Abstract

A computer supported method, computer system and computer program product for exploring and producing a subsurface heterogeneous hydrocarbon source and generating a predictive production map of an area under investigation, based on microbial prospecting. Microbial data representative of microbial activity attributable to hydrocarbon microseepage and hydrocarbon productivity data of a plurality of geographic locations are retrieved and correlated by the computer in a data correlation algorithm, providing a threshold hydrocarbon productivity quantity and a truncated set of the retrieved microbial data. The set identifies individual types of the microorganisms and corresponding individual weighting factors computed by the data correlation algorithm, for distinguishing prospective hydrocarbon productivity quantities from non-prospective hydrocarbon productivity quantities. An estimated subsurface hydrocarbon productivity quantity for a geographical location of the area under investigation is provided by count weighting retrieved microbial data of this location for microorganisms identified in the truncated set, applying the individual weighting factors.

IPC Classes  ?

• C12Q 1/64 - Geomicrobiological testing, e.g. for petroleum
• E21B 41/00 - Equipment or details not covered by groups
• G06F 16/29 - Geographical information databases
• G06F 16/951 - IndexingWeb crawling techniques
• E21B 49/02 - Testing the nature of borehole wallsFormation testingMethods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells by mechanically taking samples of the soil
• E21B 43/26 - Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures

Abstract

A computer supported method, computer system and computer program product for exploring and producing a subsurface heterogeneous hydrocarbon source and generating a predictive production map of an area under investigation, based on microbial prospecting. Microbial data representative of microbial activity attributable to hydrocarbon microseepage and hydrocarbon productivity data of a plurality of geographic locations are retrieved and correlated by the computer in a data correlation algorithm, providing a threshold hydrocarbon productivity quantity and a truncated set of the retrieved microbial data. The set identifies individual types of the microorganisms and corresponding individual weighting factors computed by the data correlation algorithm, for distinguishing prospective hydrocarbon productivity quantities from non-prospective hydrocarbon productivity quantities. An estimated subsurface hydrocarbon productivity quantity for a geographical location of the area under investigation is provided by count weighting retrieved microbial data of this location for microorganisms identified in the truncated set, applying the individual weighting factors.

IPC Classes  ?

• C12Q 1/64 - Geomicrobiological testing, e.g. for petroleum
• G06F 19/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific applications (specially adapted for specific functions G06F 17/00;data processing systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes G06Q;healthcare informatics G16H)