Numerical estimation of Carbonate properties using a digital rock physics workflow

Digital rock physics combines modern imaging with advanced numerical simulations to analyze the physical properties of rocks -- In this paper we suggest a special segmentation procedure which is applied to a carbonate rock from Switzerland -- Starting point is a CTscan of a specimen of Hauptmuschelkalk -- The first step applied to the raw image data is a nonlocal mean filter -- We then apply different thresholds to identify pores and solid phases -- Because we are aware of a nonneglectable amount of unresolved microporosity we also define intermediate phases -- Based on this segmentation determine porositydependent values for the pwave velocity and for the permeability -- The porosity measured in the laboratory is then used to compare our numerical data with experimental data -- We observe a good agreement -- Future work includes an analytic validation to the numerical results of the pwave velocity upper bound, employing different filters for the image segmentation and using data with higher resolution

A brief guide to synchrotron radiation-based microtomography in (structural) geology and rock mechanics

This contribution outlines Synchrotron-based X-ray micro-tomography and its potential use in structural geology and rock mechanics. The paper complements several recent reviews of X-ray microtomography. We summarize the general approach to data acquisition, post-processing as well as analysis and thereby aim to provide an entry point for the interested reader. The paper includes tables listing relevant beamlines, a list of all available imaging techniques, and available free and commercial software packages for data visualization and quantification. We highlight potential applications in a review of relevant literature including time-resolved experiments and digital rock physics. The paper concludes with a report on ongoing developments and upgrades at synchrotron facilities to frame the future possibilities for imaging sub-second processes in centimetre-sized samples.

Finite difference calculations of permeability in large domains in a wide porosity range.

Determining effective hydraulic, thermal, mechanical and electrical properties of porous materials by means of classical physical experiments is often time-consuming and expensive. Thus, accurate numerical calculations of material properties are of increasing interest in geophysical, manufacturing, bio-mechanical and environmental applications, among other fields. Characteristic material properties (e.g. intrinsic permeability, thermal conductivity and elastic moduli) depend on morphological details on the porescale such as shape and size of pores and pore throats or cracks. To obtain reliable predictions of these properties it is necessary to perform numerical analyses of sufficiently large unit cells. Such representative volume elements require optimized numerical simulation techniques. Current state-of-the-art simulation tools to calculate effective permeabilities of porous materials are based on various methods, e.g. lattice Boltzmann, finite volumes or explicit jump Stokes methods. All approaches still have limitations in the maximum size of the simulation domain. In response to these deficits of the well-established methods we propose an efficient and reliable numerical method which allows to calculate intrinsic permeabilities directly from voxel-based data obtained from 3D imaging techniques like X-ray microtomography. We present a modelling framework based on a parallel finite differences solver, allowing the calculation of large domains with relative low computing requirements (i.e. desktop computers). The presented method is validated in a diverse selection of materials, obtaining accurate results for a large range of porosities, wider than the ranges previously reported. Ongoing work includes the estimation of other effective properties of porous media.

Measuring the apparent size of the Moon with a digital camera

The Moon appears to be much larger closer to the horizon than when higher in the sky. This is called the ‘Moon Illusion’ since the observed size of the Moon is not actually larger when the Moon is just above the horizon. This article describes a technique for verifying that the observed size of the Moon in not larger on the horizon. The technique can be easily performed in a high school teaching environment. Moreover, the technique demonstrates the surprising fact that the observed size of the Moon is actually smaller on the horizon due to atmospheric refraction. For the purposes of this paper, several images of the moon were taken with the Moon close to the horizon and close to the zenith. Images were processed using a free program called ImageJ. The Moon was found to be 5.73 ±0.04% smaller in area on the horizon then at the zenith.

TIME LAPSE SEISMIC OBSERVATIONS AND EFFECTS OF RESERVOIR COMPRESSIBILITY AT TEAL SOUTH OIL FIELD

One of the original ocean-bottom time-lapse seismic studies was performed at the Teal South oil field in the Gulf of Mexico during the late 1990’s. This work reexamines some aspects of previous work using modern analysis techniques to provide improved quantitative interpretations. Using three-dimensional volume visualization of legacy data and the two phases of post-production time-lapse data, I provide additional insight into the fluid migration pathways and the pressure communication between different reservoirs, separated by faults. This work supports a conclusion from previous studies that production from one reservoir caused regional pressure decline that in turn resulted in liberation of gas from multiple surrounding unproduced reservoirs. I also provide an explanation for unusual time-lapse changes in amplitude-versus-offset (AVO) data related to the compaction of the producing reservoir which, in turn, changed an isotropic medium to an anisotropic medium. In the first part of this work, I examine regional changes in seismic response due to the production of oil and gas from one reservoir. The previous studies primarily used two post-production ocean-bottom surveys (Phase I and Phase II), and not the legacy streamer data, due to the unavailability of legacy prestack data and very different acquisition parameters. In order to incorporate the legacy data in the present study, all three poststack data sets were cross-equalized and examined using instantaneous amplitude and energy volumes. This approach appears quite effective and helps to suppress changes unrelated to production while emphasizing those large-amplitude changes that are related to production in this noisy (by current standards) suite of data. I examine the multiple data sets first by using the instantaneous amplitude and energy attributes, and then also examine specific apparent time-lapse changes through direct comparisons of seismic traces. In so doing, I identify time-delays that, when corrected for, indicate water encroachment at the base of the producing reservoir. I also identify specific sites of leakage from various unproduced reservoirs, the result of regional pressure blowdown as explained in previous studies; those earlier studies, however, were unable to identify direct evidence of fluid movement. Of particular interest is the identification of one site where oil apparently leaked from one reservoir into a “new” reservoir that did not originally contain oil, but was ideally suited as a trap for fluids leaking from the neighboring spill-point. With continued pressure drop, oil in the new reservoir increased as more oil entered into the reservoir and expanded, liberating gas from solution. Because of the limited volume available for oil and gas in that temporary trap, oil and gas also escaped from it into the surrounding formation. I also note that some of the reservoirs demonstrate time-lapse changes only in the “gas cap” and not in the oil zone, even though gas must be coming out of solution everywhere in the reservoir. This is explained by interplay between pore-fluid modulus reduction by gas saturation decrease and dry-frame modulus increase by frame stiffening. In the second part of this work, I examine various rock-physics models in an attempt to quantitatively account for frame-stiffening that results from reduced pore-fluid pressure in the producing reservoir, searching for a model that would predict the unusual AVO features observed in the time-lapse prestack and stacked data at Teal South. While several rock-physics models are successful at predicting the time-lapse response for initial production, most fail to match the observations for continued production between Phase I and Phase II. Because the reservoir was initially overpressured and unconsolidated, reservoir compaction was likely significant, and is probably accomplished largely by uniaxial strain in the vertical direction; this implies that an anisotropic model may be required. Using Walton’s model for anisotropic unconsolidated sand, I successfully model the time-lapse changes for all phases of production. This observation may be of interest for application to other unconsolidated overpressured reservoirs under production.

The lattice solid model to simulate the physics of rocks and earthquakes: Incorporation of friction

The particle-based lattice solid model developed to study the physics of rocks and the nonlinear dynamics of earthquakes is refined by incorporating intrinsic friction between particles. The model provides a means for studying the causes of seismic wave attenuation, as well as frictional heat generation, fault zone evolution, and localisation phenomena. A modified velocity-Verlat scheme that allows friction to be precisely modelled is developed. This is a difficult computational problem given that a discontinuity must be accurately simulated by the numerical approach (i.e., the transition from static to dynamical frictional behaviour). This is achieved using a half time step integration scheme. At each half time step, a nonlinear system is solved to compute the static frictional forces and states of touching particle-pairs. Improved efficiency is achieved by adaptively adjusting the time step increment, depending on the particle velocities in the system. The total energy is calculated and verified to remain constant to a high precision during simulations. Numerical experiments show that the model can be applied to the study of earthquake dynamics, the stick-slip instability, heat generation, and fault zone evolution. Such experiments may lead to a conclusive resolution of the heat flow paradox and improved understanding of earthquake precursory phenomena and dynamics. (C) 1999 Academic Press.

东海陆架盆地复杂天然气藏地震勘探判别技术研究

Exploration study proves that East sea shelf basin embeds abundant hydrocarbon resources. However, the exploration knowledge of this area is very low. Many problems in exploration are encountered here. One of them is that the gas reservoir of this area, with rapid lateral variation, is deeply buried. Correlation of Impendence between sandstone, gas sand and shale is very poor. Another problem is that the S/N ratio of the seismic data is very low and multiples are relatively productive which seriously affect reservoir identification. Resolution of the seismic data reflected from 2500-3000 meter is rather low, which seriously affects the application of hydrocarbon direct identification (HDI) technology. This research established a fine geological & geophysical model based on drilling、well logging、geology&seismic data of East sea Lishui area. A Q value extraction method from seismic data is proposed. With this method, Q value inversion from VSP data and seismic data is performed to determine the subsurface absorption of this area. Then wave propagation and absorption rule are in control. Field acquisition design can be directed. And at the same time, with the optimization of source system, the performance of high resolution seismic acquisition layout system is enhanced. So the firm foundation is ensured for east sea gas reservoir exploration. For solving the multiple and amplitude preserving problems during the seismic data processing, wave equation pre-stack amplitude preservation migration and wave equation feedback iteratively multiple attenuation technologies are developed. Amplitude preservation migration technology can preserve the amplitude of imaging condition and wave-field extrapolation. Multiple removing technology is independent of seismic source wavelet and velocity model, which avoiding the weakness of Delft method. Aiming at the complicated formation condition of the gas reservoir in this area, with dissecting typical hydrocarbon reservoir, a series of pertinent advanced gas reservoir seismic identification technologies such as petrophysical properties analyzing and seismic modeling technology、pre-stack/post-stack joint elastic inversion, attribute extraction technology based on seismic non-stationary signal theory and formation absorption characteristic and so on are studied and developed. Integrated analysis of pre-stack/post-stack seismic data, reservoir information, rock physics and attribute information is performed. And finally, a suit of gas reservoir identification technology is built, according to the geological and geophysical characteristics of this area. With developed innovative technologies, practical application and intergrated interpretation appraisal researches are carried out in Lishui 36-1.The validity of these technologies is tested and verified. Also the hydrocarbon charging possibility and position of those three east sea gas exploration targets are clearly pointed out.

叠前叠后联合反演技术及其在QHD32-6油田的应用研究

What geophysical inversion studied includes the common mathematics physical property of inversion and the constitution and appraisal method of solution in geophysics domain, i.e. using observed physical phenomenon from the earth surface to infer space changing and physical property structure of medium within the earth. Seismic inversion is a branch of geophysical inversion. The basic purpose of seismic inversion is to utilizing seismic wave propagating law in the medium underground to infer stratum structure and space distribution of physical property according to data acquisition, processing and interpretation, and then offer the vital foundation for exploratory development. Poststack inversion is convenient and swift, its acoustic impedance inversion product can reflect reservoir interior changing rule to a certain degree, but poststack data lack abundant amplitude and travel time information included in prestack data because of multiple superimpose and weaken the sensitiveness which reflecting reservoir property. Compared with poststack seismic inversion, prestack seismic inversion has better fidelity and more adequate information. Prestack seismic inversion, including waveform inversion, not only suitable for thin strata physical property inversion, it can also inverse reservoir oil-bearing ability. Prestack seismic inversion and prestack elastic impedance inversion maintain avo information, sufficiently applying seismic gathering data with different incident angle, partial angle stack, gradient and intercept seismic data cube. Prestack inversion and poststack inversion technology were studied in this dissertation. A joint inversion method which synthesize prestack elastic wave waveform inversion, prestack elastic impedance inversion and poststack inversion was proposed by making fully use of prestack inversion multiple information and relatively fast and steady characteristic of poststack inversion. Using the proposed method to extract rock physics attribute cube with clear physical significance and reflecting reservoir characterization, such as P-wave and S-wave impedance, P-wave and S-wave velocity, velocity ratio, density, Poisson ratio and Lame’s constant. Regarding loose sand reservoir in lower member of Minghuazhen formation, 32-6 south districts in Qinhuangdao,as the research object, be aimed at the different between shallow layer loose sand and deep layer tight sand, first of all, acquire physical property parameters suitable for this kind of heavy oil pool according to experimental study, establishing initial pressure and shear wave relational model; Afterwards, performing prestack elastic wave forward and inversion research, summarizing rules under the guidance of theoretical research and numerical simulation, performing elastic impedance inversion, calculating rock physics attributes; Finally, predicting sand body distribution according to rock physics parameters, and predicting favorable oil area combine well-logging materials and made good results.

海上时移地震综合解释技术研究与应用

The practical application and development of the time-lapse seismic reservoir monitor technology has indicated which has already become one of most important development technologies in seeking the surplus oil distribution and improving the reservoir recovering. The paper, first obtained the rock physics experiment analysis data according to the Bohai Sea loose sandstone in-situ measure technical, and determined the feasibility research of the S oil-field on the time-lapse seismic reservoir monitoring combining with the time-lapse numeric simulation technology, which was used to analyze the time-lapse seismic respond raw of the reservoir parameters change and pointed out the attentive problems during the real time-lapse seismic processing and interpretation. Next, simply introduced the technical link and the effect of the time-lapse mutual constrained fidelity and match processing aiming at the local complex gathering condition, geological condition, development engineering condition. Third, introduced the time-lapse integrated interpretation and the technical system with the innovative key technology that includes the time-lapse difference explanation technology, the time-lapse seismic multi-attributes integrated interpretation technology, and the time-lapse constrained reservoir parameters inversion technology, and so on. Using the time-lapse difference direct explanation technology, directly obtained the surplus oil macroscopic distribution through the difference seismic data; Using the presenting 8 big principles of the sublayer isochronisms comparison, carried on the time-lapse integrated interpretation analysis on the fine sublayer comparison and the thin oil-layer(group) contrast and the oil layer (group); The paper putted up the research, contrast, applications of the multi-sides sensitive attribute analysis and the RBF nerve network on the nearest study algorithm, and predicted the reservoir parameters and the surplus oil distribution with them; Combining with innovative researches and the time-lapse seismic constrained reservoir parameters inversion technology realized the good combination of the seismic and the reservoir engineering. Fourth, under fully analyzing the geology condition, the reservoir condition, the exploit dynamic data, and the seismic data of the S oil-field, and analyzing the time-lapse difference factors with reservoir dynamic exploit data, calibrated the oil-gas saturation change, the pressure change, the water saturation change, and determined the rationality of the time-lapse seismic difference, and finally obtained the surplus oil distribution, the water flood characteristic understanding, reservoir degasification, and pressure drop raw, and so on, which had been used in the well pattern tightening plan proof of the S oil-field development adjustment plan. Finally, the paper summarized the knowledge and understanding of the marine time-lapse seismic integrated interpretation, also had pointed out the further need researched question.

基于弹性参数分析的碳酸盐岩储层预测方法研究

Prediction of Carbonate Reservoir Based on the Elastic Parameter Analysis Zhang Guangzhi (Solid Geophysics) Directed by Professor Liu Hong Abstract With the exploration and development of Puguang Oilfield, oil-gas exploration of carbonate rock in China has shown good prospects. Research on earthquake prediction methods for carbonate reservoir becomes the key of oil and gas exploration. Starting with analysis of geological characteristics of carbonate rock, prestack AVO inversion method, prestack elastic impedance inversion and parameter calculation method and seismic attribute extraction and optimization method were studied based on the analysis of rock physics in this work. First, variation characteristic and law of carbonate rock reservoir parameters were studied based on experimental data of rock physics, log data, analysis assay data, mud logging data and seismic data, so as to lay a foundation for the further reservoir identification and description. Then, the structure, type and propagation law of seismic wave field were analyzed through seismic forward modeling of the reservoir, and contact between information from log and geology data with elastic parameters, such as compressional wave and shear wave velocity and density were established, so as to provide a standard for reservoir identification and hydrocarbon detection using seismic reflection characteristics of the research area. Starting with the general concept of inverse problem, through analysis of Zoeppritz equation, three kinds of pre-stack inversion methods were derived and analyzed in detail, the AVO 3-parameter inversion based on Bayesian theory, the prestack AVO waveform inversion method and the simultaneous inversion method, based on the statistical hypothesis of inversion parameters and observation data and the Gauss distribution assumption of noise. The three methods were validated by model data and real data. Then, the elastic wave impedance inversion method of carbonate reservoir was investigated and the method of elastic parameter extraction from elastic impedance data was put forward. Based on the analysis of conventional methods of seismic attribute extraction and optimization, the time-frequency attributes and the wavelet attributes with time and amplitude feature were presented, and the prestack seismic attribute calculation method which can characterize the reservoir rock and fluid characteristic was presented. And the optimization of seismic attribute using the nonlinear KPCA method was also put forward. A series of seismic prediction technologies for carbonate reservoir were presented based on analysis of rock physics and seismic forward simulation technology. Practical application of these technologies was implemented in A oil field of Southern China and good effect has been achieved. Key words: carbonate rock; reservoir prediction; rock physics, prestack seismic inversion; seismic attribute

高分辨率非线性岩性物性联合反演方法和应用

In the prediction of complex reservoir with high heterogeneities in lithologic and petrophysical properties, because of inexact data (e.g., information-overlapping, information-incomplete, and noise-contaminated) and ambiguous physical relationship, inversion results suffer from non-uniqueness, instability and uncertainty. Thus, the reservoir prediction technologies based on the linear assumptions are unsuited for these complex areas. Based on the limitations of conventional technologies, the thesis conducts a series of researches on various kernel problems such as inversions from band-limited seismic data, inversion resolution, inversion stability, and ambiguous physical relationship. The thesis combines deterministic, statistical and nonlinear theories of geophysics, and integrates geological information, rock physics, well data and seismic data to predict lithologic and petrophysical parameters. The joint inversion technology is suited for the areas with complex depositional environment and complex rock-physical relationship. Combining nonlinear multistage Robinson seismic convolution model with unconventional Caianiello neural network, the thesis implements the unification of the deterministic and statistical inversion. Through Robinson seismic convolution model and nonlinear self-affine transform, the deterministic inversion is implemented by establishing a deterministic relationship between seismic impedance and seismic responses. So, this can ensure inversion reliability. Furthermore, through multistage seismic wavelet (MSW)/seismic inverse wavelet (MSIW) and Caianiello neural network, the statistical inversion is implemented by establishing a statistical relationship between seismic impedance and seismic responses. Thus, this can ensure the anti-noise ability. In this thesis, direct and indirect inversion modes are alternately used to estimate and revise the impedance value. Direct inversion result is used as the initial value of indirect inversion and finally high-resolution impedance profile is achieved by indirect inversion. This largely enhances inversion precision. In the thesis, a nonlinear rock physics convolution model is adopted to establish a relationship between impedance and porosity/clay-content. Through multistage decomposition and bidirectional edge wavelet detection, it can depict more complex rock physical relationship. Moreover, it uses the Caianiello neural network to implement the combination of deterministic inversion, statistical inversion and nonlinear theory. Last, by combined applications of direct inversion based on vertical edge detection wavelet and indirect inversion based on lateral edge detection wavelet, it implements the integrative application of geological information, well data and seismic impedance for estimation of high-resolution petrophysical parameters (porosity/clay-content). These inversion results can be used to reservoir prediction and characterization. Multi-well constrains and separate-frequency inversion modes are adopted in the thesis. The analyses of these sections of lithologic and petrophysical properties show that the low-frequency sections reflect the macro structure of the strata, while the middle/high-frequency sections reflect the detailed structure of the strata. Therefore, the high-resolution sections can be used to recognize the boundary of sand body and to predict the hydrocarbon zones.

最优烃类指标方法的研究与应用

Nowadays, with the development of reservoir exploration, the method of exploration is growing. Together with well information and laboratory results, seismic information with high quality can predict reservoir successfully. Hydrocarbon Indicator is a method, which picks the most sensitive rock properties of hydrocarbons, scans the aim area with rock physics tools, and then indicates the area of reservoir. Obviously, the more is the difference between brine and oil/gas, the better this method works. Which parameter can be used as the Optimal Hydrocarbon Indicators is still in discussion. The author introduced several kinds of Hydrocarbon Indicators in this thesis. After analyzing the response of different parameter to reservoir, together with seismic information, the reservoir can be predicted. In this paper, the reservoir of Zhunge’er is studied to prove this kind of method is suitable for real exploration in China. Besides, the author chose Haila’er reservoir to testify whether this method could be used in metamorphic reservoir other than sandstone reservoir. The results highlighted the meaning of Optimal Hydrocarbon Indicators on reservoir identification. The author also mentioned some thoughts for the development of hydrocarbon indicators in the future.

叠前地震多角度三参数同步反演方法

Pre-stack seismic inversion has become the emphasis and hotspot owing to the exploration & exploitation of oil field and the development of seismic technology. Pre-stack seismic inversion has the strongpoint of making the most of amplitude versus offset compared with the post-stack method. In this dissertation, the three parameters were discussed from multi-angle reflectance of P-wave data based on Zoeppritz’s and Aki & Richard’s equation, include P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity, and density. The three parameters are inversed synchronously from the pre-stack multi-angle P-wave data, based on rockphysics model and aimed at the least remnant difference between model simulation and practical data. In order to improve the stability of inversion and resolution to thin bed, several techniques were employed, such as the wavelet transform with multi-scale function, adding the Bayesian soft constraint and hard constraints (the horizon, structure and so on) to the inversion process. Being the result, the uncertainty of the resolution is reduced, the reliability and precision are improved, the significance of parameters becomes clearer. Meeting to the fundamental requirement of pre-stack inversion, some research in rockphysics are carried out which covered the simulation and inversion of S-wave velocity, the influence of pore fluids to geophysical parameters, and the slecting and analyzing of sensitive parameters. The difference between elastic wave equation modeling and Zoeppritz equation method is also compared. A series of key techniques of pre-stack seismic inversion and description were developed, such as attributes optimization, fluid factors, etc. All the techniques mentioned above are assembled to form a technique sets and process of synchronous pre-stack seismic inversion method of the three parameters based on rock physics and model simulation. The new method and technology were applied in many areas with various reservoirs, obtained both geological and economic significance, which proved to be valid and rational. This study will promote the pre-stack inversion technology and it’s application in hidden reservoirs exploration, face good prospects for development and application.

岩石热开裂的实验研究

Micro-cracks appeared between the boundaries of different minerals of rocks during heating process, because of different thermal expansion coefficients of minerals, this phenomenon is referred as thermal cracking of rocks. The transport property of rocks was changed greatly due to the thermal cracking induced micro-cracks network, for example, the permeability of carbonate increases about 10 times when the temperature arise from room temperature to 110～120℃. Thermal cracking of rocks is a new research field of rock physics, which related closely to rock mechanics, mineralogy as well as experimental technology. The thermal cracking experiments of various rocks were performed, the rock macroscopic properties such as porosity, permeability, velocities of elastic waves in rocks were obtained as a function of temperature of heating process, and the microscopic structures of rocks were observed by using Scanning Electro-Microscope (SEM). The mechanism and the theoretical model of thermal cracking of rocks are given at present paper. Finally, the potential implication of rock thermal cracking to petroleum industry is discussed.

A rate and state friction law for saline ice

Sea ice friction models are necessary to predict the nature of interactions between sea ice floes. These interactions are of interest on a range of scales, for example, to predict loads on engineering structures in icy waters or to understand the basin-scale motion of sea ice. Many models use Amonton's friction law due to its simplicity. More advanced models allow for hydrodynamic lubrication and refreezing of asperities; however, modeling these processes leads to greatly increased complexity. In this paper we propose, by analogy with rock physics, that a rate- and state-dependent friction law allows us to incorporate memory (and thus the effects of lubrication and bonding) into ice friction models without a great increase in complexity. We support this proposal with experimental data on both the laboratory (∼0.1 m) and ice tank (∼1 m) scale. These experiments show that the effects of static contact under normal load can be incorporated into a friction model. We find the parameters for a first-order rate and state model to be A = 0.310, B = 0.382, and μ0 = 0.872. Such a model then allows us to make predictions about the nature of memory effects in moving ice-ice contacts.