Dynamic subsurface engineering

Abstract

An example system includes interconnected modeling modules that share knowledge to create a unified earth model dynamically representing a subsurface site. The system models and may simulate subsurface operations associated with, for example: hydrocarbon production and stimulation, natural gas storage, carbon capture and storage, aquifer maintenance, geothermal energy production, and in-situ leachable ore processing. The system integrates a reporting module, and also an economic module to evaluate cost versus benefit of each subsurface operation. A related example method for performing subsurface engineering includes generating a model of a subsurface site including a geological horizon, obtaining an offset relative to the geological horizon, and locating an operation based on the offset. When field data update the model in real time, positions of 3D objects and 3D surfaces are dynamically updated in the model, including the positions of the modeled operations.