US 12,019,204 B2
Stratigraphic trap recognition using orbital cyclicity
Yin Xu, Dhahran (SA); and Sihai Zhang, Dhahran (SA)
Assigned to SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Feb. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/651,719.
Prior Publication US 2023/0266494 A1, Aug. 24, 2023
Int. Cl. G01V 5/12 (2006.01); G01V 5/04 (2006.01)
CPC G01V 5/12 (2013.01) [G01V 5/045 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of determining a presence of stratigraphic traps, comprising:
obtaining a Gamma ray (GR) log dataset, wherein the GR log dataset comprises values for a plurality of wells in an area of interest;
determining a geological time period corresponding to a depth in the GR log dataset;
determining, using a computer processor, a spectrum of Earth's orbital parameters corresponding to the geological time period, wherein the spectrum of Earth's orbital parameters comprises parameters for eccentricity, obliquity, and precession;
determining, using the computer processor, peak frequencies of the spectrum of Earth's orbital parameters;
determining a quantity of orbital cycles per well in the area of interest, wherein the orbital cycles are reflected as sedimentary patterns in a geologic record;
determining, using the computer processor, a presence of stratigraphic traps, based, at least in part, on differences in quantities of Earth's orbital cycles between one or more wells in the area of interest;
planning a wellbore trajectory to penetrate an accumulation of hydrocarbons, based, at least in part, on the presence of one or more stratigraphic traps; and
drilling a wellbore according to the wellbore trajectory;
wherein determining the quantity of orbital cycles for each well in the area of interest comprises dividing the geological time period by a quantity of years per orbital cycle;
wherein determining a presence of stratigraphic traps further comprises:
performing, using the computer processor, well correlation using the GR log dataset for the plurality of wells in the area of interest; and
determining a presence of subsurface features indicative of a stratigraphic trap.