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f Construction and integration of geological meaningful surfaces into surface-based reservoir models
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, 79th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2017 - Workshops, Jun 2017, cp-519-00133
- ISBN: 978-94-6282-219-1
Abstract
Here a surface-based geological modelling approach is presented that generates bounding surfaces to represent geological heterogeneity of interest without imposing it on a predefined grid. It is capable of preserving, complex input geometry from geological modelling to fluid flow simulation across a broad range of heterogeneity types and length-scales, including structural and stratigraphic heterogeneity, and boundaries between different facies/lithologies. Using a NURBS (non-uniform rational B-splines) representation allows to accurately model complex geometries. Different length-scales of heterogeneity can be switch on/off easily, because no grid is present that would otherwise have to be modified. The efficiency of NURBS makes it possible to generate multiple realizations of surface-based models relatively quickly. Many geological features that form heterogeneities can be described and quantified by their cross section, such as channels, clinoforms or scours. Such information is often available from seismic data or outcrop analogues and can be conveniently translated into a NURBS description. NURBS surfaces can also represent geometries that are typically defined by geostatistical input. Surface metadata allows integration of geological meaningful information to surfaces and allows for automated assemblage of surfaces into full geological reservoir models for which an unstructured tetrahedral mesh is created only when required for flow simulation.