| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R36145/01 |
| Title: |
Automatic interpretation of geological faulting using 3D seismic data |
| Principal Investigator: |
Turner, Dr J |
| Other Investigators: |
|
| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
|
| Project Partners: |
|
| Department: |
Earth Sciences |
| Organisation: |
University of Birmingham |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 December 2001 |
Ends: |
28 February 2005 |
Value (£): |
197,413
|
| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Image & Vision Computing |
Oil & Gas Extraction |
|
| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Environment |
Energy |
| Information Technologies |
|
|
| Related Grants: |
|
| Panel History: |
|
|
Summary on Grant Application Form |
|
Interpretation of geological faults imaged on 3D seismic data is vital in petroleum exploration and production because some 75% of petroleum traps are significantly fault-controlled. However, it is a time-consuming exercise requiring intensive geological interpretation. Automation of the interpretational process will increase the effectiveness of petroleum prospect evaluation and it will yield considerable cost savings. This project combines expertise from computer vision/image processing and structural geology to develop prototype software to do this. Thus, we address directly priority themes concerning the effectiveness of petroleum discovery and assessment technologies. Attendant benefits include improvements in safety and the environmental impact of drilling. Initial extraction of fault segments, or patches, will be performed in collaboration with Shell using their proprietary highlighting software on a high-quality Shell dataset. Highlighted patches will be validated, expanded and merged using novel image processing methods that incorporate structural geological criteria such as the distribution of fault displacement and the consistency of fault orientation. Funding is sought for a PDRA, who will concentrate on the development and implementation of the new algorithms, and a PhD student, who will provide structural geological input on the geometrical and statistical attributes of the faulting. Integration and evaluation of the software in collaboration with Shell and Badleys Ltd. (a British SME) will result in a system with significant potential for commercial development.Keywords geological faulting, 3D seismic interpretation, geophysics, computer vision, image procesing, petroleum exploration and production
|
|
Key Findings |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Potential use in non-academic contexts |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Impacts |
|
| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
|
| Date Materialised |
|
|
|
|
Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
| Project URL: |
|
| Further Information: |
|
| Organisation Website: |
http://www.bham.ac.uk |