Chimney detection automated (October 1999)

New patented neural-net technology, jointly developed with Statoil, reveals hydrocarbon migration paths above thereservoir.

De Groot-Bril’s (dGB) ChimneyCube technique uses neural network technology to detect gas-charged sediment over a reservoir. Claimed as commercial ‘first’ the service exclusively offered by dGB uses a seismic object detection method jointly developed by dGB and Statoil. A worldwide patent has been applied for and dGB believes the method has the potential to become the ‘next generation’ seismic interpretation system.

pock-marks

Work performed on 3D seismic data cubes for drilling hazard detection led to the realization that high-amplitude reflections, pockmarks, mud-volcanoes and other geological features were connected in space via hydrocarbon migration paths - seismic ‘chimneys’. Statoil workers realized that emerging neural-net techniques could be applied to automatic locating of such anomalies.

stunning

Initial results obtained with a ‘supervised Multi-Layer-Perceptron’ classification network were described as ‘stunning’. Migration paths could be followed down to the source, distinguishing charged and dry structures.

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