Abstract: This invention is a method of developing a sedimentary basin containing hydrocarbons, by using basin simulation. Starting with gridded representations representative of a basin for each time step of a simulation, for each time step and in each cell of the gridded representation the following steps are performed. First a determination of at least one amount of biogenic gas produced in the cell for the time step is preformed followed by determining at least one amount of biogenic gas dissolved in water present in the cell at the time step, and determining therefrom an amount of free biogenic gas in the cell at the time step; then, accounting for advective transport of the quantity of biogenic gas dissolved in the water of the cell at the time step.

Abstract: This invention is a method of developing a sedimentary basin containing hydrocarbons, by using basin simulation. Starting with gridded representations representative of a basin for each time step of a simulation, for each time step and in each cell of the gridded representation the following steps are performed. First a determination of at least one amount of biogenic gas produced in the cell for the time step is preformed followed by determining at least one amount of biogenic gas dissolved in water present in the cell at the time step, and determining therefrom an amount of free biogenic gas in the cell at the time step; then, accounting for advective transport of the quantity of biogenic gas dissolved in the water of the cell at the time step. Application: petroleum reservoir exploration and development for example.

Abstract: A method for mapping a complex sedimentary basin is disclosed. A grid representative of the current architecture of the basin is constructed. A mechanical structural restoration is applied in three dimensions so as to reconstruct the past architectures of the basin from the current time up to a geological time t. A simulation of the geological and geochemical processes that govern the formation of a petroleum reservoir is then carried out, directly in the grids obtained from the restoration, from the geological time t to the current one. This simulation is thereafter used for mapping the sedimentary basin so as to identify zones of the basin where hydrocarbons may have accumulated.

Abstract: A method for stratigraphic interpretation of a seismic image for determining a sedimentary history of an underground zone having application to petroleum exploration. The seismic reflectors of the image are digitized by means of an applied shape recognition technique. At least one attribute characteristic of the structure of the image in the vicinity of each reflector is calculated for a set of reflectors by means of an image analysis technique. This analysis is based on at least one analysis window whose shape is controlled by the associated reflector. Pertinent reflectors, in the sense of the stratigraphic interpretation, are selected from among this set of reflectors on the basis of this attribute. Finally, the sedimentary history of the underground zone is reconstructed from a stratigraphic interpretation of the reflectors thus selected.

Abstract: A method for mapping a complex sedimentary basin is disclosed. A grid representative of the current architecture of the basin is constructed. A mechanical structural restoration is applied in three dimensions so as to reconstruct the past architectures of the basin from the current time up to a geological time t. A simulation of the geological and geochemical processes that govern the formation of a petroleum reservoir is then carried out, directly in the grids obtained from the restoration, from the geological time t to the current one. This simulation is thereafter used for mapping the sedimentary basin so as to identify zones of the basin where hydrocarbons may have accumulated.

Abstract: The invention is a method for stratigraphic interpretation of a seismic image for determining a sedimentary history of an underground zone having application to petroleum exploration. The seismic reflectors of the image are digitized by means of an applied shape recognition technique. At least one attribute characteristic of the structure of the image in the vicinity of each reflector is calculated for a set of reflectors by means of an image analysis technique. This analysis is based on at least one analysis window whose shape is controlled by the associated reflector. Pertinent reflectors, in the sense of the stratigraphic interpretation, are selected from among this set of reflectors on the basis of this attribute. Finally, the sedimentary history of the underground zone is reconstructed from a stratigraphic interpretation of the reflectors thus selected.

Abstract: The invention allows construction of the architecture of sedimentary layers deposited on a topographic surface as a result of the passage of sedimentary currents, using cellular automata. The topographic surface is discretized into a set of cellular automata. Then, for each current and each automaton, a stationary physical state resulting from an iterative process wherein intermediate physical states are constructed by material and energy exchanges between the automata is determined. These automata are thus constructed so as to be representative of the action of the sedimentary currents on the construction of the sedimentary architecture. A set of geologic variables allowing the architecture of the sedimentary layers to be reconstructed is thus deduced from these stationary physical states. Preferred fields of application of the method are oil exploration and production and reservoir characterization.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of geometric deformation of a seismic image for interpretation. The method includes selecting a geologic layer represented in the seismic image determining by stratigraphic modeling a mean topographic depositional surface for said layer deforming the seismic image by displaying the traces by taking account of the modeled mean depositional surface; and carrying out a geologic interpretation of the image thus deformed.

Abstract: The method of the invention allows, by means of an iterative inversion algorithm, prediction of the spatial distribution of the lithologic composition of sediments deposited in a sedimentary basin during a geologic time interval, and the temporal evolution of the depositional profile throughout filling of the basin, while respecting exactly the thicknesses of the sedimentary sequences measured otherwise which is useful for locating hydrocarbon reservoirs. Input data of thickness maps of the sedimentary layer, location and composition of the sediment supply at the boundaries of the sedimentary basin, and physical parameters characterizing transport of the sediments during the period of consideration are applied to an iterative inversion loop initialized by the accommodation provided by a stationary multilithologic diffusive model which works as a fixed-point algorithm correcting the accommodations by means of a preconditioning of the residue on the sequence thicknesses obtained by an instationary model.

Abstract: A method having application for the development of oil reservoirs for automatically extracting from a seismic image pertinent information for sedimentologic interpretation by using estimations of realistic chronological scenarios of sedimentary layers deposition. The method includes iterative estimation of a first and of a second chronological scenario of the deposition of sedimentary layers, assuming that each reflector settles at the earliest and at the latest possible moment during the sedimentary depositional process. A chronological level number is assigned to a group of initial reflectors. Then a chronological level number is incremented by one and decremented by one which numbers are assigned to the reflectors including pixels located above and respectively below the initial reflectors and above and respectively below no other reflector. An interpretation of these two chronological scenarios is eventually carried out so as to reconstruct the depositional conditions of the sedimentary layers.

Abstract: A method having application for the development of oil reservoirs for automatically extracting from a seismic image pertinent information for sedimentologic interpretation in order to reconstruct the depositional conditions under which sedimentary layers have formed, by means of estimations of realistic chronological scenarios of sedimentary layers deposition. The method comprises iterative estimation of a first and of a second chronological scenario of the deposition of sedimentary layers, assuming that each reflector settles at the earliest, respectively at the latest possible moment during the sedimentary depositional process. A chronological level number is assigned to a group of initial reflectors. Then a chronological level number incremented by one, respectively decremented by one, is assigned to the reflectors made up from pixels located above, respectively below the initial reflectors and above, respectively below no other reflector.

Abstract: The invention is a method relating to the formation by simulation of a reference map of the spatial distribution of the sediment supply, according to the composition thereof, in a sedimentary basin during a sedimentary deposition sequence (during a given geologic time interval) and also allows obtaining the topography of the land surface of the basin at the beginning and at the end of this period. The available input data are a map of the thickness of the sedimentary layer studied, known by interpretation of seismic survey results, data relative to the location and to the composition of the sediment supply at the boundaries of the sedimentary basin being studied, obtained by interpretation of seismic surveys, measurements and observations, and physical parameters characterizing transportation of the sediments (diffusion coefficients in the marine environment and in the continental environment) during the period considered. An application is locating hydrocarbon reservoirs.

Abstract: The method allows, by means of an iterative inversion algorithm, to predict the spatial distribution of the lithologic composition of sediments deposited in a sedimentary basin during a geologic time interval, and the temporal evolution of the depositional profile throughout filling of the basin, while respecting exactly the thicknesses of the sedimentary sequences measured otherwise. The input data consist of the thickness maps of the sedimentary layer studied, data relative to the location and to the composition of the sediment supply at the boundaries of the sedimentary basin studied, and physical parameters characterizing transport of the sediments during the period considered. These data are determined by interpretation of seismic surveys, by measurements and observations. This set of data is applied to an iterative inversion loop initialized by the accommodation provided by a stationary multilithologic diffusive model.

Abstract: The present method relates to a method of geometric deformation of a seismic image for interpretation, comprising the steps of selecting a geologic layer represented in the seismic image; determining by stratigraphic modelling a mean topographic depositional surface for said layer; deforming the seismic image by displacing the traces by taking account of the modelled mean depositional surface, and carrying out a geologic interpretation of the image thus deformed.

Abstract: A method for modelling flows in a fractured medium crossed by a network of fluid conducting objects of definite geometry but not homogenizable on the scale of each grid cell of the model (large fractures, sub-seismic faults for example, very permeable sedimentary layers, etc.) which has an application in the evaluation of hydrocarbon reservoirs is disclosed. The method allows simulation fluid of flows in a fractured porous geologic medium of known structure that is discretized with a grid and modelled by considering that each elementary volume of the fractured geologic medium is an equivalent fracture medium and matrix medium on the scale of each cell between which fluid exchanges are determined. The method determines exchanges between the matrix medium and the fracture medium, and modeles the transmissivities of the various cells crossed by each conducting object, so that the resulting transmissivity corresponds to the direct transmissivity along each conducting object.

Abstract: The invention is a method relating to the formation by simulation of a reference map of the spatial distribution of the sediment supply, according to the composition thereof, in a sedimentary basin during a sedimentary deposition sequence (during a given geologic time interval) and also allows obtaining the topography of the land surface of the basin at the beginning and at the end of this period. The available input data are a map of the thickness of the sedimentary layer studied, known by interpretation of seismic survey results, data relative to the location and to the composition of the sediment supply at the boundaries of the sedimentary basin being studied, obtained by interpretation of seismic surveys, measurements and observations, and physical parameters characterizing transportation of the sediments (diffusion coefficients in the marine environment and in the continental environment) during the period considered.

Abstract: Method for modelling flows in a fractured medium crossed by a network of fluid conducting objects of definite geometry but not homogenizable on the scale of each grid cell of the model (large fractures, sub-seismic faults for example, very permeable sedimentary layers, etc.).

Abstract: Method for determining the equivalent fracture permeability of a fracture network in a subsurface multi-layered medium from a known representation of this network. The equivalent fracture permeability of a fractured network in a subsurface multi-layered medium, is determined by discretizing with a specific procedure each fracture (F) of the fracture network in fracture elements (R) (such as rectangles for example) and defining nodes N representing interconnected fracture elements in each layer of the medium and determining fluid flows (steady-state flows e.g.) through the discretized network while imposing boundary pressure conditions and fluid transmissivities to each couple of neighboring nodes. The method allows for a systematic linking of fractured reservoir characterization models with dual-porosity simulators in order to create a more realistic modeling of a fractured subsurface geological structure.

Abstract: The invention is a method of representing a configuration of a network of curves or lineaments of objects in a zone of an environment or of a field of vector physical quantities in the zone, by interpolation from known data relative to a position and an orientation of the objects or to values of the quantities, in a plurality of points or locations of the environment, in which a locating pattern of meshes is superimposed on the zone being studied. The invention includes the steps of assigning, to the meshes which are crossed by at least one of the lineaments, an orientation directed depending on that of the lineament, so as to obtain a first discrete distribution of oriented meshes; and determining, according to iterative process, directions to be assigned respectively to the other meshes by comparing directions assigned to the oriented meshes, by selecting for each mesh to be oriented an intermediate direction between an angular interval at most equal to 90.degree.

Abstract: A method for modelling a configuration of a fault network in a subsoil zone including a group of major faults detected by means of an exploration of the zone, by positioning also in the fault network, corresponding to an identical tectonic event, minor faults that have not been detected during the exploration is disclosed. The method includes analyzing the fault network to determine fractal characteristics thereof successively by randomly selecting minor faults and positioning each of the minor faults by determining a fractal dimension of the fault network and a density function defining a distribution of lengths of the faults; selecting a range of lengths of the faults by extrapolation of the defined distribution of the lengths of the faults; and successively randomly positioning the minor faults in the fault network and testing positioning thereof to check if the fault network with each of the positioned minor faults remains a fractal fault network.