CN103299214B - Method and system for improving earth model, velocity model and image volume accuracy - Google Patents

Abstract

According to one or more embodiments, self-consistency and/or differences between volumetric images and interpretation of spatial/volumetric context can be exploited to improve seismic imaging and estimation of properties of geological volumes. Exemplary embodiments allow for exploiting position and/or shape differences and/or similarities of geological bodies in an image volume associated with a geological model of the geological volume of interest to improve the accuracy of the earth model and/or image volume. Constraints associated with a geological volume of interest may be determined and/or utilized to identify and/or specify dependencies between attributes potentially associated with a single geological volume.

Description

Method and system for improving earth model, velocity model, image volume accuracy

Cross References to Related Applications

This application claims priority to US Patent Application Nos. 13/018094, 13/018108, and 13/018122, all filed on January 31, 2011.

technical field

The present disclosure relates to improving seismic imaging and estimation of properties of geological bodies and/or rock properties by exploiting self-consistency and/or differences between volumetric images and interpreting spatial/volumetric context.

Background technique

Perform seismic imaging and subsurface interpretation to obtain as accurate a geological model of the Earth's subsurface volume as possible. Conventional industrial workflows typically include the following sequence of processing steps: (a) processing seismic data into a 3D seismic image volume of the Earth's subsurface volume; (b) extracting properties (e.g., velocity, Poisson's ratio, density, acoustic impedance, etc.) at each subsurface point in the Earth's subsurface volume; (c) interpreting the geometry of the 3D geological image volume, log information, and geological simulants to capture the structure, stratigraphy, and geological morphology; and (d) construct geological and reservoir subsurface models based on the extracted attributes and the acquired structural, stratigraphic, and geological morphology.

Conventional industrial workflows have limited reconciliation/integration of earth models used with structural and stratigraphic interpretation and imaging of reservoir properties from seismic estimates. Each processing step has inherent uncertainty and non-uniqueness that cannot be fully quantitatively defined. Thus, it is difficult to quantify the uncertainty and non-uniqueness of geological reservoir models generated by conventional industrial workflows. Most industrial workflows take a geostatistical approach to estimating uncertainty and non-uniqueness. Even so, there is no guarantee that the resulting probabilistic model will be consistent with all the data utilized to generate it.

Contents of the invention

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method for exploiting location and/or shape differences and/or similarities of geological bodies in an image volume associated with an earth model of the geological volume of interest to Improve the accuracy of Earth models, velocity models for prestack imaging, and/or image volumes. The method may include obtaining a velocity model and/or an earth model from seismic data representing energy that has propagated through the geological volume of interest from the one or more energy sources to the one or more energy receivers. The seismic data may include one or more of a plurality of migration stacks, a plurality of angular stacks, or a plurality of azimuth stacks. The method may include the step of acquiring a plurality of multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes from the seismic data. A given one of the plurality of multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes may (1) correspond to one of an offset stack, an angular stack, or an azimuthal stack, (2) be associated with at least one attribute, and (3 ) includes a geovolume representation of the geovolume present in the geological volume of interest. The method may include receiving a geological volume interpretation based on the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume. The geovolume interpretation may include an identified geovolume having a representation of the geovolume in the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume, and a geovolume type assigned to the identified geovolume. The method may include obtaining registration data associated with a single identified geologic body in different ones of the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume based on the assigned geologic body type. Registration data for a given geologic volume may represent the spatial location, shape, and/or differences between geologic volume representations of the given geologic volume in different image volumes of the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume and/or similarity. The method may include updating the earth model and/or the velocity model using travel time inversion techniques based on the registration data and the assigned geologic body type. The method may include generating an updated multi-offset multi-attribute image volume based on the updated earth model and/or the updated velocity model.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system configured to utilize position and/or shape differences and/or similarities of geological bodies in an image volume associated with an earth model of the geological volume of interest to improve the model, velocity model for prestack imaging, and/or image volume accuracy. The system may include one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules. The computer program modules may include: a modeling module, an imaging module, a geological volume interpretation module, and/or other modules. The model module may be configured to obtain a velocity model and/or an earth model from seismic data representing energy that has propagated through the geological volume of interest from the one or more energy sources to the one or more energy receivers. The seismic data may include one or more of a plurality of migration stacks, a plurality of angular stacks, or a plurality of azimuth stacks. The imaging module may be configured to acquire a plurality of multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes from the seismic data. A given image volume in the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume may (1) correspond to one of an offset stack, an angle stack, or an azimuth stack, (2) be associated with at least one attribute, and (3) include A geovolume representation of the geovolume that exists in the geological volume of interest. The geovolume interpretation module may be configured to receive a geovolume interpretation based on the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume. The geovolume interpretation may include an identified geovolume having a representation of the geovolume in the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume, and a geovolume type assigned to the identified geovolume. The geovolume interpretation module may also be configured to obtain registration data associated with a single identified geovolume in different ones of the multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes based on the assigned geovolume type. Registration data for a given geologic volume may represent the spatial location, shape, and/or differences between geologic volume representations of the given geologic volume in different image volumes of the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume and/or similarity. The modeling module may also be configured to update the earth model and/or the velocity model using travel time inversion techniques based on the registration data and the assigned geologic body type. The imaging module may also be configured to generate an updated multi-offset multi-attribute image volume based on the updated earth model and/or the updated velocity model.

Yet another aspect of the disclosure relates to a computer-readable storage medium having instructions embodied thereon. The instructions are executable by a processor to perform a method for utilizing position and/or shape differences and/or similarities of geological bodies in an image volume associated with an earth model of the geological volume of interest to improve Earth model, velocity model for prestack imaging, and/or image volume accuracy. The method may include obtaining a velocity model and/or an earth model from seismic data representing energy that has propagated through the geological volume of interest from the one or more energy sources to the one or more energy receivers. The seismic data may include one or more of a plurality of migration stacks, a plurality of angular stacks, or a plurality of azimuth stacks. The method may include acquiring a plurality of multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes from the seismic data. A given image volume in the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume may (1) correspond to one of an offset stack, an angle stack, or an azimuth stack, (2) be associated with at least one attribute, and (3) include A geovolume representation of the geovolume that exists in the geological volume of interest. The method may include receiving a geological volume interpretation based on the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume. The geovolume interpretation may include an identified geovolume having a representation of the geovolume in the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume, and a geovolume type assigned to the identified geovolume. The method may include obtaining registration data associated with a single identified geologic body in different ones of the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume based on the assigned geologic body type. Registration data for a given geologic volume may represent the spatial location, shape, and/or difference and/or similarity between geologic volume representations in different image volumes of a given geologic volume for a given geologic volume in a multi-offset multi-attribute image volume sex. The method may include updating the earth model and/or the velocity model using travel time inversion techniques based on the registration data and the assigned geologic body type. The method may include generating an updated multi-offset multi-attribute image volume based on the updated earth model and/or the updated velocity model.

These and other features and characteristics of the present technology, and the method of operation and function of the relevant parts of structure and composition parts and the economics of manufacture will become more apparent when the following description and appended claims are considered with reference to the accompanying drawings , all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description only and are not intended as illustrations of the limits of the technology. As used in this specification and claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise .

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates a system configured to improve properties and properties of geological volumes by exploiting self-consistency and/or differences between volumetric images and accounting for spatial/volumetric context, according to one or more embodiments. and/or systems for seismic imaging and estimation of rock properties.

2 illustrates a seismic method for improving the properties of geological volumes and/or rock properties by exploiting self-consistency and/or differences between volumetric images and interpreting spatial/volumetric context, according to one or more embodiments Methods of Imaging and Estimation.

detailed description

The technology may be described and implemented in the general context of systems and computer methods to be executed by a computer. Such computer-executable instructions may include programs, routines, objects, components, data structures, and computer software technologies that can be used to perform particular tasks and process abstract data types. Software implementations of the present technology may be coded in different languages for application in a variety of computing platforms and environments. It should be clear that the scope and underlying principles of the technology are not limited to any particular computer software technology.

Moreover, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present technology may be practiced using any one or combination of hardware and software configurations, including but not limited to, systems with single and/or multi-processor computer processor systems, handheld devices, Programmable consumer electronic devices, minicomputers, mainframe computers, etc. The technology may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by servers or other processing devices that are linked through one or more data communications networks. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media including memory storage devices.

Moreover, an article of manufacture (such as a CD, pre-recorded disc, or other equivalent device) for use with a computer processor may include a computer program storage medium and recorded thereon instructions for instructing the computer processor to facilitate the implementation and practice of the present invention. Technology program device. Such devices and articles of manufacture also fall within the spirit and scope of the present technology.

Embodiments of the present technology will be described below with reference to the drawings. The technology can be implemented in numerous ways, for example, as a system (including a computer processing system), a method (including a computer-implemented method), an apparatus, a computer readable medium, a computer program product, a graphical user interface, a web portal, or tangibly A data structure fixed in computer readable memory. In the following, several embodiments of the present technology are discussed. The drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the technology, and therefore should not be considered limiting of its scope and breadth.

FIG. 1 illustrates an image sensor configured to improve properties of geological volumes and/or rock properties by exploiting self-consistency and/or differences between volumetric images and accounting for spatial/volumetric context, according to one or more embodiments. A system 100 for seismic imaging and estimation. More specifically, the system 100 may be configured to utilize position and/or shape differences and/or similarities of geological bodies in an image volume associated with an earth model of the geological volume of interest to improve the earth model, for Accuracy of velocity models, and/or image volumes for prestack imaging. In some embodiments, the system 100 may be configured to constrain the range of rock properties and to identify and/or specify dependencies between rock properties of geological volumes associated with a geological volume of interest. According to some embodiments, the system 100 may be configured to construct an earth model using a multi-offset multi-attribute image volume associated with a geological volume of interest and identified geological volumes. Seismic data can be re-imaged using an updated model.

A geological volume of interest may include one or more "overburdens." Overburden may generally be described as the geological portion above a bed, refractor and/or reflector. Examples of overburden may include material overlying and depressed over ore or valuable deposits, loose unconsolidated material over bedrock, and/or other overburden. Overlays may be associated with velocity models and/or other models that may be used for re-imaging.

A geological volume of interest may include one or more targets, such as reservoir targets, for example. According to one or more embodiments, detailed analysis may be performed on such targets to determine information about geological volumes and/or rock properties. Depending on the specific information derived, the geological volume of interest may include the entire geological portion above the region of interest from the surface to the target interval, or the geological volume of interest may be limited to a specific target interval.

As depicted in FIG. 1 , system 100 may include electronic storage 102 , user interface 104 , one or more information resources 106 , at least one processor 108 , and/or other components. In some embodiments, electronic storage 102 includes electronic storage media that electronically stores information. Electronic storage media of electronic storage 102 may include system storage provided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with system 100, and/or, for example, via ports (e.g., USB ports, FireWire ports, etc.) or drives (e.g., disk drive, etc.) is removably connected to the removable storage of the system 100. Electronic storage 102 may include optically readable storage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.), magnetically readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic hard drives, floppy disk drives, etc.), charge-based storage media (e.g., EEPROM, RAM, etc.) , one or more of solid-state storage media (eg, flash drives, etc.), and/or other electronically readable storage media. Electronic storage 102 may store software algorithms, information determined by processor 108, information received via user interface 104, information received from information resources 106, and/or other information that enables system 100 to function as described herein. information. Electronic storage 102 may be a separate component within system 100 , or electronic storage 102 may be provided integrally with one or more other components of system 100 (eg, processor 108 ).

The user interface 104 is configured to provide an interface between the system 100 and the user through which the user can provide information to the system 100 and receive information from the system 100 . This enables data, results, and/or instructions and any other transferable items, collectively referred to as "information," to be transferred between the user and the system 100 . As used herein, the term "user" may refer to a single individual or a group of individuals who may work collaboratively. Examples of interface devices suitable for inclusion in user interface 104 include one or more of the following: keypads, buttons, switches, keypads, knobs, joysticks, display screens, touch screens, speakers, microphones, indicator lights, audible alarms device, and/or printer. In one embodiment, user interface 104 actually includes multiple separate interfaces.

It is to be understood that other communication technologies (hardwired or wireless) are also contemplated by the present technology as user interface 104 . For example, the technology contemplates that user interface 104 may be integrated with a removable storage interface provided by electronic storage 102 . In this example, information can be loaded into system 100 from removable storage (eg, smart card, flash drive, removable disk, etc.), enabling a user to customize the implementation of system 100 . Other exemplary input devices and technologies suitable for use with system 100 as user interface 104 include, but are not limited to: RS-232 port, RF link, IR link, modem (telephone, cable, or other). Simply stated, any technique for communicating information with system 100 is contemplated by the present technology as user interface 104 .

Information resources 106 include one or more sources of information related to the geological volume of interest. By way of non-limiting example, one of the information resources 106 may include seismic data acquired at or near the geological volume of interest, information derived therefrom, and/or information related to the acquisition. Such seismic data may include source wavefields and receiver wavefields. Seismic data may include individual traces of seismic data (e.g., data recorded on one channel of seismic energy propagating from source through the geological volume of interest), migration stacks, angular stacks, azimuth stacks, and/or other data . Information derived from seismic data may include, for example, from geological models representing energy that has propagated through the geological volume of interest from one or more energy sources to one or more energy receivers, from geological models representing energy that exists in the geological volume of interest, Image volumes and/or other information of geological models of geological bodies in the volume. Individual ones of the image volumes may correspond to a single offset stack, angular stack, or azimuthal stack. Information related to acquiring seismic data includes, for example: data related to the location and/or orientation of a source of seismic energy, the location and/or orientation of one or more detectors of seismic energy, the energy generated by the source and directed to the Time, and/or other information for geological volumes.

Information resources 106 may include other information in addition to seismic-related data associated with the geological volume of interest. Examples of such information may include: information related to gravity, magnetic fields, resistivity, magnetotelluric information, radar data, well logs, rock properties, geological modeling data, and/or other information.

Processor 108 is configured to provide information processing capabilities in system 100 . Likewise, processor 108 may include digital processors, analog processors, digital circuits designed to process information, analog circuits designed to process information, state machines, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information. one or more of . Although processor 108 is shown in FIG. 1 as a single entity, this is for illustrative purposes only. In some implementations, processor 108 may include multiple processing units. These processing units may be physically located within the same device or computing platform, or processor 108 may represent the processing functionality of multiple devices operating in cooperation.

As shown in FIG. 1, processor 108 may be configured to execute one or more computer program modules. The one or more computer program modules may include one or more of a communication module 110, a modeling module 112, an imaging module 114, a geological volume interpretation module 116, a synthetic seismic data module 118, a property constraint module 120, and/or other modules. indivual. Processor 108 may be configured to execute modules 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and/or 120.

It should be appreciated that although modules 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and 120 are illustrated in FIG. One or more of , 114, 116, 118, and/or 120 may be located remotely relative to the other modules. The description of the functionality provided by the various modules 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and/or 120 described below is for illustrative purposes and is not intended to be limiting, such as modules 110, 112, 114, 116, Any of 118, and/or 120 may provide more or less functionality than described. For example, one or more of modules 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and/or 120 may be eliminated, and some or all of their functionality may be replaced by modules 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and/or 120 provided by other modules. As another example, processor 108 may be configured to execute one or more additional modules that may perform some or all of the functions attributed to one of modules 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and/or 120 below . As yet another example, the processor 108 may be configured to perform the following which is attributed to co-pending U.S. Patent Application No. 13/017995 filed on January 31, 2011 and entitled "Extracting Geologic Information from Multiple OffsetStacks and/or AngleStacks." Some or all of the functions of one or more modules described, this application is hereby incorporated by reference.

Communication module 110 may be configured to receive information. Such information may be received from information resource 106, a user via user interface 104, electronic storage 102, and/or other information sources. Examples of received information may include: seismic data and information derived therefrom, information related to acquiring seismic data, migration stacks, angular stacks, azimuth stacks, geological models, image volumes, and/or other information. Information received via communications module 110 may be utilized by one or more of modules 112 , 114 , 116 , 118 , and/or 120 . Examples of such exploits are described below. The communication module 110 may be configured to send information to one or more other components of the system 100 .

Modeling module 112 may be configured to generate and/or otherwise acquire one or more models associated with the geological volume of interest. The one or more models may be unidimensional or multidimensional. Examples of such models may include: earth models, velocity models, and/or other models associated with the geological volume of interest. The earth model may include a numerical representation of at least one property (eg, seismic velocity, density, attenuation, anisotropy, and/or other properties) as a function of position within the geological volume of interest. A velocity model can include a spatial distribution of velocities that can be used to trace ray paths that obey Snell's law. A velocity model may refer to a model used in migration such as depth migration, for example. A velocity model may be referred to as a velocity cube. In certain implementations, the model module 112 can be configured to derive a velocity model, an earth model, based on seismic data representing energy that has propagated through the geological volume of interest from one or more energy sources to one or more energy receivers. , and/or other models. The seismic data may include one or more migration stacks, one or more angular stacks, one or more azimuth stacks, and/or other seismic data.

The model module 112 may be configured to update the earth model, the velocity model, and/or other models using one or more inversion techniques. Performing inversion may include deriving from data (eg, seismic data, field data, and/or other data) a model describing the subsurface of the geological volume of interest consistent with the data. Inversion can include solving for the spatial distribution of parameters that can generate a set of observed measurements. Examples of such parameters may include: registration data, seismic event times, and/or other parameters.

The one or more inversion techniques may include one or more modeling implementations and/or comparisons to the observation data. The one or more inversion techniques may include imaging using multiple models, holography, interferometry, and/or other inversion techniques. By way of non-limiting example, the one or more inversion techniques may include time marching inversion. One type of time marching inversion may be tomographic inversion. Tomographic inversion may include the use of tomographic methods to determine subsurface velocity distributions. The tomographic method may include determining velocity and/or reflectivity distributions from a large number of observations using a combination of source and receiver locations, and/or using a transmitter in one well and a receiver in another well to determine Determine the resistivity distribution.

The one or more inversion techniques may be based on registration data and/or assigned geobody types for geobodies included within the geological volume of interest. Examples of geologic body types may include one or more of the following: geologic surfaces, river channels, pointbars, reefs, faults, unconformities, deltas, dikes, Sills, salt bodies, crevasses plays, reservoir flow units, fluid contacts, turbidite channels, turbidite beds, and/or other geological body types.

The model module 112 may be configured to update the earth model, the velocity model, and/or other models with one or more property constraints associated with the geological volume. In conjunction with the characteristic constraint module 120, the characteristic constraint is described in more detail. The model module 112 may be configured to generate and/or otherwise obtain an updated earth model, an updated velocity model, and/or other models, wherein, in the updated earth model, updated velocity model, and/or other models One or more rock properties of the geologic volume represented in have been constrained based on the assigned geologic volume type of the identified geologic volume represented in the updated earth model, updated velocity model, and/or other model. Examples of rock properties may include one or more of: velocity, anisotropy, density, acoustic properties, elastic properties, petrophysical properties, fluid properties, reservoir properties, geological description, lithological classification, and/or other rock properties.

Imaging module 114 may be configured to perform imaging and/or generate and/or otherwise acquire one or more image volumes. Image volumes may correspond to individual offset stacks, angular stacks, azimuth stacks, and/or other information. The image volume may represent geological bodies that exist within the geological volume of interest. The image volume may include a multi-offset multi-attribute image volume.

According to some embodiments, imaging module 114 may be configured to generate and/or otherwise acquire a plurality of multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes from seismic data. A given image volume of the plurality of multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes may correspond to one of an offset stack, an angular stack, and/or an azimuthal stack. A given image volume in the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume may be associated with at least one attribute. Examples of properties may include one or more of: coherence, Hilbert transform, magnitude, instantaneous frequency, spectral analysis, attenuation, impedance, Poisson's ratio, offset dependence of seismic response, reflection of seismic response Angle and/or azimuth dependence, dip, magnitude, curvature, roughness, dip azimuth, spectral shape, and/or other properties. A given image volume of the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume may include a geologic representation of a geologic volume present in the geologic volume of interest. The imaging module 114 may be configured to generate and/or otherwise acquire one or more updated multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes based on the updated earth model and/or the updated velocity model.

According to some embodiments, imaging module 114 may be configured to generate and/or otherwise acquire a plurality of multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes from the synthesized seismic data. Synthetic seismic data is further described in connection with synthetic seismic data module 118 . A given image volume in the multi-migration multi-attribute image volume may correspond to one of a migration stack, an angular stack, or an azimuth stack of the synthesized seismic data. A given image volume in the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume may be associated with a seismic attribute. A given image volume in the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume may include representations of geologic volumes that were not previously identified in the updated earth model and/or velocity model.

Geologic volume interpretation module 116 may be configured to determine, identify, and/or receive geologic volume interpretations. In some embodiments, the geovolume interpretation may be received via user interface 104 . Geovolume interpretation may be based on one or more image volumes, which may include one or more multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes. The geovolume interpretation may include identifying geovolumes with representations of the geovolumes in the image volume. The geovolume interpretation may include a geovolume type assigned to the identified geovolume.

The geovolume interpretation module 116 may be configured to obtain registration data associated with a single identified geovolume in different ones of the plurality of image volumes based on the assigned geovolume type. Registration data for a given geovolume may represent spatial location, shape of the given geovolume, differences and/or similarities between geovolume representations of the given geovolume in different ones of the plurality of image volumes, and/or or other information associated with a given geological body.

The geological volume interpretation module 116 may be configured to verify the identified geological volumes based on a comparison between the synthetic seismic data and the seismic data used to acquire the image volume. Synthetic seismic data is described in more detail in connection with the synthetic seismic data module 118 . The geologic volume interpretation module 116 may be configured to determine and/or receive a reinterpretation of the first geologic volume in response to verification of the identified geologic volume indicating that the interpretation of the first geologic volume is inaccurate. The reinterpretation of the first geologic volume may include a new assignment of a geologic volume type to the first geologic volume. The geological volume interpretation module 116 may be configured to obtain new registration data for the first geological volume corresponding to the reinterpretation.

The geovolume interpretation module 116 may be configured to determine and/or receive rock properties and/or geovolume types assigned to the identified geovolumes. The rock properties and/or geobody types are assigned consistent with geological principles, stratigraphic principles, and/or modeling databases. As mentioned above, rock properties may include, for example, one or more of: velocity, anisotropy, density, acoustic properties, elastic properties, petrophysical properties, fluid properties, reservoir properties, geological description, lithological classification, and/or other rock properties.

The geovolume interpretation module 116 may be configured to perform constrained seismic inversion. Constrained inversion may refer to limitations on output values of rock properties by the inversion process, inversions limited to seismic frequency bandwidths, and/or other constrained inversions. The geological volume interpretation module 116 may be configured to perform constrained seismic inversion to determine rock properties of the identified geological volumes. The geological volume interpretation module 116 may be configured to perform constrained seismic inversion to identify other geological volumes with associated rock properties in order to reduce discrepancies between observed seismic data and synthetic data. According to some embodiments, the constrained seismic inversion may be stabilized according to the constrained rock properties of the identified geologic volumes.

Synthetic seismic data module 118 may be configured to generate and/or otherwise acquire synthetic seismic data. Synthetic seismic data may correspond to an earth model, a velocity model, and/or other models. Synthetic seismic data may include artificial seismic reflection records generated by assuming a particular waveform to travel through a hypothetical model. Synthetic seismic data may not be limited by the dimensionality of the corresponding model. Synthetic seismic data may not be limited by the complexity of the mathematics and/or incorporated physics used to describe corresponding models and/or represent wave propagation. Synthetic seismic data may include propagation through a single-dimensional or multi-dimensional elastic model with attenuation and velocity anisotropy.

The property constraint module 120 may be configured to determine and/or otherwise obtain a value for one or more rock properties of the geological volume in an earth model, velocity model, and/or other model associated with the geological volume of interest. One or more property constraints. The property constraint module 120 may be configured to determine and/or otherwise determine by constraining the range of rock properties associated with a single geologic body of the plurality of geologic bodies based on geologic principles, stratigraphic principles, and/or modeling databases. method to obtain the one or more property constraints. The property constraints module 120 may be configured to, based on dependencies among one or more rock properties, well data logs, data derived from well data logs, local geological knowledge of the geological volume of interest, and/or other information. One or more, to validate the feature constraints.

2 illustrates a seismic method for improving the properties of geological volumes and/or rock properties by exploiting self-consistency and/or differences between volumetric images and interpreting spatial/volumetric context, according to one or more embodiments Method 200 of Imaging and Estimation. The operations of method 200 presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments, method 200 may be accomplished with one or more additional operations not described and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. For example, the method 200 may include one or more of the operations described in co-pending U.S. Patent Application No. 13/017995, filed January 31, 2011 and entitled "Extracting Geologic Information from Multiple OffsetStacks and/or AngleStacks," which is incorporated by reference incorporated here. Additionally, the order in which the operations of method 200 are illustrated in FIG. 2 and described below is not intended to be limiting.

In some embodiments, method 200 may be performed on one or more processing devices (e.g., digital processors, analog processors, digital circuits designed to process information, analog circuits designed to process information, state machines, and/or implemented in other mechanisms for processing information electronically). The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices that perform some or all of the operations of method 200 in response to instructions stored electronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or more processing means may comprise one or more means configured by hardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed to perform one or more operations of method 200 .

As depicted in FIG. 2, method 200 may include loop 202, loop 204, and/or other loops. The operations included in loop 202 and loop 204 may be performed separately or in combination with each other. Information may be passed between loop 202 and loop 204 to supplement one or more operations involved therein.

Cycle 202 may involve imaging and/or modeling improvements. More specifically, loop 202 may involve utilizing position and/or shape differences and/or similarities of geological bodies in an image volume associated with an earth model of the geological volume of interest to improve the earth model, Accuracy of the velocity model, and/or image volume. Loop 202 may involve constructing an earth model using the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume associated with the geological volume of interest and identifying geological volumes. Seismic data can be re-imaged with updated models. One or more operations in loop 202 may be iteratively repeated to reduce the magnitude of the difference and/or to make other imaging and/or modeling corrections.

At operation 206, a velocity model and/or an earth model may be acquired and/or updated. The velocity model and/or the earth model may be derived from seismic data representing energy that has propagated through the geological volume of interest from the one or more energy sources to the one or more energy receivers. The seismic data may include one or more of a plurality of migration stacks, a plurality of angular stacks, or a plurality of azimuth stacks. The earth model and/or the velocity model may be updated using travel time inversion techniques based on registration data and assigned geologic body types associated with geologic volumes within the geologic volume of interest. One or more rock properties of the geological body represented in the updated earth model and/or velocity model may have been determined based on the assigned geological body type of the identified geological body represented in the updated earth model and/or velocity model constraint. At operation 206, synthetic seismic data corresponding to the updated earth model and/or velocity model may be acquired. According to some embodiments, model module 112 and/or synthesized seismic data module 118 may perform some or all of operation 206 .

At operation 208, a plurality of multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes may be acquired from the seismic data and/or synthetic seismic data. When the plurality of multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes is acquired from seismic data, a specified image volume in the plurality of multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes may (1) correspond to an offset stack, an angle stack, or an azimuth stack One of, (2) may be associated with at least one attribute, and/or (3) may include a geologic representation of a geologic volume present in the geologic volume of interest. When the plurality of multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes are acquired from synthetic seismic data, a given image volume (1) in the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume may correspond to an offset stack, an angular stack, or One of the azimuth stacks, (2) may be associated with seismic attributes, and (3) may include representations of geologic volumes that were not previously identified in the updated earth model and/or velocity model. At operation 208, an updated multi-offset multi-attribute image volume may be generated based on the updated earth model and/or the updated velocity model (see operation 206). This may include implementing one or more changes in image processing parameterization. According to some embodiments, imaging module 114 may perform operation 208 .

At an operation 210, a geovolume interpretation is determined and/or received. The geovolume interpretation may be based on a multi-offset multi-attribute image volume. The geovolume interpretation may include an identified geovolume having a representation of the geovolume in the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume, and a geovolume type assigned to the identified geovolume. At operation 210, constrained seismic inversion may be performed to determine the rock properties of the identified geological volumes and/or to identify other geological volumes with associated rock properties in order to reduce the discrepancy between the observed seismic data and the synthetic data, constrained The seismic inversion of can be stabilized according to the constrained rock properties of the identified geologic bodies. According to some embodiments, the geological volume interpretation module 116 may perform operation 210 .

At operation 212, registration data associated with a single identified geologic volume in different ones of the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume is acquired. The registration data may be obtained based on the type of geological body assigned. Registration data for a given geovolume may represent spatial location, shape of the given geovolume, and/or differences between representations of the geovolume in different image volumes of the given geovolume within the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume and/or or similarity. According to some embodiments, the geological volume interpretation module 116 may perform operation 212 .

Cycle 204 may involve interpretation of rock properties within the geological volume. More specifically, loop 204 may involve constraining ranges of rock properties and identifying and/or specifying dependencies between rock properties of geovolumes associated with the geological volume of interest. In an exemplary embodiment, loop 204 may provide constrained inversion results for rock properties of some or all of the geologic volumes in the geologic volume of interest. One or more operations in loop 204 may be iteratively repeated to remove and/or correct one or more property constraints, and/or to make other explanatory corrections.

At an operation 214, geovolume representations representing geovolumes in the geovolume of interest are identified. These geovolume representations can be interpreted from a single image volume in a multi-offset multi-attribute image volume. According to some embodiments, the geological volume interpretation module 116 may perform operation 214 .

At an operation 216, an assignment of a geovolume type corresponding to the identified geovolume representation is determined and/or received. Geobody types may be determined and/or received based on geobody principles, stratigraphic principles, and/or modeling databases. According to some embodiments, geovolume interpretation module 116 may perform operation 216 .

At operation 218 , the values in the earth model and/or the velocity model may be constrained according to the range of rock properties associated with a single geologic body in the plurality of geologic bodies based on geologic principles, stratigraphic principles, and/or modeling databases. One or more property constraints on one or more rock properties of a geological volume. One or more property constraints for one or more rock properties of geological volumes in the earth model and/or velocity model may be based on well data logs, data derived from well data logs, and/or local geology of the geological volume of interest knowledge to estimate. In an exemplary embodiment, such an estimate may be based on extrapolation from local well measurements. According to some embodiments, property constraint module 120 may perform operation 218 .

At operation 220, the one or more property constraints are verified. Using at least one of the validated one or more property constraints, constrained seismic inversion (see, e.g., operation 210) may be performed to determine the rock properties of all identified geological volumes, and/or to identify All other geological bodies associated with rock properties in order to reduce the discrepancy between observed seismic data and synthetic data. The constrained seismic inversion may be stabilized according to the constrained rock properties of the identified geological volumes. According to some embodiments, property constraint module 120 may perform operation 220 .

While the technology has been described in detail for purposes of illustration based on what is presently considered to be the most useful and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such detail is for that purpose only and that the technology is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, and, on the contrary, it is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be appreciated that the present technology contemplates that, where possible, one or more features of any embodiment may be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.

Claims (15)

1. A computer-implemented method for exploiting location and/or shape differences and/or similarities of geological bodies in an image volume associated with an earth model of the geological volume of interest to improve accuracy of the imaged earth model, velocity model, and/or image volume, the method comprising: A velocity model and/or an earth model is obtained from seismic data representing energy that has propagated through the geological volume of interest from one or more energy sources to one or more energy receivers, the seismic data comprising one or more of Multiple: Multiple offset stacking, multiple angle stacking or multiple azimuth stacking; A plurality of multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes are acquired according to seismic data, wherein a given image volume in the plurality of multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes: (1) corresponds to one of migration stacking, angle stacking or azimuth stacking One, (2) associated with at least one attribute, and (3) comprising a geovolume representation of a geovolume present in the geological volume of interest; receiving a geovolume interpretation based on the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume, wherein the geovolume interpretation comprises: an identified geovolume having a representation of the geovolume in the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume, and a geovolume assigned to the identified geovolume type of geological body; Based on the assigned geologic body type, registration data associated with a single identified geologic body in different ones of the multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes is obtained, the registration data for a given geologic body representing: differences and/or similarities between spatial location, shape, and/or representations of a given geologic body in different image volumes of a multi-offset multi-attribute image volume; Utilizing travel time inversion techniques to update the earth model and/or velocity model based on the registration data and the assigned geologic body type; and An updated multi-offset multi-attribute image volume is generated based on the updated earth model and/or the updated velocity model. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining synthetic seismic data corresponding to the updated earth model and/or velocity model; and The identified geological volumes are verified based on a comparison between the synthetic seismic data and the seismic data used to acquire the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume. 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving a reinterpretation of the first geological volume in response to the verification of the identified geological volume indicating that the interpretation of the first geological volume is inaccurate, wherein the reinterpretation of the first geological volume Including: a new assignment of a geological body type to the first geological body. 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: obtaining new registration data for the first geological body corresponding to the reinterpretation; and The earth model and/or the velocity model are updated based on the new registration data for the first geologic volume and the new geologic volume type for the first geologic volume. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving rock properties assigned to identified geological volumes, wherein the rock properties are assigned consistent with geological principles, stratigraphic principles, and/or modeling databases. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein a given image volume of the plurality of multi-migration multi-attribute image volumes: (1) corresponds to a migration stack, an angular stack, or an azimuthal stack of synthetic seismic data One of, (2) associating with seismic attributes, and (3) including geovolume representations of geovolumes not previously identified in the updated earth model and/or velocity model, and the method further comprising: performing a constrained seismic inversion to determine rock properties of an identified geologic body and to identify other geologic bodies with associated rock properties in order to reduce discrepancies between observed seismic data and synthetic data, wherein the constrained seismic inversion identifies geologic stabilized by the constrained rock properties of the body; and A three-dimensional earth model and/or velocity model is obtained based on constrained seismic inversion. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a geovolume interpretation comprises: identifying a geovolume representation representing a geovolume in the geological volume of interest, the geovolume representation according to the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume A single image volume in is interpreted where a given image volume in the plurality of multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes: (1) corresponds to one of offset stack, angle stack, or azimuth stack, (2) with one of the plurality of attributes, and (3) include a geovolume representation of the geovolume present in the geological volume of interest. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: Determining in an earth model and/or a velocity model associated with a geological volume of interest by constraining the range of rock properties associated with individual ones of the geological volumes based on geological principles, stratigraphic principles, and/or modeling databases one or more property constraints of one or more rock properties of the geological volume; and The one or more property constraints are verified based on one or more of: dependencies between one or more rock properties, well data logs, data derived from well data logs, or local geological knowledge of the geological volume of interest . 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising iteratively repeating (1) identifying a geologic body representation, (2) receiving an assignment of a geologic body type corresponding to the identified geologic body representation, (3) determining one or Multiple property constraints, and (4) verify property constraints. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising updating the earth model and/or the velocity model with one or more property constraints associated with the geological volume. 11. A system configured to exploit position and/or shape differences and/or similarities of geological bodies in an image volume associated with an earth model of the geological volume of interest to improve an earth model for prestack imaging, Accuracy of the velocity model, and/or accuracy of the image volume, the system includes: a modeling module configured to obtain a velocity model and/or an earth model from seismic data representing energy that has propagated through the geological volume of interest from the one or more energy sources to the one or more energy receivers, the seismic The data includes one or more of: multiple offset stacks, multiple angle stacks, or multiple azimuth stacks; an imaging module configured to acquire a plurality of multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes from the seismic data, wherein a given image volume in the plurality of multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes: (1) corresponds to an offset stack , one of an angular stack or an azimuthal stack, (2) associated with at least one attribute, and (3) comprising a geovolume representation of a geovolume present in the geological volume of interest; and a geovolume interpretation module configured to receive a geovolume interpretation based on the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume, wherein the geovolume interpretation includes: an identified geovolume having a representation of the geovolume in the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume and an index the geological body type assigned to the identified geological body; The geovolume interpretation module is further configured to obtain, based on the assigned geovolume type, registration data associated with a single identified geovolume in different ones of the multi-offset multi-attribute image volumes, given the geovolume's registration Data representation: the spatial location, shape, and/or differences and/or similarities between representations of a given geologic body in different image volumes in a multi-offset multi-attribute image volume for a given geologic body; The modeling module is further configured to update the earth model and/or the velocity model using travel time inversion techniques based on the registration data and the assigned geologic body type; and The imaging module is also configured to generate an updated multi-offset multi-attribute image volume based on the updated earth model and/or the updated velocity model. 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising: a synthetic seismic data module configured to obtain synthetic seismic data corresponding to the updated earth model and/or velocity model; Wherein the geological volume interpretation module is further configured to verify the identified geological volume based on a comparison between the synthetic seismic data and the seismic data used to obtain the multi-offset multi-attribute image volume. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the geological volume interpretation module is further configured to receive a reinterpretation of the first geological volume in response to the verification of the identified geological volume indicating that the interpretation of the first geological volume is inaccurate, and Wherein, the reinterpretation of the first geologic body includes a new assignment of a geologic body type to the first geologic body. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein: the geovolume interpretation module is further configured to obtain newly registered data for the first geovolume corresponding to the reinterpretation; and The modeling module is further configured to update the earth model and/or the velocity model based on the new registration data for the first geological volume and the new geological volume type for the first geological volume. 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the geological volume interpretation module is further configured to receive rock properties assigned to identified geological volumes, wherein the rock properties are associated with geological principles, stratigraphic principles, and/or modeling databases are assigned consistently.