Release Notes for

Blueback Rock
Physics
Version 4.0.2

05 June 2019

www.cegal.com
T +47 52 04 00 00
Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

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Country of origin: Norway

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Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

Table of contents
1 Introduction and Overview .................................................................................... 4
2 Product and Feature Changes in Blueback Rock Physics v4.0.2 ......................... 4
2.1 New Features ........................................................................................................... 4
2.2 Changed Features .................................................................................................... 4
2.3 Deleted Features ...................................................................................................... 4
2.4 Bug Fixes ................................................................................................................. 5
3 Product and Feature Changes in Blueback Rock Physics v4.0.1 ......................... 5
3.1 New Features ........................................................................................................... 5
3.2 Changed Features .................................................................................................... 5
3.3 Deleted Features ...................................................................................................... 5
3.4 Bug Fixes ................................................................................................................. 5
4 Product and Feature Changes in Blueback Rock Physics v4.0 ............................ 5
4.1 New Features ........................................................................................................... 6
4.1.1 1D Calibration .................................................................................................... 6
4.1.2 Blueback Rock Physics 4D ................................................................................ 6
4.2 Changed Features ...................................................................................................10
4.2.1 Rock Physics Modeling .....................................................................................10
4.2.2 QC Plot Changes ..............................................................................................11
4.2.3 Simulation Data .................................................................................................11
4.2.4 Tuning Wedge...................................................................................................12
4.2.5 Fluid Substitution / Fluid Substitution (End Members) .......................................12
4.3 Deleted/Deprecated Features ..................................................................................13
4.4 Bug Fixes ................................................................................................................13
5 Petrel Ribbons .................................................................................................... 14
6 Custom Domain Objects (CDOs) ........................................................................ 16
7 Manipulated Domain Objects.............................................................................. 16
8 Platform Availability ............................................................................................ 18
9 Known Issues ..................................................................................................... 19
10 3rd Party Libraries ............................................................................................ 19

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Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

1 Introduction and Overview

Blueback Rock Physics bridges the gap between geology and geophysics using a suite of tools
which range from allowing the user to create and parameterize rock physics models to fluid
substitution to creating synthetics. The straightforward tools make quantitative interpretation
simple in Petrel.
Rock physics allows better understanding of the physical properties i.e. porosity, rigidity,
compressibility etc. of a reservoir. The Blueback Rock Physics tools can be combined in a
number of workflows which include:

• Validation of a reservoir property model through the generation of synthetic

seismograms and comparing them with seismic
• Forward modelling to determine the geometry of the reservoir and correlate
generated synthetic seismograms with seismic, identifying potential signatures
• Forward modelling to determine tuning effects in the reservoir
• Invasion correction
• 4D workflows to estimate and quantify changes in the reservoir related to
hydrocarbon production.
• Estimate time shifts and strains between 4D seismic surveys using industry-proven
methods
• Determine reservoir elastic properties and compare against 4D seismic response

Remember: Blueback Rock Physics is very much a user-driven product. Please continue to
send ideas to [email protected] or visit our support portal: blueback.zendesk.com.

2 Product and Feature Changes in Blueback Rock

Physics v4.0.2

2.1 New Features

Blueback Rock Physics v4.0.2 is a patch release adding support for Petrel 2019.

2.2 Changed Features

There are no changed features in this release.

2.3 Deleted Features

No features have been deleted.

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Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

2.4 Bug Fixes

No bugs have been fixed in this release.

3 Product and Feature Changes in Blueback Rock

Physics v4.0.1

3.1 New Features

Blueback Rock Physics v4.0.1 adds support for Petrel 2018 and fixes a number of minor bugs.

3.2 Changed Features

There are no changed features in this release.

3.3 Deleted Features

No features have been deleted.

3.4 Bug Fixes

• D-09778: 1D Calibration - data plotted in time is now shown on the correct Z scale

4 Product and Feature Changes in Blueback Rock

Physics v4.0
Blueback Rock Physics v4.0 is a major release focusing on new and interesting features
around 4D seismic data analysis by including Blueback Rock Physics 4D tools and
functionality.
It is now possible to calculate shift and strain displacement effects between given base and
monitor seismic cubes.
Using numerical simulation data, Blueback Rock Physics enables users to quantify the
changes in the distribution of fluids in the rocks due to the effect of the years of production of
the oil field.
Several specialized utilities assist the user in the quality control and editing of the grids and
simulation properties for the evaluation of 4D effects.

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Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

4.1 New Features

4.1.1 1D Calibration
The 1D Calibration tool creates blocked data from a simulation case and time step or a model.
Rock physics templates (containing one or more rock physics models) can then be applied to
the various simulation grid blocks producing Vp, Vs and Rho. From Vp, Vs and Rho, synthetics
can be created that can be compared to seismic data. After the initial calculation of block
parameters, the user can change these parameters and quickly see the effect on the resultant
synthetic. The tool is for QC and investigation purposes only and produces no outputs.

4.1.2 Blueback Rock Physics 4D

Blueback Rock Physics 4D is a set of tools designed to help interpreters estimate and quantify
changes in the reservoir related to hydrocarbon production. The various tools allow users to:

• Estimate time shifts and strain between 4D seismic surveys using industry-proven
methods
• Apply rock physics modeling to determine reservoir elastic properties and to compare
against 4D seismic response
• Employ various utilities to QC and edit 3D grids and simulation grid properties for 4D
estimation purposes

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Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

4.1.2.1 Normalized RMS

The Normalized RMS (root mean square) tool is a measure of the similarity between two
seismic surveys (base and monitor), calculated by the following formula:

Normalizing the RMS facilitates the comparison between the two volumes with different scales.
It is obviously zero when the two signals (volumes) are identical and it increases with difference
between "Base" and "Monitor".

4.1.2.2 Apply time shift

Apply a pre-calculated time shift to a seismic cube. Also calculate the difference between the
final shifted monitor and a base seismic cube.

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Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

4.1.2.3 Time shift: Cross-correlation

Cross-correlation measures the similarity between shifted (lagged) a and b signals. This tool
calculates the time shifts between a base and monitor volume using cross correlation.

4.1.2.4 Time shift: ETLP

This tool calculates the time shift and strain from a given base and monitor seismic cube.
Alternatively, an input time shift cube can be specified and the time strain calculated. Cross-
correlation is used to find the time shifts. The time strain calculations are taken from a method
proposed by James Rickett et al. 2007, Rickett et al. 2006.

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Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

4.1.2.5 Time shift: Dynamic warping

Dynamic warping is another method for estimating time shifts. Specifically, it imposes
constraints in the rate at which shifts may vary in time (i.e. limit on max strain).
The tool uses a method described by Dave Hale, Dynamic warping of seismic images. 2012.

4.1.2.6 Cleanup properties

The Cleanup properties tool interpolates across any missing values in the selected grid
properties within the selected polygon.

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Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

4.1.2.7 Regrid properties

The Regrid properties tool takes a number of model grid properties and re-grids them onto a
regular seismic grid. Values not defined in the property can be defined using constant
overburden, underburden and reservoir values or by using another "extended" grid property.

4.1.2.8 Merge Cubes

The Merge cubes tool is used to fill background values. Wherever the foreground cube is
approximately zero then the value of the background cube is inserted.

4.2 Changed Features

4.2.1 Rock Physics Modeling
The tool has been completely redesigned to make it considerably easier to use. It is now
possible to create and edit rock physics models (RPMs), build a template combining several
RPMs and apply those RPMs to well data, geological models or simulation grids within the
same environment.

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Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

4.2.2 QC Plot Changes

4.2.2.1 New QC plot types
The QC plots in several tools have been extended such that data can now be displayed in
three different ways:

• QC crossplot – a scatterplot for showing two properties of the selected data sets
• QC matrix – a matrix of scatterplots showing all combinations of properties for the
selected data sets
• QC log tracks – a series of tracks displaying the selected properties against depth in a
log-style display

All plots are fully configurable.

4.2.2.2 Additional QC options

Many of the QC plots now support the selection of additional data sets to be displayed, as well
as configuration of which rock properties can be displayed within the plots.

• Rock properties – select which rock properties can be displayed on the plots. The
available properties will include all defined inputs, calculated outputs along with
impedances and elastic properties that can be calculated from the inputs/outputs
• Additional data – data from other wells/models can be displayed on the plots for
comparison/QC purposes. Discrete data (e.g. facies) can be added to enable additional
color/filtering options in the scatterplots
• QC location – data from a known location (well path, model I/J or world X/Y) can be
selected for display alongside the selected data

4.2.3 Simulation Data

Several Blueback Rock Physics tools have been extended to support simulation cases and
results, as well as timestamped model data. Tools supporting simulation data include:

• Elastic properties
• Rock physics modeling

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Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

• Synthetics

4.2.4 Tuning Wedge

General improvements has been made to the Tuning wedge tool, such as:

• the ability to choose where to define the well trace position within the wedge model
• selecting a seismic volume for reference and display
• various options to estimate the type of wavelet
• choice of angle reflectivity (chi-angle for EI or EEI calculation)
• modeling fluid substitution effects within the wedge.

4.2.5 Fluid Substitution / Fluid Substitution (End Members)

Both Fluid substitution and Fluid substitution (end members) now support the configuration of
cut-off criteria in order to filter the data.

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Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

4.3 Deleted/Deprecated Features

Create rock physics template - this tool has been integrated into the new Rock physics
modeling tool and as such has is no longer available as a separate tool in Blueback Rock
Physics.

4.4 Bug Fixes

Numerous defects have been addressed in Blueback Rock Physics v4.0, including:

• D-03429: Rock Physics Modeling – behavior for RPM and well data color inconsistent
for QC plot
o Made obsolete by updates to QC plots in this release
• D-06647: Bayesian Classification – probability seismic volume overwritten
unnecessarily when reusing outputs with fewer PDFs than previously
o Probability seismic volume no longer overwritten when not necessary
• D-06885: There is no direct link to the Python scripting help files from within Blueback
Rock Physics
o The relevant help file is now linked from within the Python RPM settings dialog

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Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

5 Petrel Ribbons
Blueback Rock Physics supports the Petrel ‘Ribbons’ interface. As such the full suite of tools
is available in Blueback Marina which can be launched from the Cegal group in the Home
ribbon.

Blueback Rock Physics and Blueback Rock Physics 4D tools can also be found in their own
ribbon groups on the Quantitative Interpretation ribbon within the Advanced Geophysics
perspective.

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Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

Specific tools will appear in the Tools ribbon tab depending on the data selected in the input
tree. For example, with a global well log selected we see the following context sensitive tools
displayed:

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Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

6 Custom Domain Objects (CDOs)

The following custom domain objects are created by Blueback Rock Physics:
Custom Domain Object Description
Fluid data Stores fluid properties. Parameters are stored within the custom
domain object in the input tree.
Mineral data Stores mineral properties. Parameters are stored within the
custom domain object in the input tree.
Elastic averages Stores metadata required for angle-dependent impedances.
Parameters are stored within the custom domain object in the
input tree.
Rock physics models Stores rock physics models created via the “Create rock physics
models” tool. A new domain object is created for each of the rock
physics models the user chooses to create.

Parameters are stored within the custom domain object in the

input tree.
Blocky model Stores data created by the Blocky modeling 1D tool. Lithology
fluid class data are stored as children of the blocky model.

Other parameters are stored within the custom domain object in

the input tree.
Lithology fluid class Stores lithology fluid class data created in the Litho-facies
classification tool. Parameters are stored within the custom
domain object in the input tree.
PDF Stores probability density function data created in the Probability
density function tool. Attributes Z, PDF, X and Y are stored as
children.
Rock physics template Stores a collection of rock physics models with geophysical
context added. The context can be either a discrete template
(usually facies) and/or a collection of cut-off criteria.
Rock model Stores settings from the Rock physics modeling tool including the
rock physics template and selected input data
Blocky data Stores configuration of the 1D Calibration tool
Table 1 – Custom Domain Objects created by Blueback Rock Physics

7 Manipulated Domain Objects

Blueback Rock Physics can create/manipulate the following Petrel domain objects:

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Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

Petrel domain object Reason for manipulation

Well Created by: N/A
Used by: Litho-facies classification, Bayesian classification,
Fluid substitution, Fluid substitution (end members),
Optimized log blocking, Blocky modeling 1D, 1D Calibration,
Tuning wedge, Rock physics modeling, Elastic properties,
Synthetics, Seismic calibration, Backus averaging
Global well log Created by: Bayesian classification, Fluid substitution, Fluid
substitution (end members), Optimized log blocking, Elastic
properties, Rock physics modeling, Synthetics, Backus
averaging, blocky model nodes
Used by: Litho-facies classification, Bayesian classification,
Fluid substitution, Fluid substitution (end members),
Optimized log blocking, Tuning wedge, Rock physics
modeling, Synthetics, Seismic calibration, Backus averaging
Well log Created by: Bayesian classification, Fluid substitution, Fluid
substitution (end members), Optimized log blocking, Elastic
properties, Rock physics modeling, Synthetics, Backus
averaging, blocky model nodes
Used by: Optimized log blocking, Blocky modeling 1D
Well top Created by: Optimized log blocking
Used by: Litho-facies classification, Fluid substitution, Fluid
substitution (end members), Optimized log blocking, Blocky
modeling 1D, Tuning wedge, Rock physics modeling Elastic
properties, Synthetics
Seismic cube Created by: Bayesian classification, Tuning wedge, Elastic
properties, Rock physics modeling, Synthetics, Seismic
calibration, Regrid properties, Merge cubes, Normalized RMS,
Apply time shift, Time shift: Cross-correlation, Time shift:
ETLP, Time shift: Dynamic warping
Used by: Bayesian classification, 1D Calibration, Elastic
properties, Rock physics modeling, Synthetics, Seismic
calibration, Regrid properties, Merge cubes, Normalized RMS,
Apply time shift, Time shift: Cross-correlation, Time shift:
ETLP, Time shift: Dynamic warping
Wavelet Created by: N/A
Used by: Optimized log blocking, 1D Calibration, Tuning
wedge, Synthetics, Backus averaging
Model Created by: N/A
Used by: Bayesian classification, Fluid substitution, Fluid
substitution (end members), 1D Calibration, Rock physics
modeling, Elastic properties, Synthetics, Cleanup properties,
Regrid properties
Model Zone Created by: N/A
Used by: Bayesian classification, Fluid substitution, Fluid
substitution (end members), Elastic properties, Rock physics
modeling
Model Segment Created by: N/A
Used by: Bayesian classification, Fluid substitution, Fluid
substitution (end members), Elastic properties, Rock physics
modeling

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Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

Petrel domain object Reason for manipulation

Model Property Created by: Bayesian classification, Fluid substitution, Fluid
substitution (end members), Rock physics modeling Elastic
properties,Synthetics
Used by: Bayesian classification, Fluid substitution, Fluid
substitution (end members), 1D Calibration, Rock physics
modeling, Elastic properties, Synthetics, Cleanup properties,
Regrid properties
Surface Created by: Probability density functions, Tuning wedge,
Normalized RMS
Used by: Bayesian classification, Fluid substitution, Fluid
substitution (end members), 1D Calibration, Rock physics
modeling, Elastic properties, Synthetics, Seismic calibration,
Normalized RMS
Velocity Model Created by: N/A
Used by: 1D Calibration, Synthetics
Horizon Created by: N/A
Used by: Normalized RMS
Simulation Case Created by: N/A
Used by: 1D Calibration, Elastic properties, Synthetics
Simulation Result Created by: N/A
Used by: 1D Calibration, Elastic properties, Synthetics
Polygon Created by: N/A
Used by: Cleanup properties
Table 2 – native Petrel domain objects manipulated by Blueback Rock Physics

8 Platform Availability
Blueback Rock Physics v4.0.2 is available on Petrel 2017, Petrel 2018 and Petrel 2019.

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Blueback Rock Physics Release Notes

9 Known Issues
Issue ID Description Workaround
D-09802 Bayesian Classification – workstep loses grid on None
closing dialog
D-09365 Upgrading Rock physics modeling workstep The workstep has been extensively
doesn’t work revamped as part of the Rock
physics modeling tool updates so
existing Rock physics modeling
worksteps will need to be deleted
and new versions added with the
corresponding inputs
D-09202 Tuning wedge – reuse outputs fails when Create new outputs rather than
number of traces changed reusing previous outputs
Table 3 – known issues and workarounds

10 3rd Party Libraries

Blueback Rock Physics uses some 3rd party libraries to keep the visualization, I/O and
computing algorithms at the highest level of usability and efficiency. Please note that Blueback
Rock Physics does not require any other software than Petrel to be installed on your PC, and
no external installers are needed during the installation.
The following 3rd party libraries are included in Blueback Rock Physics:

• Alglib382BBR.dll
o http://www.alglib.net/commercial.php
• Aspose.Cells.dll
o http://www.aspose.com/corporate/purchase/end-user-license-agreement.aspx
• FluentValidation-Cegal.dll
• GenericParsing113BBR.dll
• IronPython.dll
o http://ironpython.codeplex.com/license
• IronPython.Modules.dll
• libfftw3-3.dll
o http://www.fftw.org/fftw3_doc/License-and-Copyright.html
• Microsoft.Dynamic.dll
• Microsoft.Scripting.dll
• Microsoft.Scripting.Metadata.dll
• ParallelExtensionsExtras.dll
• ScintillaNETBBR.dll
o http://www.scintilla.org
• stdlib.dll

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