Software

Software is not Geocores main product, but over the years we have built a portfolio of software products that we use in our consultancy. Our design focus is easy to maintain stand alone modular components, which might be in contrast to much of the industry's integrated focus. The software is relying on the geoscientists own intelligence, as there is no artificial bundled. It is written in Matlab and is very suitable to attach to prototypes / new methods.

Seismic modelling

Geocore has been working on seismic modelling since the start-up. We started with fluid substitution and simple convolution on 1D profile and extended the modelling to simple 2D profiles, but the result did still not look realistic.

Even adapting to real seismic structures does not give realistic seismic profile. We realized that to get realistic seismic profiles four important steps are needed:

• Build proper geological structures (including faults, erosions and pinchouts)
• Fill the structures with properties at correct scale
• Apply a seismic modelling scheme taking the lack of lateral resolution into account
• Model seismic noise in a consistent way effectively masking out invisible small effects

Based on these principles an easy to use software has been implemented. Advanced structural features as fault blocks, injectites, erosion and variable deposition can be constructed in a simple way. Blocks are filled with parameters from wells and modelled to a realistic seismic profile in seconds. Fluid substititution and noise modelling are automatically applied.

The software is primarily designed for fast 2D evaluations for oil and gas exploration. The seismic and noise modelling concept is not limited to this and a 3D/4D generalization is currenlty been used in modelling fullfield geomodels in a research project with NORCE.

Fault seal evaluation

Most of the traps on NCS are in some way bounded by faults. After the initial problem of mapping the faults and fault pattern, the problem to be assessed is if the faults are actually sealing.

We do not have any accurate answer to this question in the generic case, but we have developed a set of tools to in a consistent way evaluate faults. Based on Vshale from a representative well and interpreted fault throw we map along the fault:

• Shale Gouge Ratio
• Juxtapostion
• Vshale

Visualization along fault plane enables a quick and visual evaluation of potential hydrocarbon column height and can highligh the valid part of the trap given a SGR level. Problematic areas of the trap is highlighted in terms of juxtapostion and can be compared to SGR at the same place to evaluate probability of ceiling for given hydrocarbon contacts.

Rock physics and log display software

Well Log data is the most importent data set together with seismic. To enable us to implement and use our own ideas we have developed a framework for well log handling. We use this for visualization, simple calculations, edits, cut and merges. We also use it to prepare well logs for other internal softwares.

• Log display - log database
  • Downhole data tend to be widespread on consistency and data format wise. We are working to consolidate downhole data, ranging from regular logging runs to checkshots and pressure tests, and be able to both co-display, QC and better utilize them.
• Well correlation
  • Some of the most used well correlation softwares tend to be very busy in terms of visual representation. Our usage is mainly schematics for exploration and thus aim at a cleaner view that can highlight the most important features. This also enables better visibility in small figures.
• Rock physics - modelling
  • Rock physics models tend to be complicated as there is a wide range of input parameters to set before you can start modeling HC effects. We are working to consolidate data, keep a simple model for explorationists with a range that can be used as a first pass check of potential for HC in a prospective area.