Virtual outcrops: 3-D reservoir analogues

Abstract: Sedimentary architectures observed in 2-D outcrop sections are commonlyused to build petroleum reservoir models. Advances in digital photogrammetry nowallow the analysis of outcrop analogue aerial photographs, not only in three dimensions,but also dynamically. Digital photogrammetric techniques have also been adapted toclose range photographs of well exposed cliff sections, to derive high resolution, beddingmeasurements in 3-D. Merging the aerial and terrestrial photogrammetric output withother data, such as shallow cores or Ground Penetrating Radar creates 3-D volumetric,Digital Solid Models (DSM) (see research website). A DSM can be extensively inter-rogated and the resulting meta-data used to construct 3-D, deterministic, reservoir mod-els. Subsequent fluid flow simulations through these reservoir models can be animated,allowing identification of areas of interest or potential field management problems, suchas by-passed hydrocarbons. Animations constructed from digital fly-throughs of thesemodels communicate results from target outcrops, pinpointing areas of interest for fol-low-up field reconnaissance and better understanding of stratigraphy.