Atomic Meshes: from Seismic Imaging to Reservoir Simulation

Combining image processing and optimization techniques, we automatically align a lattice of points (atoms) with horizons and faults in a 3-D seismic image. Connecting these points yields an unstructured space-filling polyhedral (atomic) mesh. This single data structure can integrate multiple tasks, such as seismic interpretation, reservoir characterization, and flow simulation, thereby reducing work cycle times and errors. Horizons and faults in seismic images often correspond to discontinuities in subsurface properties, such as permeability. Depending on the type of mesh elements desired, we align the lattice of atoms either on or alongside image features. 3-D Delaunay triangulation of atoms aligned on image features yields a tetrahedral mesh, with triangular faces of tetrahedra coincident with subsurface discontinuities. Alternatively, 3-D Delaunay triangulation of atoms aligned alongside image features yields a dual Voronoi polyhedral mesh in which polygonal faces coincide with subsurface discontinuities.