject to a seismic operation, in response to received seismic data includes the steps of: (a) cross correlating a plurality of seismic traces from the seismic data and a corresponding plurality of quadrature traces associated, respectively, with the plurality of seismic traces to obtain a corresponding plurality of cross correlation functions "Q(.tau.)", (b) obtaining a plurality of particular values from the plurality of cross correlation functions "Q(.tau.)", at least one particular value being obtained from each cross correlation function, and (c) assigning the plurality of particular values to a respective plurality of reflection points on a map, each particular value being assigned to a different one of the reflection points, thereby constructing the time slice map and/or the horizon map.

Abstract: A novel fault framework method and apparatus automatically computes the relationships between intersecting fault surfaces. When faults are loaded into the novel fault framework apparatus, all intersecting fault pairs are determined and the fault fault intersection lines are computed and stored. The intersecting fault pairs are presented and available for automatic calculation of the major/minor and above/below fault pair relationships. The geometry of both intersecting fault surfaces are examined on either side of the fault fault intersection line. This, in combination with the relative size of the faults, is analyzed to compute the major/minor and above/below relationships based on geologic assumptions and knowledge of the origin of the fault surface data. When the relationships between intersecting faults is defined, the minor fault is appropriately truncated.

Abstract: A processing system stores a special software known as the Cubemath software. The Cubemath software allows the processing system to process, analyze, and interpret a second set of seismic data relative to a first set of seismic data obtained from either a repeat seismic operation or a single seismic two processing method operation. A first set of 3D seismic data is collected at a particular location on the surface of the earth at time "t1", and a second set of 3D seismic data is collected at that same particular location on the surface of the earth (at a different time "t2" when the repeat seismic operation is being performed).

Abstract: Disclosed is an underwater seismic exploration system utilizing a sonobuoy for the radio telemetry of seismic data signals to a remotely located receiver, the sonobuoy including circuitry for digitizing the analog signals generated by hydrophones suspended from the sonobuoy prior to the application of these signals to an RF antenna. The remotely located receiver includes an antenna for receiving the transmitted modulated digital signal information, and means for demodulating, demultiplexing, and appropriately converting the signals for either analog or digital recording of the received data.