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: A method for generating a fracability model of a subterranean formation. The method includes coring and collecting rock cores from a plurality of geographical locations in the subterranean formation, capturing a plurality of core images of the rock cores, generating, by a computer processor and based on the plurality of core images, a plurality of artificial fracture counts of the rock cores, computing, by the computer processor and based on the plurality of artificial fracture counts, a first fracture density curve corresponding to a first geographical location of the plurality of geographical locations, generating, by the computer processor and based on the first fracture density curve, a first fracability measure curve of the rock cores, and generating, by the computer processor and based at least on the first fracability measure curve, a fracability model of the subterranean formation.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for analyzing a reservoir grid modeling a reservoir geological formation is provided in which the reservoir grid corresponds to a 3D grid of cells associated to respective values of at least one geological property. The method includes obtaining a 4D seismic image of the reservoir geological formation. A skeleton of the 4D seismic image is calculated, and the skeleton extends between at least one origin and a plurality of extremities. Each point of the skeleton is associated to a value of the at least one geological property of the reservoir grid. Flow time values are calculated for a fluid flowing from the origin to the extremities along the skeleton, based on the at least one geological property values associated to the points of the skeleton. The reservoir grid is calculated based on the flow time values.

Abstract: A crossbore detection system. The system is located in a downhole tool proximate a drill bit. The system comprises circuitry sensitive to a subsurface environment and a sensor that detects changes in the circuitry. The sensor detects changes in the circuitry that indicates that the drill bit has struck an underground pipe. The sensor may detect a series of electromagnetic signals indicative of the strike or may detect changes to an impedance bridge at a capacitive sensor.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for performing image-guided fault extraction from a fault-enhanced seismic image. The system divides three-dimensional fault-enhanced seismic images into a series of two-dimensional seismic image slices that can be selectively displayed and analyzed for fault surfaces. The system allows a user to select two or more fault surface points in a displayed image slice and identifies a fault path between the first fault surface point and the second fault surface that corresponds to a calculated at least cost path.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for displaying seismic image data may include computing, from a wide-azimuth data set, a discrete data set associated with an image function at a seismic image point. The discrete data set may be mapped onto a continuous curved three-dimensional surface. The mapped data set may be projected onto a continuous planar surface. The projected data may be displayed as a planar disk. A plurality of continuous planar surfaces, each representing a single image point, may be assembled to form a three-dimensional body, representing a seismic gather of image points. The three-dimensional body may be displayed. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for displaying seismic image data may include computing, from a wide-azimuth data set, a discrete data set associated with an image function at a seismic image point. The discrete data set may be mapped onto a continuous curved three-dimensional surface. The mapped data set may be projected onto a continuous planar surface. The projected data may be displayed as a planar disk. A plurality of continuous planar surfaces, each representing a single image point, may be assembled to form a three-dimensional body, representing a seismic gather of image points. The three-dimensional body may be displayed. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Provided is seismic imaging system, particularly, reverse-time migration for generating a real subsurface image from modeling parameters calculated by waveform inversion, etc. A seismic imaging system includes: a logarithmic back-propagation unit configured to back-propagate a ration of a logarithmic measured wavefield to modeling wavefield; a virtual source estimating unit configured to estimate virtual sources from a sources; and a first convolution unit configured to convolve the back-propagated measured data with the virtual sources and to output the results of the convolution.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for performing image-guided fault extraction from a fault-enhanced seismic image. The system divides three-dimensional fault-enhanced seismic images into a series of two-dimensional seismic image slices that can be selectively displayed and analyzed for fault surfaces. The system allows a user to select two or more fault surface points in a displayed image slice and identifies a fault path between the first fault surface point and the second fault surface that corresponds to a calculated at least cost path.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of methods and corresponding hardware and software that are configured to illuminate or image the permeability field around or near a well that is to be fracked, both prior to fracking and after various fracking stages. The methods and corresponding hardware and software disclosed herein permit the progress of the fracking operation to be monitored at different stages.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of methods and corresponding hardware and software configured to permit the vicinity around and/or near a well to be imaged, where the well is being subjected to, or has been subjected to, fracking operations. The methods and corresponding hardware and software permit the generation of images of near-well fractures or faults resulting from the fracking.

Abstract: An exemplary system for managing the deployment of a seismic data acquisition system uses a module configured to execute a plurality of task in the field by receiving one or more seismic devices. The module may include a power source that provides electrical power to the seismic devices. The module may also include a processor programmed to retrieve data stored in the seismic devices, perform diagnostics, facilitate inventory and logistics control, configure seismic devices and update data or pre-programmed instructions in the seismic device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of methods and systems for providing a graphical skeletonization representation of fractures and faults in a subsurface of the earth. According to some embodiments, as fracturing fluid is pumped into a target geologic formation through a well bore, and as the formation fractures or faults in response to the fracturing fluid being pumped under high pressure therein, seismic wavefronts are generated at points of fracture related to movement of a fluid pressure wave induced by fracturing or other fluids moving through the formation, or the extraction of fluids such as gas and/or oil from the formation, which are detected by surface and/or downhole sensors. Data corresponding to signals generated by the surface and/or downhole sensors are recorded and subsequently analyzed to determine in near real-time the locations of the fractures or faults using skeletonization data processing techniques and methods.

Abstract: To perform seismic inversion, a model representing a subterranean structure is provided. Simulated seismic data is generated using the model, where the simulated seismic data includes surface-related multiples. The model is iteratively updated based on comparing the simulated seismic data with the observed seismic data collected by a seismic survey.

Abstract: Joint processing of seismic and controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) surface data is performed by using a common rock physics model which relates reservoir properties (such as porosity, lithology, saturation, and shaliness) to surface seismic AVO (or AVA) data. This allows one to determine how perturbations in the reservoir properties affect surface data. This can be carried out by systematically changing the reservoir properties and examining the effect on the synthetic data. This allows the hydrocarbon type of a reservoir to be established, e.g. oil or gas, as well as the saturation level of the hydrocarbon in the reservoir, which is useful for determining whether the reservoir has a non-commercial, low hydrocarbon saturation or a commercial, high hydrocarbon saturation.

Abstract: A method and system of processing seismic data includes acquiring three-component seismic data and combining horizontal components of the three-component seismic data to obtain a merged horizontal component. Frequency spectra are determined for the acquired three-component seismic data. A ratio of a vertical component of the seismic data to the merged horizontal component is determined. A V/H integration-measure is obtained from the integration of the area bounded by a selected minimum-amplitude value and the amplitude values greater than the selected minimum-amplitude value and the V/H integration-measure is stored in a form for display.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for processing seismic data. Seismic data indicative of at least a time-dependent seismic trace are transformed into time-frequency domain using the S-transform. The transformed seismic data are processed for determining at predetermined time instances an instantaneous amplitude and a dominant instantaneous frequency. Based on a quotient of the instantaneous amplitude to the dominant instantaneous frequency seismic data indicative of a likelihood of a presence of hydrocarbons are then determined which are then graphically displayed. The method and system for processing seismic data provides a powerful tool for determining the likelihood of a presence of hydrocarbons based on a double peak hydrocarbon signature in the quotient of the instantaneous amplitude to the dominant instantaneous frequency.

Abstract: A method and system of processing seismic data includes acquiring three-component seismic data and combining horizontal components of the three-component seismic data to obtain a merged horizontal component. Frequency spectra are determined for the acquired three-component seismic data. A ratio of a vertical component of the seismic data to the merged horizontal component is determined. A V/H integration-measure is obtained from the integration of the area bounded by a selected minimum-amplitude value and the amplitude values greater than the selected minimum-amplitude value and the V/H integration-measure is stored in a form for display.

Abstract: Method for identifying one or more fracture clusters in a formation surrounding a reservoir. In one implementation, the method may include generating a P to S image, comparing the P to S image to one or more images from a borehole, and identifying one or more fracture clusters using the P to S image and the borehole images.

Abstract: A method, article of manufacture, and data set for simulating seismic prestack depth migrated images on the basis of a model of a selected GF-node, without the use of real or synthetic recorded data, provides a very efficient and flexible way to calculate a simulated depth migrated image as a function of parameters such as survey, overburden model, pulse, elastic wavefield, and local reflectivity structure. Important information needed for the method is the scattering wavenumber, calculated for example, by ray methods and other equivalent methods. Complex model geometry can be done in 2-D and 3-D.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for creating a combination attribute volume or combo volume by combining one or more attribute volumes into a single volume. For instance, seismic data volumes may be used for creating a combination seismic attribute volume from multiple seismic attribute volumes. This is accomplished by replacing certain of the standard 8-bit data values in a seismic data volume with marker values that denote certain values of other, spatially coincident, seismic attribute data. The resulting combo volume may then be displayed and a seed pick positioned on an event of interest such as a geological body. An auto-picker function or program will then find all the connecting points which will quickly further define the event. The event may then be displayed and interpreted.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for creating a combination attribute volume or combo volume by combining one or more attribute volumes into a single volume. For instance, seismic data volumes may be used for creating a combination seismic attribute volume from multiple seismic attribute volumes. This is accomplished by replacing certain of the standard 8-bit data values in a seismic data volume with marker values that denote certain values of other, spatially coincident, seismic attribute data. The resulting combo volume may then be displayed and a seed pick positioned on an event of interest such as a geological body. An auto-picker function or program will then find all the connecting points which will quickly further define the event. The event may then be displayed and interpreted.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 4 showing an offset and tilted object transducer 50 being rotated about a system axis 51 to sequentially insonify the object from various acute incident angles .theta. to the system axis to provide images of the out-of-focus structures at spaced locations at the hologram detection surface 18 at different spaced times. If the pulse rate of the object transducer is greater than the fusion of the eye, the eye is able to average two or more images into a single perceived image. Likewise, video equipment that receives images at a rate greater than 30 Hertz will average two or more images and display the image at a rate of approximately 30 Hertz. Additionally, external video processing may be utilized to electronically average two or more images electronically to obtain an averaged image at any time constant desired by the operator.

Abstract: An adaptive, or neural, network and a method of operating the same is disclosed which is particularly adapted for performing first break analysis for seismic shot records. The adaptive network is first trained according to the generalized delta rule. The disclosed training method includes selection of the seismic trace with the highest error, where the backpropagation is performed according to the error of this worst trace. The learning and momentum factors in the generalized delta rule are adjusted according to the value of the worst error, so that the learning and momentum factors increase as the error decreases. The training method further includes detection of slow convergence regions, and methods for escaping such regions including restoration of previously trimmed dormant links, renormalization of the weighting factor values, and the addition of new layers to the network. The network, after the addition of a new layer, includes links between nodes which skip the hidden layer.

Abstract: Method for displaying and interpreting seismic data. Recorded seismic data is used to produce a stereo pair of perspective plots of seismic section for selected areas of the seismic data. The pair of perspective plots are used to produce a stereoscopic view of the seismic section. Examination of the stereoscopic view of the seismic section permits the identification of geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits, including positive geophysical characteristics which would not be identifiable by examination of a single perspective plot of a seismic section alone.

Abstract: A passive system and method for enabling the display of an image of the location of emitters of electromagnetic radiation that is effective in the lower portion of the HF band. The system essentially includes an array of antennas for receiving electromagnetic radiation from emitters, and for providing a received signal from each emitter in response to the received radiation; a receiver system coupled to each antenna of the array for measuring the phase and intensity of each received signal, and for providing separate coherent phase signals and amplitude signals that respectively indicate the measured phase and intensity; and a signal processor coupled to the receiver system for processing the coherent phase signals and amplitude signals to provide an image signal for generating an image of the emitters. A display device, such as a cathode ray tube or a graph plotter, is coupled to the signal processor for displaying the image of the location of the emitters in response to the image signal.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for locating and identifying objects using holographic techniques. Improvements are achieved by array configuration and particularly with the use of a plurality of arrays to provide different types of information related to the same object. In one embodiment, a high resolution narrow field-of-view array is provided in combination with a low resolution wide field-of-view array. The low resolution array resolves the ambiguity for object location and the high resolution array permits object identification; wherein the combination of a high resolution narrow field-of-view array and a low resolution wide field-of-view array provides significant advantages over the conventional high resolution wide field-of-view array.A general purpose high resolution wide field-of-view array may be provided for obtaining desired information. In a mode requiring high computational rates, portions of the general purpose array may be selected to provide specific information.