Numerical simulation of the dual laterolog for carbonate cave reservoirs and response characteristics

Cave carbonate formations are characterized by heterogeneity, which makes electrical log prediction difficult. It is currently important to know how to use the dual laterolog to accurately identify and quantitatively evaluate caves. Using numerical simulation to calculate electrical log responses can provide a theoretical basis for cave identification and evaluation. In this paper, based on the dual laterolog principles, we first study different size spherical cave models using the finite element method （FEM）, determine a relation between resistivity and cave filling after comprehensively studying the log responses of cave models with different filling material, and finally study the dual laterolog responses on caves filled with shale, limestone, conglomerate, and thin laminated formation of sand and shale. The numerical results provide a theoretical basis for identification and evaluation of carbonate cave reservoirs.

Prestack AVA joint inversion of PP and PS waves using the vectorized reflectivity method

Most current prestack AVA joint inversion methods are based on the exact Zoeppritz equation and its various approximations. However, these equations only reflect the relation between reflection coefficients, incidence angles, and elastic parameters on either side of the interface, which means that wave-propagation effects, such as spherical spreading, attenuation, transmission loss, multiples, and event mismatching of P-and S-waves, are not considered and cannot accurately describe the true propagation characteristics of seismic waves. Conventional AVA inversion methods require that these wave-propagation effects have been fully corrected or attenuated before inversion but these requirements can hardly be satisfied in practice. Using a one-dimensional(1 D) earth model, the reflectivity method can simulate the full wavefield response of seismic waves. Therefore, we propose a nonlinear multicomponent prestack AVA joint inversion method based on the vectorized reflectivity method, which uses a fast nondominated sorting genetic algorithm(NSGA II) to optimize the nonlinear multiobjective function to estimate multiple parameters, such as P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity, and density. This approach is robust because it can simultaneously cope with more than one objective function without introducing weight coefficients. Model tests prove the effectiveness of the proposed inversion method. Based on the inversion results, we find that the nonlinear prestack AVA joint inversion using the reflectivity method yields more accurate inversion results than the inversion by using the exact Zoeppritz equation when the wave-propagation effects of transmission loss and internal multiples are not completely corrected.

Applications of texture attribute analysis to seismic interpretation

The first generation coherence algorithm(namely C1 algorithm) is based on the statistical cross-correlation theory, which calculates the coherency of seismic data along both in-line and cross-line. The work, based on texture technique, makes full use of seismic information in different directions and the difference of multi-traces, and proposes a novel methodology named the texture coherence algorithm for seismic reservoir characterization, for short TEC algorithm. Besides, in-line and cross-line directions, it also calculates seismic coherency in 45° and 135° directions deviating from in-line. First, we clearly propose an optimization method and a criterion which structure graylevel co-occurrence matrix parameters in TEC algorithm. Furthermore, the matrix to measure the difference between multi-traces is constructed by texture technique, resulting in horizontal constraints of texture coherence attribute. Compared with the C1 algorithm, the TEC algorithm based on graylevel matrix is of the feature that is multi-direction information fusion and keeps the simplicity and high speed, even it is of multi-trace horizontal constraint, leading to significantly improved resolution. The practical application of the TEC algorithm shows that the TEC attribute is superior to both the C1 attribute and amplitude attribute in identifying faults and channels, and it is as successful as the third generation coherence.

A seismic texture coherence algorithm and its application

The first generation coherence algorithm （the C1 algorithm） that calculates the coherence of seismic data in-line and cross-line was developed using statistical cross-correlation theory, and it has the limitation that the technique can only be applied to horizons. Based on the texture technique, the texture coherence algorithm uses seismic information in different directions and differences among multiple traces. It can not only calculate seismic coherence in in-line and cross-line directions but also in all other directions. In this study, we suggested first an optimization method and a criterion for constructing the gray level co-occurrence matrix of the seismic texture coherence algorithm. Then the co-occurrence matrix was prepared to evaluate differences among multiple traces. Compared with the C1 algorithm, the seismic texture coherence algorithm suggested in this paper is better than the C1 in its information extraction and application. Furthermore, it implements the multi-direction information fusion and it, also has the advantage of simplicity and effectiveness, and improves the resolution of the seismic profile. Application of the method to field data shows that the texture coherence attribute is superior to that of C 1 and that it has merits in identification of faults and channels.

Applications of fluid substitution effect analysis on seismic interpretation

The root mean square(RMS) difference of time-lapse seismic amplitudes is routinely used to identify the substituted fluid type in a reservoir during oil field production and recovery. By a time-lapse seismic method, we study the effects of fluid substitution in a physical model, which is an analogy of the three-dimensional inhomogeneous reservoir. For a weak inhomogeneous medium, gas/oil substitution results in positive anomalies in the reservoir layers, and negative anomalies below the bottom of the reservoir layers; while water/oil substitution causes only weak variations in the reservoir layers, but positive anomalies below the bottom of the reservoir layers. For the strong inhomogeneous medium, no matter what kind of fluid substitution(gas/oil or water/oil), there are significant anomalies in seismic amplitude difference attributes both in and below the reservoir layers. Therefore, for weak inhomogeneous media, such as tight sandstone or thin interbedded layers, the RMS amplitude difference attributes can be used to monitor fluid changes and predict the drilling direction; for inhomogeneous medium with karst carves or fractures, it is difficult to accurately determine the distribution of fluids with the RMS amplitude difference attributes.

Deformation geometry and timing of the Wupoer thrust belt in the NE Pamir and its tectonic implications

The Pamir region, located to the northwest of the Tibetan Plateau, provides important information that can aid the understanding of the plateau＇s tectonic evolution. Here we present new findings on the deforma- tion geometry and timing of the Wupoer thrust belt at the northeastem margin of Pamir. Field investigations and interpretations of seismic profiles indicate that the eastern portion of the Wupoer thrust belt is dominated by an underlying foreland basin and an overlying piggy-back basin. A regional unconformity occurs between the Pliocene （N2） and the underlying Miocene （NI） or Paleogene （Pg） strata associated with two other local unconformities between Lower Pleistocene （Q1） and N2 and between Middle Pleistocene （Q2-4） and Q1 strata. Results of structural restorations suggest that compres- sional deformation was initiated during the latest Miocene to earliest Pliocene, contributing a total shortening magnitude of 48.6 km with a total shortening rate of 48.12%, most of which occurred in the period from the latest Miocene to earliest Pliocene. These results, com- bined with previous studies on the Kongur and Tarshkor- gan extensional system, suggest an interesting picture of strong piedmont compressional thrusting activity concur- rent with interorogen extensional rifting. Combining these results with previously published work on the lithospheric architecture of the Pamir, we propose that gravitational collapse drove the formation of simultaneous extensional and compressional structures with a weak, ductile middle crustal layer acting as a decollement along which both the extensional and compressional faults merged.

Flow pattern identification in oil wells by electromagnetic image logging

Petroleum production logging needs to determine the interpretation models first and flow pattern identification is the foundation, but traditional flow pattern identification methods have some limitations. In this paper, a new method of flow pattern identification in oil wells by electromagnetic image logging is proposed. First, the characteristics of gas-water and oil-water flow patterns in horizontal and vertical wellbores are picked up. Then, the continuous variation of the two phase flow pattern in the vertical and horizontal pipe space is discretized into continuous fluid distribution models in the pipeline section. Second, the electromagnetic flow image measurement responses of all the eight fluid distribution models are simulated and the characteristic vector of each response is analyzed in order to distinguish the fluid distribution models. Third, the time domain changes of the fluid distribution models in the pipeline section are used to identify the flow pattern. Finally, flow simulation experiments using electromagnetic flow image logging are operated and the experimental and simulated data are compared. The results show that the method can be used for flow pattern identification of actual electromagnetic image logging data.

Q full-waveform inversion based on the viscoacoustic equation

Presently, most full-waveform inversion methods are developed for elastic media and ignore the effect of attenuation. The calculation of the quality factor Q is based on velocity parameter inversion under the assumption of a given Q-model that is obtained by tomographic inversion. However, the resolution of the latter is low and cannot reflect the amplitude attenuation and phase distortion during wave propagation in viscoelastic media. Thus, a Q waveform inversion method is proposed. First, we use standard linear body theory to describe attenuation and then we derive the simplified viscoacoustic equation that characterizes amplitude attenuation and phase distortion. In comparison with conventional equations, the simplifi ed equation involves no memory variables and therefore requires less memory during computation. Moreover, the implementations of the attenuation compensation are easier. The adjoint equation and the corresponding gradient equation with respect to either L2-norm or the zero-lag cross-correlation objective function are then derived and the regularization strategy for overcoming the instability during numerical solution of the adjoint equation is proposed. The Q waveform inversion is developed using the limited-memory Broyden–Fletcher– Goldfarb–Shanno (L-BFGS) iteration method for known velocity. To alleviate the dependence of the waveform inversion on the initial model and overcome cycle skipping to some extent, we adopt multiscale analysis. Furthermore, anti-noise property and double-parameter inversion are assessed based on the results of numerical modeling.

Numerical Simulation of a Multi-Frequency Resistivity Logging-While-Drilling Tool Using a Highly Accurate and Adaptive Higher-Order Finite Element Method

A novel,highly efficient and accurate adaptive higher-order finite element method(hp-FEM)is used to simulate a multi-frequency resistivity loggingwhile-drilling(LWD)tool response in a borehole environment.Presented in this study are the vector expression of Maxwell’s equations,three kinds of boundary conditions,stability weak formulation of Maxwell’s equations,and automatic hpadaptivity strategy.The new hp-FEM can select optimal refinement and calculation strategies based on the practical formation model and error estimation.Numerical experiments show that the new hp-FEM has an exponential convergence rate in terms of relative error in a user-prescribed quantity of interest against the degrees of freedom,which provides more accurate results than those obtained using the adaptive h-FEM.The numerical results illustrate the high efficiency and accuracy of the method at a given LWD tool structure and parameters in different physical models,which further confirm the accuracy of the results using the Hermes library(http://hpfem.org/hermes)with a multi-frequency resistivity LWD tool response in a borehole environment.

Reservoir and development characteristics of the Da'anzhai tight oil in Sichuan Basin,SW China

The oil in the Jurassic Da'anzhai reservoirs in the Sichuan Basin is unconventional tight oil,which accumulated in or near source rocks,and did not experience extensive migration in a large-scale long distance.The first submember,second submember and third submember of Da'anzhai Member are dominated by shell limestone which is widely and continuously distributed,and are typical near-source lacustrine shell limestone tight reservoirs.Complex lithology,multiple types of reservoir space and complicated pore structure are developed in these reservoirs.The effective reservoir space mainly includes micro-pores and micro-fractures with strong fabric selectivity.The petrophysics experiment reveals that the average connected matrix porosity of tight oil reservoir in Jurassic Da'anzhai Member is about 2.13%,lower than that of other tight oil reservoirs but higher than the average effective porosity(0.97%)from previous single alcohol-saturated method.According to production performance data,the Da'anzhai shell limestone reservoir is not a simple porous or fractured reservoir,but has complex porethroat-fracture association or storage-seepage mode.Because the development of fossil shells controls the development of micro-fractures,fluids are difficult to enter into but easy to escape from the reservoirs.Although the pore-throat is fine,the sorting is poor and the displacement pressure is high,the movable fluid saturation and mercury ejection efficiency of the reservoir in the Da'anzhai Member is only slightly lower than that of some storage-seepage modes,and higher than that of Oil-bearing Group 7 of Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin.The reservoir in the Da'anzhai Member is one of the few tight oil reservoirs with high natural productivity.The tight oil in the shell limestone of the Da'anzhai Member has great development potential,but its extensive and effective development also has some challenges,such as high seepage resistance of matrix and ineffective single development mode.The development mode of the Da'anzhai tight oil should draw lessons from the Bakken Formation in North America and Oil-bearing Gourp 7 of Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin,and thus,effective development technologies based on volume fracturing and fine operation for shell limestone tight oil in the Da'anzhai Member in Sichuan Basin are developed to realize the development of profit and scale.

Seismic energy dispersion compensation by multi-scale morphology

Seismic energy decays while propagating subsurface, which may reduce the resolution of seismic data. This paper studies the method of seismic energy dispersion compensation which provides the basic principles for multi-scale morphology and the spectrum simulation method. These methods are applied in seismic energy compensation. First of all, the seismic data is decomposed into multiple scales and the effective frequency bandwidth is selectively broadened for some scales by using a spectrum simulation method. In this process, according to the amplitude spectrum of each scale, the best simulation range is selected to simulate the middle and low frequency components to ensure the authenticity of the simulation curve which is calculated by the median method, and the high frequency component is broadened. Finally, these scales are reconstructed with reasonable coefficients, and the compensated seismic data can be obtained. Examples are shown to illustrate the feasibility of the energy compensation method.

Quantitative description of steam channels after steam flooding

Steam channeling is one of the main barriers for EOR after steam flooding.In order to enhance the oil recovery in steam flooded reservoirs,steam channel volumes should be precisely known.In this paper,a set of methods has been established in order to study steam channeling quantitatively by using dynamic data.Firstly,steam channeling wells are identified through curves of watercut and temperature.Then,considering the hysteresis phenomenon,channeling relations are identified with the correlation coefficients between injection wells and production wells under different conditions.Lastly,an analytic model,in which steam condensation,pressure and temperature are considered,is established to calculate the steam channel volumes.A production well named L31615 in some block in Henan Oilfield in China is systematically analyzed by using the method established.The whole block is further analyzed,and the distribution map of steam channels and the steam channel volumes are obtained.The results show that steam channeling does not only occur inside a well group,but also sometimes occurs between wells in different well groups.The calculation of the steam channel volumes provides a theoretical basis for bringing a remedial action like plugging into operation.