System and method for performing time-lapse monitor surverying using sparse monitor data
US8724429B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 4, 2009 |
| Grant date | May 13, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 24, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V2210/612
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for performing time-lapse monitor surveys with sparsely sampled monitor data sets. An accurate 3D representation (e.g., image) of a target area (e.g., a hydrocarbon bearing subsurface reservoir) is constructed (12) using the sparsely sampled monitor data set (11). The sparsely sampled monitor data set may be so limited that it alone is insufficient to generate an accurate 3D representation of the target area, but accuracy is enabled through use of certain external information (14). The external information may be one or more alternative predicted models (25) that are representative of different predictions regarding how the target area may change over a lapse of time. The alternative models may, for example, reflect differences in permeability of at least a portion of the target area. The sparsely sampled monitor data set may then be processed to determine (23) which of the alternative models is representative of the target area.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.