Introduction to EarthVision

EarthVision 8.1 developed by Dynamic Graphics, offers software for 3D model building, analysis, and visualization, with precise 3D models that can be quickly created and updated. Accurate maps and cross-sections, reservoir characterization, and volumetric analysis are made easy. EarthVision′s advanced 3D ⁄ 4D Viewer enables model examination and interrogation in the context of datasets from throughout the asset development team, which serves to improve and simplify quality control, well planning, and communication to management, investors, partners, and other team members.

Streamline the Model Building Process

Using EarthVision′s WorkFlow Manager, the model building process is streamlined allowing complex models to be built quickly and easily through a guided, geologically oriented process. Using one-time data entry, the WorkFlow Manager′s interface provides an intuitive environment, guiding users through modeling fluid contacts, salt domes, diapirs, and complexly faulted structures, and performing time-to-depth conversions.

Highlights Include

• a user customizable workflow
• seamless integration of seismic interpretations in time with your depth model using EarthVision′s geo-model-driven velocity and time-to-depth conversion
• intermediate horizon creation using true vertical or true stratigraphic thickness (TVT or TST)
• fluid contact modeling with the ability to constrain fluids on a fault block basis and/or within a polygon area
• property modeling using geometric reconstructive techniques to better represent the true depositional history of strata in faulted reservoirs
• property grouping by zone or fault block, and conformal or non-conformal gridding to accurately represent property distributions
• contour map, isochore map, and cross-section creation as part of the model building process

Fully Featured Earth Modeling

Contour maps, isochore maps, and cross-sections derived from EarthVision 3D models provide accurate, easily understood representations of reverse faults, major fault gaps, fault-wedge contours, and other geologic scenarios regardless of complexity. These representations of layer juxtaposition are critical tools in volumetric analysis, fluid migration, and hydrocarbon entrapment analysis.

Rounding out the available tools, and making EarthVision a fully-featured 3D earth modeling and analysis package are access to:

• a 2D graphical editor
• an interactive statistical analysis tool linked with the 3D Viewer
• mathematical processing of input and output data ⁄ models
• volumetric calculations
• the Geologic Structure Builder for customizing fault block zones
• a multitude of industry import ⁄ export links
• optional modules including the EarthVision Integrated Well Designer, Geoceulluar Gridding, and Geostatistics

Model QC through True Data Integration

With the advanced EarthVision 3D Viewer, model input and output files can be visualized in conjunction with datasets from throughout the asset team, allowing for model examination and interrogation in the full geologic context. Through integration of reservoir knowledge, quality control, well planning, and communication are dramatically improved and simplified.

The EarthVision 3D Viewer Enables

• examination of multiple models and co-located data sets, through the use of multiple model spaces and coordinated viewer windows
• direct comparison and validation of fault and horizon interpretations, and easy in-viewer data editing
• on the fly cross-sections (along wellpaths or arbitrary lines of traverse) through 3D models, seismic volumes, and cellular grids
• integration of non-DGI file types, including ESRI Shapefiles, Paradigm GOCAD objects (e.g., Tsurfs, vertex sets), and USGS digital elevation data
• visualization of temporal data, including reservoir simulations and microseismic events

EarthVision Integrated Well Designer

The EarthVision Integrated Well Designer™, an optional module for use with EarthVision, offers quick, robust, easy-to-use well planning for non-expert well planners within the context of geologic, geophysical, and reservoir data. Driven by the strength of the WellArchitect planning engine, the EarthVision Integrated Well Designer combines powerful well planning software with advanced 3D visualization capabilities—a major step forward for the oil & gas drilling industry.

The EarthVision Integrated Well Designer Offers

• calculation with a variety of curves, and automatic display in EarthVision′s robust 3D ⁄ 4D visualization environment
• 2D and 3D geologic target generation within the context of all the asset team′s data
• the ability to sidetrack from any well and change the tie-on on-the-fly
• display of ellipsoids of uncertainty and driller′s targets based on ISCWSA standard tool models

Many geoscientists and engineers prefer to first create an appropriate well path within their data, rather than simply sending 3D target locations to a professional well planner (inside or outside of their organization). By creating your own well paths, you can effectively answer critical questions:

• is it more efficient to sidetrack?
• how exposed is a well to a problem horizon?
• is the well path staying within the sweet spot?
• is the well too close to the oil-water contact?
• how do critical parameters varying along the length of the well?

The EarthVision Integrated Well Designer allows for faster identification and better management of problem areas, shortening the cycle between geosciences and drilling, thereby maximizing returns on drilling investments.

Geocellular Module

The EarthVision Cellular Gridding module converts an EarthVision structure or property model into a cellular-grid format compatible for input to reservoir upscaling and simulation programs. Using an algorithm optimized for faults, the EarthVision Cellular Gridding program calculates cellular reservoir grids that accurately portray the structure and ⁄ or property in the original 3D model. The cellular 3D grid then provides the framework for calculating and predicting the flow of fluids within the reservoir. Unlike an EarthVision 3D grid, which has all of its grid lines parallel and orthogonal (thereby usually crossing structural and property features), a cellular grid is created so that its grid lines align to the major structural components of the model such as the faults and horizons.

Highlights Include

• a quick, easy workflow for generating new geocellular grids in minutes, not days
• precise cell modeling to handle complex fault geometries with ease
• numerous upscaling options, including arithmetic, geometric, harmonic, and power mean, plus hybrid schema for heterogeneous properties such as permeability
• industry-standard export formats including Eclipse™, RESCUE™, VIP™, CMG™, GRIDGENR™, and more
• visualization of inputs and outputs within the familiar 3D Viewer environment

Geostatistics Module

The EarthVision Geostatistics module provides 2D and 3D statistical methods for computing grid nodes based on 2D or 3D data, and incorporates the algorithms from Stanford University′s widely-used GSLIB geostatistics software library. Geostatistical models can be calculated conformal or non-conformal to structure, in selected zones and selected fault blocks of advanced structure models built with EarthVision′s powerful Geologic Structure Builder.

The Geostatistics module enables extensive pre-gridding data analysis to help optimize variogram model preparation prior to the kriging calculation. Variance grids can be calculated simultaneously with the estimate grid, and the spatial relationships of the data to be kriged can be analyzed using a number of different variograms and variogram maps, such as traditional semivariogram, covariance, correlogram, general relative, pairwise relative, logarithmic, rodogram, and madogram.

The EarthVision Geostatistics module offers a range of kriging algorithms, including:

• simple kriging
• ordinary kriging
• non-stationary kriging
• kriging with external drift
• kriging with a trend (universal kriging)
• collocated cokriging

EarthVision Solution Projects

EarthVision Solution Projects (EVSP), by Dynamic Graphics, offers a data technical assistance service for our customers, both at DGI offices and at customer sites. EVSP projects are performed by EarthVision Project Specialists using our innovative EarthVision three-dimensional geospatial analysis software and optionally, Dynamic Graphics′ equipment (graphics workstations, full-color printers, digitizers, etc.)

Our current EVSP customer base results from a number of scenarios:

• Proof of Concept—companies who wish to evaluate EarthVision geospatial analysis in a ″real world″ context prior to lease or purchase
• Short Deadlines—projects with deadlines too short to allow time for in-house purchase and personnel training
• No Capital Investment—business environments that dictate minimal capital expenditures on hardware/software purchases
• Irregular Project Flow—firms with intermittent projects requiring geospatial analysis
• Limited Staff—limited or down-sized customer staff that rules out training in-house personnel or keeping in-house personnel up-to-date on software application techniques
• Project-based Training—companies who wish to receive valuable ″real world″ training without a delay in project completion
• Build Demand—businesses that must demonstrate and build demand for this innovative technology internally or with their client base prior to lease or purchase

EVSP Deliverables

Deliverables from EVSP projects include volumetric reports, full-color hardcopy (maps, cross sections, fence diagrams, raster images, etc.), reservoir simulator preprocessor grids, photographic slides and prints, real-time interactive models, automated display presentations, live presentations by Dynamic Graphics staff, and Windows ⁄ Linux-compatible image files. Daily progress reports and project summary reports are also available.

EVSP Logistics

EVSP projects can be performed by Dynamic Graphics personnel at a Dynamic Graphics site or at a site chosen by the customer. EVSP services are typically charged on a time and materials basis. In most cases, labor and a combined hardware ⁄ software charge comprise about 90% of the cost of a project, with the remainder made up of charges for deliverables, shipping, etc.

A variety of standard data formats can be supplied as input for EVSP processing, such as ASCII analytical lab data, paper plans and contour maps, 2D grids, aerial photographs, 3D arrays, Landmark OpenWorks/SeisWorks projects, ESRI ARC ⁄ INFO coverages, Autodesk DXF files, LAS log data, Excel spreadsheet data, etc.

For more information about an EVSP project using your data, please contact your local Dynamic Graphics representative.

Case Review