Abstract: Method and systems are provided for building a structural model of the subsurface. The method may comprise obtaining discretized data that includes surfaces, polylines, points, or combinations thereof. The surfaces in the discretized data are segmented by other surfaces to form a number of segments. Each of the segments are fit to an implicit function. The implicit function for each of the segments is thresholded to create a number of implicit surfaces. The implicit surfaces are intersected to create a number of model surfaces. The structural model is then constructed from the model surfaces.

Abstract: Accordingly, there are disclosed herein geologic modeling methods and systems employing reference-based inversion of seismic image volumes. An illustrative method embodiment includes: (a) obtaining a measured seismic image volume; (b) determining a reference seismic image volume based on a reference model; (c) deriving a synthesized seismic image volume from a geologic model; (d) detecting at least one geologic model region where the synthesized seismic image volume and the measured seismic image volume are mismatched; (e) finding a reference model region where the reference seismic image volume best matches the measured seismic image volume; (f) replacing content of the at least one geologic model region with content of the reference model region to obtain an improved geologic model; and (g) outputting the improved geologic model.

Abstract: A method and system are described for creating a subsurface model. In this method, discontinuous functions are interpolated in a subsurface model. The method extrapolates specified values over discontinuous manifolds by embedding the manifold in a higher-dimensional space that amplifies distances across discontinuities and thus eliminates special consideration to prevent extrapolation across discontinuities. The resulting subsurface model may be used in reservoir simulations and hydrocarbon operations.

Abstract: Accordingly, there are disclosed herein geologic modeling methods and systems employing reference-based inversion of seismic image volumes. An illustrative method embodiment includes: (a) obtaining a measured seismic image volume; (b) determining a reference seismic image volume based on a reference model; (c) deriving a synthesized seismic image volume from a geologic model; (d) detecting at least one geologic model region where the synthesized seismic image volume and the measured seismic image volume are mismatched; (e) finding a reference model region where the reference seismic image volume best matches the measured seismic image volume; (f) replacing content of the at least one geologic model region with content of the reference model region to obtain an improved geologic model; and (g) outputting the improved geologic model.

Abstract: A method for hydrocarbon exploration and extraction is described. Specifically, the method includes using synthesis in reservoir modeling. The method may include obtaining local coordinates associated with a subsurface region. Then, a synthesis is performed with the local coordinates to determine continuous parameters and/or categorical parameters based on the synthesis. Then, a fluid flow simulation is performed from the continuous parameters and/or categorical parameters.

Abstract: Method and systems are provided for building a structural model of the subsurface. The method may comprise obtaining discretized data that includes surfaces, polylines, points, or combinations thereof. The surfaces in the discretized data are segmented by other surfaces to form a number of segments. Each of the segments are fit to an implicit function. The implicit function for each of the segments is thresholded to create a number of implicit surfaces. The implicit surfaces are intersected to create a number of model surfaces. The structural model is then constructed from the model surfaces.

Abstract: A method and system are described for creating a subsurface model. In this method, discontinuous functions are interpolated in a subsurface model. The method extrapolates specified values over discontinuous manifolds by embedding the manifold in a higher-dimensional space that amplifies distances across discontinuities and thus eliminates special consideration to prevent extrapolation across discontinuities. The resulting subsurface model may be used in reservoir simulations and hydrocarbon operations.

Abstract: A method for hydrocarbon exploration and extraction is described. Specifically, the method includes using synthesis in reservoir modeling. The method may include obtaining local coordinates associated with a subsurface region. Then, a synthesis is performed with the local coordinates to determine continuous parameters and/or categorical parameters based on the synthesis. Then, a fluid flow simulation is performed from the continuous parameters and/or categorical parameters.

Abstract: Method for using a non-stationary, multi-scale domain transformation to combine multiple geophysical data sources, for example seismic data and well log data, into one coherent reservoir model. The seismic data are inverted (71) to obtain one or more geophysical properties which are converted using petrophysical relationships to a subsurface model of a reservoir property such as porosity or shale volume fraction. The well log data are used to generate a geostatistical forward model (72) of the reservoir property. Both models of the reservoir property are transformed to a joint space/scale domain, of order >1, where processing is applied (73) to merge the models into a coherent way into a single model before inverse transforming back to the space domain (74). The transform is a non-stationary multi-scale transform such as a wavelet, ridgelet, or curvelet transform. The processing may be by, for example, information theory or convex combination.

Abstract: Method for identifying geologic features from geophysical or attribute data using windowed principal component (22), or independent component, or diffusion mapping (61) analysis. Subtle features are made identifiable in partial or residual data volumes. The residual data volumes (24) are created by (36) eliminating data not captured by the most prominent principal components (14). The partial data volumes are created by (35) projecting the data (21) on to selected principal components (22, 61). Geologic features may also be identified from pattern analysis (77) or anomaly volumes (62, 79) generated with a variable-scale data similarity matrix (73). The method is suitable for identifying physical features indicative of hydrocarbon potential.

Abstract: Method for identifying geologic features from geophysical or attribute data using windowed principal component (22), or independent component, or diffusion mapping (61) analysis. Subtle features are made identifiable in partial or residual data volumes. The residual data volumes (24) are created by (36) eliminating data not captured by the most prominent principal components (14). The partial data volumes are created by (35) projecting the data (21) on to selected principal components (22, 61). Geologic features may also be identified from pattern analysis (77) or anomaly volumes (62, 79) generated with a variable-scale data similarity matrix (73). The method is suitable for identifying physical features indicative of hydrocarbon potential.