IP Library Granted Patent US 8,649,980
Granted Patent B2
US 8,649,980 · App. 13/092,862 · Granted Feb 11, 2014

Active noise injection computations for improved predictability in oil and gas reservoir characterization and microseismic event analysis

Inventor: Sandeep Gulati (La Canada Flintridge, CA)
Assignee: ViaLogy LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,649,980
App. No.
13/092,862
Granted
Feb 11, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Application of nonlinear resonance interferometry is introduced as a new geophysical approach to improve predictability in characterization of subsurface microseismic event analysis and propagation of fracture. In contrast to reflection methods that remove random information noise, nonlinear resonance interferometry exploits the full microseismic acquisition spectrum. In some examples, systems and techniques implement novel computational interactions between acquired microseismic wavefield attributes and a nonlinear system in software to amplify distortions in microseismic noise and exploits injection of synthetic noise, in software format, to fracture events.

Claims (19)

1. A machine-implemented method, comprising:

voxelizing microseismic data from seismic traces from a microseismic receiver for a geological subsurface formation of interest into multiple voxels having respective subsurface locations in the formation of interest; and

determining whether a voxel in the multiple voxels includes an attribute, wherein the attribute comprises a fracture event; and

outputting whether the voxel includes the fracture event to an attribute volume based on the subsurface location; and

outputting fracture event start time and duration of fracture event; and

performing the determining, the outputting whether the voxel includes the fracture event, and the outputting fracture start time and duration for at least some other of the multiple voxels.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microseismic data comprises velocity amplitudes for the formation of interest.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microseismic data comprises one or more of acceleration and velocity amplitudes over time for the subsurface formation of interest around the wellbore.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein voxelizing the microseismic data further comprises spectrally decomposing the seismic data into frequency volumes.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising spectrally decomposing the microseismic data to detect and discriminate events including at least one of onset of fracture, propagation of existing natural fractures, or propagation of drilling-induced fractures.

6. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein determining whether a voxel in the multiple voxels includes an attribute comprises:

obtaining control data based on information obtained prior to a hydraulic fracturing process being implemented; and

processing the one dimension voxel vector for the voxel using the control data and using quantum resonance interferometry to detect a resonance.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein determining whether a voxel in the multiple voxels includes an attribute comprises:

normalizing the voxel;

determining whether a resonance occurs when the control data is coupled, using a quantum mechanical model, with the spectral data generated from the normalized voxel.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing the steps of claim 1 for the seismic data for another formation of interest.

9. The method of claim 1 , determining a window size for analyzing microseismic data based on an estimation of fracture event properties, duration of well stimulation, and fluid insertion protocol.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2012
From: GULATI, SANDEEP
To: VIALOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 028439/0530 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 13042454 · Mar 7, 2011
Provisional Application 61311227 · Mar 5, 2010
Provisional Application 61327035 · Apr 22, 2010
Related Publication 20110295510A1 · Dec 1, 2011