Depth error analysis and correction

Objectives

Depth error analysis

Depth error correction
Depth error residual handling
Depth correction model
Reference levels

Linear velocity functions in Petrel

Petrel offers two types of linear velocity functions:
(a) V=V0 + K*Z
V0 derived at the reference level (SRD, offshore this equals MSL)
(b) V=V0 + K*(Z-Z0); Z0 depth at layer top
V0 (instantaneous velocity) derived at the top of the layer

Both functions should give the same results at the velocity locations. In general (b)
should have a smaller variance than (a)

V=V0+K*Z
V0

V=V0+K*(Z-Z0)
V

V
V0

K
x

x x
x
x

x x
x
x

Note: In general the mapping

of data points with a large
variation is less reliable than
the mapping of data with a
small variance

Velocity function Same as above

Principle:

Note: Use this option for thin layers

V0 surface for A
and B

A+B
A

A+B

B
Well with checkshots and 3 well
tops
Derivation of linear velocity
function for layers A and B
using minimization technique
Result: Different V0 for zones A
and B for the same running K

If K:Well TDR-Constant :
Depth error of both zones plotted
as function of the running K

Data points V0 of both

zones used to derive a
common V0 surface

Minimum depth error gives a

common K for both zones

If K: Well TDR-Surface a
common K-surface is
derived from all K values of
both zones

Alternatively the K at each well

and each zone is derived

Residual depth error

Error before velocity correction

Error after velocity correction

After the velocity correction (typically based on well tops) a residual depth error is sometimes
observed (c.f. picture)
Known reasons for residual error:
Clustering of wells with strongly deviating well tops
Method Same as above. The corrected velocity field is used for two (or more) layers

Correction of residual error

In many cases the residual error can be considerably reduced by re-gridding the TWT input surfaces using a
smaller grid spacing (Exception: depth errors resulting from the velocity function Same as above option)

X/Y- increment:
25 feet

X/Y- increment:
100 feet

X / Y increment of the Make velocity model process :

Controls the grid spacing of the output velocity surfaces
Generally has no significant impact on the residual depth error

Geostatistics variogram concept

Variogram:
A quantitative description of the variation in a property as a function of
separation distance between data points
Based on the principle that two points close together are more likely to
have similar values than points far from each other

Two main aspects of a variogram:

1. How similar are two values right next to each other?
2. How far apart are two points before they bear no relation to each other?

 Variance: A measure of how different

members of a collection are from each other
Lag distance: Separation distance between
points
Sill: Variance at the point where the
summary plot flattens out to random
similarity
Range: Correlation distance; distance
beyond which data points no longer exhibit
any statistical similarity
Nugget: Degree of dissimilarity at zero
distance

Variance

Geostatistics variogram parameters

Sill

Nugget

Range
1

Separation
distance (lag)

Basic statistics variogram calculation

Calculation process and setup
1.A Search radius and Number of lags must be
defined=> decides the Lag increment and
consequently the Lag distance
2.All pairs of points in each Lag (bin) will be
compared
3.For each lag, the average variation is calculated

Variogram plot
1.The average variance per lag is plotted in a
Separation distance vs. Semivariance crossplot
2.These points make up the Experimental
variogram (black points)

Lag distance
Defines max distance pairs
of data could be apart when
compared (within each lag)
Search radius
Defines how far away
data will be collected