Inter-Well Interpolation Scheme for Automatic Reconstruction of Basin Sediment History
Sibo Walid, Dorothy F. Payne, and Peter J. Ortoleva
A numerical module for inter-well interpolation is developed to automatically reconstruct the sedimentation history of a basin. Data is interpolated at each point of the basin using well data via a non linear interpolation method which respects the sharp contact between formations.
The implemented code addresses some of the practical issues of model development, such as the non uniform distribution of wells that might lead to artificial gaps in certain formations. These gaps can often be identified by using general information about certain lithologies that would be expected to be continuous and not separated into patches. Such sedimentalogical correlation information may easily entered in the program.
As an illustrated example, well data from the Piceance basin is being used to reconstruct depositional and burial history. Well files contain a number of variables such as lithology, porosity, mineralogy, etc.
A graphical interface has been developed in order to easily monitor and improve the reconstructed history. Such features include displaying well locations, a 2-dimensional isochron maps, a 3-dimensional image of a basin showing the morphology and size of the various lithologies serial sectioning of the basin as well as 3-dimensional image of a user selected formation.
AAPG Search and Discover Article #91019©1996 AAPG Convention and Exhibition 19-22 May 1996, San Diego, California