Mapping 3D Overthrust Structures by a Hybrid Modeling Method

Abstract A rational three‐dimensional (3D) geological model with complex characteristics generated on a small amount of data is a crucial data infrastructure for scientific research and many applications. However, reconstructing structures with multi‐Z values on a single point caused by folding or o...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Weisheng Hou, Yanhua Li, Shuwan Ye, Songhua Yang, Fan Xiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2025-01-01
Series:Earth and Space Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EA003916
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832583553514209280
author Weisheng Hou
Yanhua Li
Shuwan Ye
Songhua Yang
Fan Xiao
author_facet Weisheng Hou
Yanhua Li
Shuwan Ye
Songhua Yang
Fan Xiao
author_sort Weisheng Hou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract A rational three‐dimensional (3D) geological model with complex characteristics generated on a small amount of data is a crucial data infrastructure for scientific research and many applications. However, reconstructing structures with multi‐Z values on a single point caused by folding or overthrusting is still one of the bottlenecks in 3D geological modeling. Combined with the multi‐point statistics (MPS) method and fully connected neural networks (FCNs), this study presented a hybrid framework for 3D geological modeling. The loss functions of FCN and the conventional MPS method jointly form the kernel function of the proposed method, which is constrained by stratigraphic sequence and stratum thickness. The input and output parameters of the FCN are the coordinates and corresponding elevations of geological contacts, respectively. To solve the kernel function, the initial model, in which geological surfaces are generated by the FCNs, is generated using a sequential process. An iterative MPS process with an Expectation Maximization‐like (EM‐like) algorithm is carried out to illuminate the artifacts in the initial model. Ten orthogonal cross‐sections are extracted from the overthrust model created by SEG/EAGE as the modeling data source. The results illustrated that the geometry and spatial relationships of strata and faults are retained well with the geological constraints. The comparison of virtual boreholes from the results and the real model shows that the accuracy of the geological object reaches 75%. The presented method provides a new idea for simulating 3D structures with multi‐Z values, which overcomes the limitations of the conventional MPS‐based 3D modeling method.
format Article
id doaj-art-f48970d3e214497599fb0ac2fdb52b55
institution Kabale University
issn 2333-5084
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher American Geophysical Union (AGU)
record_format Article
series Earth and Space Science
spelling doaj-art-f48970d3e214497599fb0ac2fdb52b552025-01-28T11:08:40ZengAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU)Earth and Space Science2333-50842025-01-01121n/an/a10.1029/2024EA003916Mapping 3D Overthrust Structures by a Hybrid Modeling MethodWeisheng Hou0Yanhua Li1Shuwan Ye2Songhua Yang3Fan Xiao4School of Earth Sciences and Engineering Sun Yat‐sen University Zhuhai ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences and Engineering Sun Yat‐sen University Zhuhai ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences and Engineering Sun Yat‐sen University Zhuhai ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences and Engineering Sun Yat‐sen University Zhuhai ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences and Engineering Sun Yat‐sen University Zhuhai ChinaAbstract A rational three‐dimensional (3D) geological model with complex characteristics generated on a small amount of data is a crucial data infrastructure for scientific research and many applications. However, reconstructing structures with multi‐Z values on a single point caused by folding or overthrusting is still one of the bottlenecks in 3D geological modeling. Combined with the multi‐point statistics (MPS) method and fully connected neural networks (FCNs), this study presented a hybrid framework for 3D geological modeling. The loss functions of FCN and the conventional MPS method jointly form the kernel function of the proposed method, which is constrained by stratigraphic sequence and stratum thickness. The input and output parameters of the FCN are the coordinates and corresponding elevations of geological contacts, respectively. To solve the kernel function, the initial model, in which geological surfaces are generated by the FCNs, is generated using a sequential process. An iterative MPS process with an Expectation Maximization‐like (EM‐like) algorithm is carried out to illuminate the artifacts in the initial model. Ten orthogonal cross‐sections are extracted from the overthrust model created by SEG/EAGE as the modeling data source. The results illustrated that the geometry and spatial relationships of strata and faults are retained well with the geological constraints. The comparison of virtual boreholes from the results and the real model shows that the accuracy of the geological object reaches 75%. The presented method provides a new idea for simulating 3D structures with multi‐Z values, which overcomes the limitations of the conventional MPS‐based 3D modeling method.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EA003916multiple‐point statisticsoverthrust modelgeological constraintsexpectation maximization‐like
spellingShingle Weisheng Hou
Yanhua Li
Shuwan Ye
Songhua Yang
Fan Xiao
Mapping 3D Overthrust Structures by a Hybrid Modeling Method
Earth and Space Science
multiple‐point statistics
overthrust model
geological constraints
expectation maximization‐like
title Mapping 3D Overthrust Structures by a Hybrid Modeling Method
title_full Mapping 3D Overthrust Structures by a Hybrid Modeling Method
title_fullStr Mapping 3D Overthrust Structures by a Hybrid Modeling Method
title_full_unstemmed Mapping 3D Overthrust Structures by a Hybrid Modeling Method
title_short Mapping 3D Overthrust Structures by a Hybrid Modeling Method
title_sort mapping 3d overthrust structures by a hybrid modeling method
topic multiple‐point statistics
overthrust model
geological constraints
expectation maximization‐like
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EA003916
work_keys_str_mv AT weishenghou mapping3doverthruststructuresbyahybridmodelingmethod
AT yanhuali mapping3doverthruststructuresbyahybridmodelingmethod
AT shuwanye mapping3doverthruststructuresbyahybridmodelingmethod
AT songhuayang mapping3doverthruststructuresbyahybridmodelingmethod
AT fanxiao mapping3doverthruststructuresbyahybridmodelingmethod