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Visualization of geologic stress perturbations using Mohr diagrams
Patricia Crossno1, David H Rogers, Rebecca M Brannon
1Sandia National Laboratories, PO Box 5800, Albuquerque, NM 87185, USA. pjcross@sandia.gov
IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics
|September 8, 2005
Summary
Scientists developed a new visualization technique to understand stress in Gulf of Mexico salt formations. This helps reduce high-risk drilling failures and costs associated with oil and gas exploration.
Area of Science:
- Geology
- Geomechanics
- Data Visualization
Background:
- Deepwater Gulf of Mexico contains vast oil and gas reserves trapped by salt formations.
- Drilling in these areas is high-risk, leading to costly well abandonments due to salt tectonics.
- Understanding geomechanical interactions between salt and surrounding formations is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel techniques for visualizing subsurface stress fields in geomechanical models.
- To improve the understanding of geomechanical interactions in salt diapir regions.
- To reduce drilling risks and associated costs in deepwater oil and gas exploration.
Main Methods:
- Nonlinear finite element geomechanical modeling was used to simulate stresses around salt diapirs.
- An adaptation of the Mohr diagram was developed as a new tensor glyph.
- The tensor glyph allows dynamic exploration of tensor variables in 3D finite element models.
Main Results:
- A novel tensor glyph was created for visualizing subsurface stress fields.
- The glyph enables dynamic exploration and analysis of stress tensor variables.
- This visualization technique aids in understanding complex geomechanical behaviors.
Conclusions:
- The developed tensor glyph provides an effective method for visualizing simulated stress fields.
- This visualization tool can enhance the understanding of salt tectonics and geomechanical interactions.
- Improved visualization can lead to better-informed decisions in high-risk drilling operations.