Adaptive tracking of geological objects

Abstract

The present invention provides a computer-implemented method for detecting at least one natural contour of a geologic object in 3D seismic data, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving at least one first predetermined data set from said 3D seismic data comprising a plurality of phase events; (b) selecting at least one first seed phase event having a first phase characteristic from said plurality of phase events; (c) determine a characterising score between said selected at least one first seed phase event and each one of a predetermined number of candidate phase events of said at least one first predetermined data set; (d) assign said characterising score to each one of said predetermined number of candidate phase events; (e) adjust said characterising score of at least one of said predetermined number of candidate phase events in accordance with at least one first boundary condition; (f) determine at least one natural contour between said at least one first seed phase event and at least a second phase event, utilising an optimisation algorithm; (g) generate a visual representation of said at least one natural contour within said at least one first predetermined data set.

1 . A computer-implemented method for detecting at least one natural contour of a geologic object in 3D seismic data, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) receiving at least one first predetermined data set from said 3D seismic data comprising a plurality of phase events;   (b) selecting at least one first seed phase event having a first phase characteristic from said plurality of phase events;   (c) determining a characterising score between said selected at least one first seed phase event and each one of a predetermined number of candidate phase events of said at least one first predetermined data set;   (d) assigning said characterising score to each one of said predetermined number of candidate phase events;   (e) adjusting said characterising score of at least one of said predetermined number of candidate phase events in accordance with at least one first boundary condition;   (f) determining at least one natural contour between said at least one first seed phase event and at least a second phase event, utilising an optimisation algorithm; and   (g) generating a visual representation of said at least one natural contour within said at least one first predetermined data set;
 wherein, when said at least one first predetermined data set comprises a 3D volume data set, said optimisation algorithm is a Markov Random Field optimisation. 
   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one first boundary condition comprises at least one geologic constraint and/or at least one stratigraphic constraint and/or at least one algorithmic optimisation constraint in accordance with at least one variable of said at least one candidate phase event. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein said at least one variable is any one or any combination of (i) a relative position of said at least one candidate phase event with respect to any other one of said predetermined number of candidate phase events and/or a predetermined geological object, (ii) an angular inclination of said at least one first natural contour with respect to said 3D seismic data, (iii) said characterising score of said at least one candidate event, and (iv) a characterising score projected from at least one second predetermined data set from said 3D seismic data. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein said at least one second predetermined data set comprises any one of a 2D in-line slice data set, a 2D cross-line slice data set, or a 3D volume data set that is sequentially arranged to respective said at least one first data set within said 3D seismic data. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein said at least one algorithmic optimisation constraint comprises at least one hard constraint and/or at least one soft constraint. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein each one of said predetermined number of candidate phase events is eligible in accordance with at least one algorithmic condition. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein said algorithmic condition is a Degree of Freedom (DOF) for movement from one phase event to another. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first phase characteristic is any one of a peak-positive amplitude, a trough-negative amplitude or a zero-crossing. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one natural contour in step (f) includes a first natural contour, that is an optimum solution provided by said optimisation algorithm, and at least one alternate natural contour, that is an alternate solution provided by said optimisation algorithm. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one second phase event is a second seed phase event selected by the user. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said step (c) includes determining said characterising score between said selected at least one first and second seed phase event and each one of said predetermined number of candidate phase events of said at least one first predetermined data set. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one second phase event is a candidate phase event determined in accordance with its location and/or characterising score within said at least one first predetermined data set. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (c) includes utilising characteristic information from a predetermined number of phase events proximate to respective each one of said predetermined number of candidate phase events. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said characterising score is a similarity score. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said similarity score is based on at least one attribute derivable from said at least one candidate phase events. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said geological object is any one of at least one horizon feature and at least one fault feature. 
     
     
         20 . A computer system for detecting at least one natural contour of a geologic object in 3D seismic data by a method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         21 . A computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon a computer program, when executed by a computer processor that is configured to perform the method of  claim 1 .