Paradigm GeoDepth^® Tomography

Overview
Benefits
FAQ
System Requirements

Tomography input quality control with Pencil Database

Velocity models play an extremely critical role in seismic imaging and, in turn, help provide data for more accurate interpretations. But even with all the advantages of tomography, providing accurate, high quality solutions for global velocity model updates remains a significant challenge, especially when so many different combinations of parameters, including depth interfaces, axial velocity and anisotropic parameters, can fit the data equally well. The goal is to find the optimal set of update parameters to yield geologically plausible models and to provide more reliable images for interpretation.

More productive approach to complex models

Geoscientists, oil companies and seismic service companies need a solution that addresses the computational, interpretational and azimuthal challenges of updating large and complex velocity models for critical assets. Paradigm™ GeoDepth® Tomography does that. An add-on to the Paradigm GeoDepth® Velocity Modeling solution, it goes well beyond existing tomography solutions. GeoDepth Tomography provides added strength in subsurface parameter estimation, including anisotropy. It also provides added capability to run large problems on computer clusters. It provides new tools for automatic picking of reflection surfaces and for picking residual moveouts on gathers that make the tomography more user friendly and productive.

Faster results on a larger scale

Current industry benchmark studies show an approximate five-to-one improvement in project turnaround times. That means more time for tomographic iterations or for moving the project along more quickly to migration and final image. GeoDepth Tomography is able to update velocity models extracted from modern seismic surveys acquired in challenging geologic regimes. Specifically, GeoDepth Tomography can handle large surveys, multi-azimuthal surveys, anisotropy and reduce project time for computation and interpretation.

Handle the most difficult scenarios and models

Paradigm GeoDepth Tomography is a state-of-the-art velocity model updating system that:

Updates some of the most difficult velocity scenarios (anisotropy, topology, size) and models
Optimally handles large models with complex geology
Handles the rich, wide azimuth seismic surveys used in modern offshore and onshore exploration projects
Enhances seismic imaging quality
Reduces interpretation uncertainty

Improve computations

GeoDepth uses a specially designed infrastructure and a unique, iterative approach for high-performance computing. This lets the user:

Create the tomography matrix using the Paradigm Parallel Framework-based anisotropy ray tracing
Solve the tomography matrix using multiple inversions with different geological constraints applied independently to each geological layer
Run optimally on large computing clusters with many nodes
Distribute computations over the two main tasks of creating and solving the tomographic matrix
Handle computations involving hundreds of gigabytes for typical grid intervals of a few hundred meters

Automate time-consuming tasks

GeoDepth Tomography also helps improve the efficiency of the tomographic workflow. Users can:

Automate tasks, including automatic picking of reflecting events
Store picks in the Pencil Database, a new repository for picks and associated attributes such as dip and azimuth of reflecting surfaces, surface ID, residual velocity and more
Extract dip, azimuth and continuity factor volumes using ImageDAC
Extract coherent reflecting surfaces, continuous or not
Automatically pick RMO at pre-defined pencil points
Have confidence knowing multi-azimuth residual moveouts are fully supported

General Information

1. What is Paradigm™ GeoDepth® Tomography and who is it for?
GeoDepth Tomography offers geophysicists a state-of-the-art velocity modeling updating system that specifically addresses the difficulties and challenges in updating large models, complex models (e.g., anisotropy), and rich (offset/azimuth) seismic acquisitions. It is designed for velocity model builders and interpreters tasked with updating all components of the velocity model description (axial velocity, structure, anisotropic parameters.

2. What types of tomography solutions does Paradigm provide?
Paradigm tomography solutions are engineered to cover the full range of velocity model conditions. Solution coverage includes 2D and 3D grid-based and layer-based tomography solutions. Both 3D solutions are parallelized for high performance computing clusters.

3. How does Paradigm handle anisotropic model parameter updates handled in the 3D grid tomography?
Many tomography applications accommodate anisotropy in their respective ray tracing solutions, but updates are often limited to velocity only. The GeoDepth 3D Grid tomography provides a full anisotropic update, that is, the application simultaneously solves for (and provides updates to) not only velocity, but also delta and epsilon anisotropic parameters. Anisotropic solutions are available for both VTI and TTI velocity regimes.

Application and Usage

4. How do I quality control (QC) the GeoDepth Tomography results?
GeoDepth Tomography is an add-on to the GeoDepth™ Velocity Model building system, so all input and output data can be visualized using the application windows in GeoDepth, including the 3D Canvas, Section window and Basemap. In addition, specialized velocity QC may be performed in the GeoDepth Velocity Navigator. Of particular importance is the simultaneous quality control of velocity and structural information via a new “pencil repository.”

5. Does GeoDepth Tomography use a GUI or batch scripts for parameterization and job submission?
The new 3D Grid tomography application provides a flexible approach for setting up the tomography parameters. A comprehensive GUI guides the user through correct parameterization, and then allows simple conversion to a batch script for submission to a cluster architecture. Conversely, an existing batch script may be loaded into the interactive application to aid parameter adjustment for subsequent runs.

6. I need to run tomography on a large survey. What if I have limited memory on my cluster nodes?
Both the 3D Grid and 3D Layer-based tomography solutions are written and optimized for cluster use. The Rock & Fluid Canvas 2009 3D Grid Tomography solution is specifically designed to enable the generation of very large tomography matrices by making efficient use of memory and disk space across Linux clusters. A large matrix can be accommodated by increasing the number of nodes utilized, or by splitting the matrix into parts, on disk. Run-time will be increased if multiple “file chunks” are used; this allows larger matrices to be solved even when memory capacity is limited.

Installation/Upgrade

7. Do I need to run Epos 4.0 to install the new 3D GeoDepth Grid Tomography?
Yes, the new 3D grid tomography application makes use of the data repositories and infrastructure new to Epos 4.0.

8. How can I export and import data between GeoDepth Tomography solutions and other Paradigm applications, and third-party applications?
GeoDepth Tomography reads and writes data directly from the Epos database. The options for data import/export are as follows:
a) ASCII/SEGY Import/Export using flexible interactive tools to interrogate files and QC the data
b) ULA Import/Export using Paradigm client/server technology to connect directly to OW/GF databases for interpretation/seismic/well data access
c) OpenSpirit connections for flexible access (new in Epos 4.0)

Licensing

9. Does GeoDepth Tomography have a dependency on other Paradigm products or can it be run stand-alone?
GeoDepth Tomography is available as an add-on to the Paradigm GeoDepth license. It cannot run as a standalone.

10. Will I require a new license file for GeoDepth Tomography?
Rock & Fluid Canvas 2007 | Epos3 customers with licenses of 3D Grid Tomography (and the 3D Tomography Bundle which includes both Grid and Horizon Tomography) will have access to the new Anisotropic 3D Grid Tomography when they upgrade to Rock & Fluid Canvas 2009 | Epos 4.0. In addition to the new Tomography, Paradigm has developed a number of productivity add-ons that can be used with the new 3D Grid Tomography:
a) Pre- and post-stack auto-picking tools are available as an add-on to Grid Tomography (Tomography Facilitator add-on)
b) The 3D Tomography application may be upgraded to a multi-azimuth implementation via the Multi-Azimuth Tomography add-on

Training and Support

11. Is training available for GeoDepth Tomography?
The new Anisotropic 3D Grid Tomography is included in the Fundamentals of GeoDepth 3D course. Visit www.pdgm.com/training for a full listing of available classes by location. Also, customers using any of the Rock & Fluid Canvas 2009 | Epos 4.0 products are strongly recommended to enroll in the Epos 4.0 System and Data Management course.

12. Where are Paradigm Training Centers located?
Paradigm offers public at our training centers in the following locations:
Americas - Houston, TX, USA; Calgary, Canada; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Buenos Aires, Argentina; Caracas, Venezuela
Europe/CIS - Woking, England; Aberdeen, Scotland; Pau, France; Moscow, Russia
Middle East/North Africa/India - Lagos, Nigeria; Mumbai, India; Dubai, UAE
Asia Pacific - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Perth, Australia
China - Beijing, China

13. Can I schedule a private GeoDepth training class just for users in my company?
Yes, Paradigm can teach our GeoDepth class to your users on a private basis at a Paradigm Training Center or at your facility.

14. Can private classes be taught using my dataset?
Yes, but in order to avoid customization charges, we recommended that we deliver a private class using our dataset. After the training class is completed, our trainer can spend an extra day working with users on their datasets. We have found this to be the most cost effective way of transferring knowledge with specific datasets.

Platform and System Requirements

15. What are the system requirements for Paradigm™ GeoDepth™ Tomography?
The new Anisotropic 3D Grid Tomography and the 3D Layer Tomography are designed and optimized for HPC Linux Clusters. Memory and local disk availability on the cluster nodes will dictate how to distribute the data and execute the job. The 3D Grid Tomography (Rock & Fluid Canvas 2007) is available for SMP systems only.

16. What platforms does GeoDepth Tomography run on?
Processors: Intel 64 architecture processors; AMD64 architecture processors
Operating systems: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 Update 6 and above; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Update 1 and above

17. What cluster configuration is necessary to run GeoDepth Tomography?
The new Anisotropic 3D Grid Tomography utilizes the Paradigm Parallel Framework (PPF), a proprietary parallel processing architecture with no dependence on MPI or similar node communication software. The PPF provides load balancing and fault tolerance. To support data with large tomography matrices, GeoDepth Tomography is currently not fault tolerant and runs with static work distribution.

The following lists the hardware and software needed to run Paradigm GeoDepth Tomography. It details requirements across all operating environments, specific requirements for each operating system, and additional software requirements.

For all operating systems:
Memory : 4 GB or more per CPU core recommended; minimum 1GB.
Memory requirements may differ according to application and data.
Swap space: 4GB recommended.
Hard Disk space: 1880MB

Specific requirements for supported operating systems:
Linux for x64 Systems (64 Bits)

Operating System	Red Hat® Enterprise Linux 4 Update 6 and above Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Update 1 and above
Hardware	Processor: Intel® 64 and AMD64 architecture processors. 3D Graphics Adapter:NVIDIA Quadro series recommended Minimum resolution of 1600x1200 or 1900x1200 depending on aspect ratio

Additional Software Requirements

Web browser

Linux environments: Accessing Help on Linux requires a browser that supports Java and JavaScript. We recommend Mozilla Firefox version 2.x or earlier (http://www.mozilla.com/).

Notes:
1. Epos 4.0 is not supported on virtual machine solutions
2. Epos 4.0 is not supported for display on any X Window System emulators.

Paradigm GeoDepth® Tomography