Paul K Dunn

US Patent:

6674689, Jan 6, 2004

Filed:

Mar 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/395911

Inventors:

Paul A. Dunn - Houston TX
Marek K. Czernuszenko - Sugar Land TX

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01V 134

US Classification:

367 43, 367 63, 367 74, 702 17

Abstract:

A method for analyzing and classifying the morphology of seismic objects extracted from a 3D seismic data volume. Any technique may be used to extract the seismic objects from the 3D seismic data volume. According to the inventive method, one or more morphologic parameters are selected for use in classifying the morphology of the selected seismic objects. Geometric analyses are then performed on each seismic object to determine geometric statistics corresponding to the selected morphologic parameters. The results of these geometric analyses are used to classify the morphology of the seismic objects according to the selected morphologic parameters.

US Patent:

6823266, Nov 23, 2004

Filed:

Jul 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/195582

Inventors:

Marek K. Czernuszenko - Sugar Land TX
Steven R. May - Bellaire TX
Yao C. Cheng - Bellaire TX
Paul A. Dunn - Houston TX

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01V 130

US Classification:

702 14, 703 10

Abstract:

A method for predicting the connectivity of seismic objects identified by seed detection or similar methods.

US Patent:

7024021, Apr 4, 2006

Filed:

Sep 3, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/654138

Inventors:

Paul A. Dunn - Houston TX, US
Marek K. Czernuszenko - Sugar Land TX, US

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382109, 367 14, 367 68, 367 72, 367 73, 367 74, 702 16

Abstract:

The invention is a method for performing a stratigraphically-based seed detection in a 3-D seismic data volume. The method incorporates criteria that honor the layered nature of the subsurface so that the resulting seismic objects are stratigraphically reasonable. The method may be used to extract from a seismic data volume all seismic objects that satisfy the input criteria. Alternatively, the method may be used to determine the size and shape of a specific seismic object in a seismic data volume.

US Patent:

7925481, Apr 12, 2011

Filed:

Aug 19, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/658922

Inventors:

John C. Van Wagoner - Houston TX, US
Paul A. Dunn - Houston TX, US
Max Deffenbaugh - Califon NJ, US
David N. Awwiller - Houston TX, US
Tao Sun - Missouri City TX, US
Dachang Li - Katy TX, US
David C. Hoyal - Houston TX, US
Chris J. Donofrio - The Woodlands TX, US

International Classification:

G06G 7/48

US Classification:

703 10, 702 2

Abstract:

A method is disclosed for using a three-dimensional seismic image of a subsurface earth volume to construct a geologic model specifying the spatially-varying grain size distribution, porosity, and permeability throughout the volume. The method applies to earth volumes composed of water-lain clastic sedimentary deposits and involves, in one embodiment, (a) identifying the outline forms of geologic bodies in geologic data; (b) using the outline forms of the geologic bodies to determine the spatially-varying grain size distribution within the bodies, guided by assumptions about the nature and behavior of the paleoflow that deposited the bodies; (c) determining rock properties such as, porosity and permeability within the geologic bodies based on grain-size distribution, mineralogy and burial history information.

US Patent:

8370122, Feb 5, 2013

Filed:

Nov 13, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/738018

Inventors:

Kelly G. Walker - Sugar Land TX, US
Timothy A. Chartrand - Spring TX, US
Paul A. Dunn - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06G 7/48

US Classification:

703 10

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for segmenting geobodies extracted from three-dimensional geophysical survey data volumes. In one embodiment, the invention involves (a) obtaining a plurality of data elements, respectively corresponding to three-dimensional locations in a subsurface region, and generating a data volume consisting of discrete cells from the plurality of data elements (); (b) identifying an initial geobody corresponding to a potential hydrocarbon reservoir within the data volume by grouping cells in the data volume according to a selected connectivity criterion (); (c) selecting a rule () that characterizes stratigraphically reasonable geobodies (e. g. they cannot vertically overlap); and (d) in response to a determination that the initial geobody does not conform to the rule, segmenting the initial geobody into a plurality of fundamental geobodies via processing the data elements with an automated segmentation routine, wherein the fundamental geobodies each conform to the rule ().