Patent ID: 8798974

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for an interactive analysis of geological structures by an interpreter using a computer system and a software module, the method comprising: (a) importing an earth profile comprising a digital image of one or more geologic structures; (b) displaying said earth profile; (c) interpreting and modeling said one or more geologic structures by operations comprising: creating and modifying an interpretation, said interpretation comprising faults and horizons observed and inferred in said earth profile; creating and modifying one or more structural models, said one or more structural models embodying principles of syndepositional fault-related folding, said operation of creating and modifying one or more structural models further comprising: specifying one or more faults selected for modeling from said interpretation; associating one of said one or more structural models with each of said one or more faults selected for modeling; controlling deformation mechanisms applying within each of said one or more structural models; specifying controls for one or more structural surfaces within each of said one or more structural models; computing configurations instantaneously of said one or more structural models by computations incorporating said principles and further depending on: configurations of said one or more faults selected for modeling; said deformation mechanisms; and said controls for one or more structural surfaces; and computing instantaneously errors and warnings related to said one or more structural models; (d) encapsulating digitally a state of analysis as a solution comprising contents: said earth profile; ancillary data related to calibration and display of said earth profile; said interpretation; said one or more structural models; and additional notes and descriptions; (e) updating said solution after each operation that changes said contents; (f) updating instantaneously a graphical display by overlaying said interpretation and said one or more structural models over said earth profile together with a display of said errors and warnings, wherein said graphical display varies in response to said operations of: creating and modifying said interpretation; and creating and modifying said one or more structural models; and (g) repeating any or all of said operations of interpreting and modeling said one or more geologic structures until there exists a match between said interpretation and said one or more structural models and said earth profile.