Patent ID: 9182510
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of refining models of subsurface formations targeted for hydrocarbon exploration and recovery, the method comprising: modeling, by a computer system, at least one surface of a subsurface formation based on a seismic velocity model of the subsurface formation and measurements of formation properties from one or more offset wells, the modeled surface representing a boundary of a target zone corresponding to a location of a hydrocarbon reservoir within the subsurface formation; planning a trajectory of a borehole to be drilled toward the target zone within the subsurface formation, based on the modeled surface; correlating a predicted log generated using the measurements obtained from the one or more offset wells to a measured log of formation properties obtained from the borehole while it is drilled along the planned trajectory within the subsurface formation; determining a pseudo-surface pick location for the modeled surface based on the correlating, the pseudo-surface pick location representing a point at which the borehole being drilled is expected to penetrate the boundary of the target zone represented by the model surface; modifying at least a portion of the seismic velocity model based on the determined pseudo-surface pick location of the modeled surface; updating at least a portion of the modeled surface based on the modified portion of the seismic velocity model; and adjusting the planned trajectory of the borehole as it is being drilled toward the target zone within the subsurface formation, based on the updated portion of the modeled surface.