Ingrain, Inc.

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Naum Derzhi

Jack Dvorkin

Qian Fang

Jonas Toelke

Zbigniew M Wojcik

Meghan Armbruster

Yaoming Mu

Radompon Sungkorn

Michael Suhrer

Avrami Grader

Bryan Guzman

Rafael March Castaneda Neto

Gabriela Alexandra Davalos

Joel D Walls

Abraham S Grader

Gustavo Carpio

Elizabeth Diaz

Anyela Morcote

Carl Sisk

Santiago Gabriel Drexler

Jacob Michael Proctor

Yangqiu Hu

David d'Angelo

Milena Ferreira De Siqueira Lima

Zbigniew Wojcik

A method includes imaging, at an imaging resolution, a core of a subsurface formation to create a core image and iteratively performing the following operations until a defined feature of a rock of the subsurface formation exceeds a viewable image feature threshold: extracting a number of subsamples from the core for a first iteration and from each of the number of subsamples previously extracted for a subsequent iteration; increasing the imaging resolution; and imaging each subsample. The method includes performing the following operations for the subsamples last extracted: determining at least one formation property characteristic; determining a guiding rock property for each voxel of the core image and the number of subsample images; and determining a subsample that is a shortest distance to the voxel based on the number of guiding rock properties; and mapping, for each voxel, the at least one formation property characteristic that is the shortest distance.

Upscaling of formation petrophysical characteristics to a whole core scale

The disclosure provides an approach, or workflow, that extrapolates a segmentation carried out on a formation image into the labelling of fractures. The workflow can be applied to 2D and 3D images, which can be generated by different imaging technologies. Advantageously, one or more steps of the workflow can be performed automatically. An example of the workflow includes: (1) distinguishing fractures identified in a formation image from a background of the formation image by applying an entropy filter, wherein the formation image has elements that are defined as either fracture elements or non-fracture elements and entropy values for the elements are generated by the applying of the entropy filter, and (2) identifying the fracture elements that correspond to the fractures by solving a diffusion equation, wherein the entropy values are used as a diffusivity field for solving the diffusing equation and the fracture elements are used as a source.

Entropy-diffusion method for fracture identification and labelling in images

Systems and methods for visualizing fluid flows in a virtual reality (VR) environment are disclosed. A digital volume image representing a reservoir formation sample is obtained from an imaging device. The digital volume is segmented by assigning hydraulic properties of the formation sample to each volume element based on image properties associated with that volume element. Fluid flow is simulated using the segmented digital volume. A vector field representing flow properties at different points along one or more flow lines through the pore space is generated. An interactive visualization of a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment representing the formation sample with the flow line(s) is provided via a VR display. Responsive to receiving user input specifying an area of the environment to view at a selected level of detail, the specified area is rendered at the selected level of detail and a current view of the interactive visualization is updated accordingly.

Visualizing fluid flow through porous media in virtual reality

A graphical representation of an image of a subterranean formation along with log properties of the formation provided in a single graphical representation. Logged formation property values are coded into graphic representations of images of the formation in order to provide a graphical representation which allows the user to visually perceive the formation images and the logged formation properties simultaneously. A method may include receiving an image of a formation, the image including image values based on the formation, and also receiving a log property of the formation, the log property including log property values based on the formation. The log property values of the formation are correlated to corresponding locations in the image. A transfer function with the image values and the correlated log property values as inputs is determined. Based on the transfer function, a joint graphical representation of the image and the log property is rendered.

Property based image modulation for formation visualization

An example method includes acquiring two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) digital images of a rock sample. The method also includes iteratively analyzing property measurements collected throughout the digital images using different subsample sizes to identify a property distribution convergence as a function of subsample size. The method also includes selecting a smallest subsample size associated with the property distribution convergence as a representative elementary area or volume for the rock sample.

Representative elementary volume determination via clustering-based statistics

A method for determining fabric and upscaled properties of a geological sample, such as a rock sample. A system for the method also is provided.

Method for determining fabric and upscaled properties of geological sample

A method and a system are provided to prepare a plurality of cuttings or other rock fragments or other porous media, such as cuttings from a drilling interval or multiple intervals, for computer tomographic scanning at the same time. A method and system also are provided to allow organization of mass quantities of cuttings or other rock fragments obtained from intervals of a well to more accurately categorize the cuttings to assist selections thereof for more detailed digital rock analysis, such as using SEM and FIB-SEM systems, are provided. A method and system also are provided to allow characterization of facies occurrence frequency of a depth interval using drill cuttings or other rock fragments. Computerized systems, computer readable media, and programs for performing the methods are also provided.

Method and system for multi-energy computer tomographic cuttings analysis

A method for increasing the accuracy of a target property value derived from a rock sample is described in which the sample is scanned to obtain a three-dimensional tomographic digital image which can be processed to pore space and solid material phases through a segmentation process. A process is used which revises the segmented volume, e.g., by increasing pore space connectivity, in a manner affecting the target property value that would be derived. Another described method increases the accuracy with which a segmented volume represents a material sample having structure not adequately resolved in an original three-dimensional tomographic digital image. Further, a system for performing the processes, and a segmented digital volume which more accurately represents a sample of a porous media, are described.

Output display for segmented digital volume representing porous media

A method is provided to allow characterization of rock or other types of samples using a sliver that is prepared to have a sample and optionally a plurality of thin discrete reference objects encapsulated by hardened encapsulant that surrounds the peripheral edges of the sample and any reference objects. Systems for performing the methods are also provided. An x-ray scannable sliver also is provided as a single unit that has a thin discrete sample and a plurality of thin discrete reference objects encapsulated by hardened encapsulant that encases the peripheral edges of the sample and reference objects.

Process and system for preparation of X-ray scannable sample-embedded sliver for characterization of rock and other samples

A method is provided for efficiently characterizing rock traversed while drilling a borehole for hydrocarbon reservoir development. A rock sample can be obtained having a provenance of collection linked to a specific region of the borehole, which is scanned to obtain a 2D digital image that is segmented to pixels characterized as pore space and as mineral matrix and defining a boundary between them. A transform relationship, for example, a form of the Kozeny-Carman equation adapted for application to a 2D segmented image environment, can be applied to calculate the estimated value for a target rock property, which can be absolute permeability, relative permeability, formation factor, elasticity, bulk modulus, shear modulus, compressional velocity, shear velocity, electrical resistivity, or capillary pressure, and the estimated value is used to characterize the rock at that region of the borehole. This affords an opportunity to quickly and efficiently develop massive data directly characterizing extended regions of rock, whether traversed by the borehole in this or a related well. Computerized systems, computer readable media, and programs for performing the methods are also provided.

Method and system for estimating rock properties from rock samples using digital rock physics imaging

Method for improving the accuracy of rock property values derived from digital images

A method of evaluating a reservoir includes a multi-energy X-ray CT scan of a sample, obtaining bulk density and photoelectric effect index effect for the sample, estimation of at least mineral property using data obtained from at least one of a core gamma scan, a spectral gamma ray scan, an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, or an X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the sample, and determination of at least one sample property by combining the bulk density, photoelectric effect index, and the at least one mineral property (e.g., total clay content). Reservoir properties, such as one or more of formation brittleness, porosity, organic material content, and permeability, can be determined by the method without need of detailed lab physical measurements or destruction of the sample. A system for evaluating a reservoir also is provided.

Method of determining reservoir properties and quality with multiple energy X-ray imaging

A method for estimating effective atomic number and bulk density of objects, such as rock samples or well cores, using X-ray computed tomographic imaging techniques is provided. The method effectively compensates for errors in the interpretation of CT scan data and produces bulk densities which have lower residual error compared to actual bulk densities and produces bulk density&#x2014;effective atomic number trends which are consistent with physical observations.

Method for estimating effective atomic number and bulk density of rock samples using dual energy X-ray computed tomographic imaging

A method for determining in-situ relationships between physical properties of a porous medium from a sample thereof includes acquiring a three-dimensional image of the sample and segmenting the image into pixels representing pore space and pixels representing rock grain. A plurality of sub-volumes are selected from the segmented image, and a porosity is calculated for each of the sub-volumes. A digital simulation is conducted on each of the sub-volumes to obtain a selected physical property for the sub-volume. A relationship is determined between porosity and the selected physical property using relationship data comprising the calculated porosity and the simulated physical property for each of the sub-volumes. The method includes at least one of storing and displaying the relationship.

Method for determining in-situ relationships between physical properties of a porous medium from a sample thereof

A method for estimating a relationship between physical properties of a porous material from a sample thereof includes making a three dimensional tomographic image of the sample of the material. The image is segmented into pixels each representing pore space or rock grains. The image is divided into sub-volumes. A porosity is estimated for each sub-volume. At least one petrophysical parameter is modeled from the image of each sub-volume. A relationship between the porosity and the at least one modeled petrophysical parameter is determined by, e.g., a best-fit statistical method. The relationship and the modeled petrophysical parameter for each sub-volume are stored in a computer or displayed.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Naum Derzhi