Whats New in Petrel

E&P SOFTWARE PLATFORM
Version 2016
WHAT’S NEW GUIDE
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Petrel Platform What’s New Guide 2016 2 31 August 2016

Contents
Welcome to Petrel 2016 ............................................................................................................... 14
Technology .................................................................................................................................... 15
Technology: Gridding ........................................................................................................................ 15
2016.1 ...................................................................................................................................................... 15
Structural gridding ......................................................................................................................... 15
Fractional stratigraphic layering ............................................................................................................... 15
Dual scale reservoir modeling ...................................................................................................... 16
Visualization performance improvements ............................................................................................ 16
Behavioral changes .................................................................................................................................... 17

Scale up properties ....................................................................................................................................... 17
Retirement of support for creating hybrid pillar grids from FGD or MPI
structural frameworks ................................................................................................................... 17
Geophysics .................................................................................................................................... 19
Geophysics: General ......................................................................................................................... 19
2016.2 ...................................................................................................................................................... 19
Import prestack SEG-Y dataset .................................................................................................... 19
Spectral Analysis Tool .................................................................................................................. 23
2016.1 ...................................................................................................................................................... 24
Import prestack SEG-Y dataset .................................................................................................... 24
Reassign 2D line geometry............................................................................................................ 25
Copy 2D interpretation attributes ................................................................................................. 26
Seismic horizon Inspector: Metadata tab .................................................................................... 26
Interpretation window ................................................................................................................... 27
Polygon ghost ................................................................................................................................................. 27
Seismic section display in explicit line orientation ............................................................................. 28
Mixer ............................................................................................................................................... 28
Seismic interpretation on Mixer objects ................................................................................................. 28
Data weighted blending............................................................................................................................... 29
RGB/CMY mixer: color mapping curve ..................................................................................................... 29
Usability enhancements .............................................................................................................................. 30

3D Horizon interpretation .............................................................................................................. 30
New default display style for 3D horizon interpretation (Behavioral change) ......................... 30
Streamlined layout of 3D autotracking parameters .......................................................................... 30
Live trace diagrams and last picked point............................................................................................... 31
Live update display of 3D horizon interpretation (Behavioral change) ............................................. 31
Interpolate 3D horizon interpretation ........................................................................................................ 32
Multi-Z interpretation .................................................................................................................... 32
Robustness and performance ..................................................................................................................... 32
Select/add multi-Z interpretation points .................................................................................................. 32
Append multi-Z interpretation from seismic horizons .......................................................................... 32
Neighbor section for multi-Z in Interpretation window (Behavioral change)................................. 33

Create editable triangle mesh and Regenerate ...................................................................................... 33
Boundary polygon in Meshing tab ............................................................................................................. 33
Interactive Mesh Editing ............................................................................................................... 33
Free-directional editing ............................................................................................................................... 33
Erase spike mode .......................................................................................................................................... 34
Snap to an existing object ........................................................................................................................... 34
Detect self-intersections ........................................................................................................................... 35
Sphere-shaped editable triangle mesh creation.................................................................................... 35
Volume interpretation .................................................................................................................... 36
CMY color blending ...................................................................................................................................... 36
Probe enhancements .................................................................................................................................... 37
Velocity Modeling .......................................................................................................................... 37
Realize and move cubes in velocity models to Input pane .................................................................. 37
Rebuild velocity model................................................................................................................................. 38
Improvements in stretch-squeeze scenario ........................................................................................ 38
Performance .................................................................................................................................. 39
Geophysics: Microseismic ................................................................................................................ 39
2016.1 ...................................................................................................................................................... 39
Microseismic events ..................................................................................................................... 39
Selection modes ............................................................................................................................................ 39
Microseismic events properties: Grouping ............................................................................................. 40

Event filter editor enhancements ................................................................................................. 40
Pumping data properties ............................................................................................................... 41
Treatment data ............................................................................................................................... 41
Time plot analysis window ............................................................................................................ 41
Geophysics: Quantitative Interpretation .......................................................................................... 42
2016.2 ...................................................................................................................................................... 42
QI Volume Attributes Cleanup....................................................................................................... 42
Rock Physics Dialog Usability & Productivity ............................................................................. 44
2016.1 ...................................................................................................................................................... 44
Quantitative Interpretation Ribbon Update .................................................................................. 44
Reset parameters to default in the Rock Physics studies .......................................................... 45
Rock Physics studies and the Reference Project Tool (RPT) ..................................................... 45

Calculate EI & EEI using well logs ................................................................................................ 45
EEI correlation plot ........................................................................................................................ 46
EEI using seismic volumes ............................................................................................................ 47
Wavelet equalization ..................................................................................................................... 48
Litho classification of 2D lines ...................................................................................................... 48
AVO Modeling algorithms ............................................................................................................. 49
Zoeppritz post-critical reflections ............................................................................................................. 49
Gathers sorted by offset ............................................................................................................................... 50
AVO modeling in the Workflow editor...................................................................................................... 50
3D Selections in the QI crossplot window ................................................................................... 50
3D Density map in the QI Crossplot window ................................................................................ 51
Classification objects to be either "dynamic" or "static" ............................................................. 53
Time-Lapse Analysis Domain Tab ................................................................................................ 54
Reservoir Elastic Modeling ........................................................................................................... 54
Geophysics: Seismic Well Tie ........................................................................................................... 56
2016.1 ...................................................................................................................................................... 56
Wavelet frequency as filter in Log Conditioning ......................................................................... 56
Goodness of fit parameters in deterministic wavelet extraction ............................................... 56
Generate different wavelet cases in the Wavelet toolbox ......................................................... 57
Keep or Reset parameters to default in the Wavelet toolbox.............................................................. 57

Wavelet output option .................................................................................................................................. 57
Wavelet axes display settings ...................................................................................................... 59
Seismic well tie template improvements ..................................................................................... 59
Seismic well tie data management and organization ................................................................. 61
Multi-well workflow improvements .............................................................................................. 62
Studies deletion ............................................................................................................................. 63
Reflection coefficient algorithms ................................................................................................. 63
Reflection coefficient for Primaries and Multiples ............................................................................... 63
EEI and EI for reflection coefficient computation .................................................................................. 64
Gardner’s equation for Sonic or Density data ......................................................................................... 64
Auto population of Aki and Richards inputs from seismic metadata ................................................ 64

Wavelet synchronization option for synthetic generation ......................................................... 65
Geology .......................................................................................................................................... 66
Geology: Geology & Modeling .......................................................................................................... 66
2016.2 ...................................................................................................................................................... 66
Georeferenced images .................................................................................................................. 66
Import a georeferenced image ................................................................................................................... 66
2016.1 ...................................................................................................................................................... 66
Isochore gridding improvement.................................................................................................... 66
Visualization of isochores with zero contour line in 2D/3D and Map windows ............................. 67
Log signatures improvements ....................................................................................................... 68
Stratigraphic charts enhancement .............................................................................................. 70
Stratigraphic chart spreadsheet ................................................................................................................ 70
Discrete curves editing tools ...................................................................................................................... 70
Other improvements ...................................................................................................................... 72
Geopolygon editing shortcuts ....................................................................................................... 72
Geopolygon spreadsheet tools ..................................................................................................... 73
Geology: Well Section Window ........................................................................................................ 73
2016.2 ...................................................................................................................................................... 73
Auto marker correlation ................................................................................................................ 73
Well identification ......................................................................................................................... 73
Geo mod and depth conversion flags ........................................................................................... 74

2016.1 ...................................................................................................................................................... 74
Cross section creation along planar objects............................................................................... 74
Background Points ........................................................................................................................ 76
Navigation ...................................................................................................................................... 76
Template and Cross section settings ........................................................................................... 77
Geology: Structural Modeling ........................................................................................................... 78
2016.2 ...................................................................................................................................................... 78
Vertical Resolution Enhancement ................................................................................................ 78
Base/Base Horizon Relationship .................................................................................................. 79
Well Top Adjustment Enhancement ............................................................................................. 79
Geology: Structural Fault Analysis ................................................................................................... 80
2016.1 ...................................................................................................................................................... 80

Grid operations .............................................................................................................................. 80
Stairstep grid .................................................................................................................................................. 80
Workflow editor worksteps ........................................................................................................................ 80
1D Juxtaposition ............................................................................................................................ 80
Calculate reverse throw .............................................................................................................................. 80
Create throw scale ........................................................................................................................................ 80
Worksteps ...................................................................................................................................... 81
Stairstep grids ................................................................................................................................................ 81
Other worksteps ............................................................................................................................................ 81
Geology: Modeling ............................................................................................................................. 82
2016.2 ...................................................................................................................................................... 82
Modeling Input Parameters for Multipoint simulation method .................................................. 82
2016.1 ...................................................................................................................................................... 83
Truncated Gaussians with trends ................................................................................................ 83
Local editing of transition lines in section view .................................................................................... 83
Interactive display and editing of trend model cross-sections .......................................................... 84
Operations tab (individual properties) ......................................................................................... 84
Data analysis option in Facies modeling methods ...................................................................... 85
“Use estimated facies proportions from Data analysis” available .................................................... 85
Property calculator ........................................................................................................................ 85

New Lock upscaled and Use filter buttons.............................................................................................. 85
Discrete and continuous Modeling Input Parameters (MIP) ..................................................... 86
New Run button ............................................................................................................................................. 86
Scale up well logs – Zone correction .......................................................................................... 87
Algorithm improvement................................................................................................................................ 87
Geopolygons in Property modeling processes ............................................................................ 88
Geopolygons consumption .......................................................................................................................... 88
Facies and Petrophysical modeling in the Workflow editor ....................................................... 88
Use of object variable for the primary property...................................................................................... 88
Connected volumes method in Geometrical modeling process ................................................. 89
Use cumulative option.................................................................................................................................. 89

Geology: Wells ................................................................................................................................... 90
2016.1 ...................................................................................................................................................... 90
Explicit well path/deviation loader ............................................................................................... 90
Import of explicit surveys/plans................................................................................................................. 90
Convert definitive explicit survey ................................................................................................. 92
Multiple well path/deviation file ................................................................................................... 93
Well tops spreadsheet enhancement .......................................................................................... 93
Make logs from property in Workflow editor .............................................................................. 94
Well operations commands .......................................................................................................... 94
Move well process dialog ............................................................................................................. 95
Other improvements ...................................................................................................................... 95
Geopolygons as a boundary in well operations ..................................................................................... 95
Geology: Mapping .............................................................................................................................. 96
2016.1 ...................................................................................................................................................... 96
Petrel Mapping Module by Petrosys ............................................................................................ 96
Geomechanics .............................................................................................................................. 97
Geomechanics: Reservoir Geomechanics ....................................................................................... 97
2016.1 ...................................................................................................................................................... 97
VISAGE-INTERSECT coupling ....................................................................................................... 97
Generalized strain boundary condition ........................................................................................ 97
New VISAGE deflation solver ....................................................................................................... 98

Quick Mechanical Earth Model (MEM) ........................................................................................ 99
Geomechanics: Drilling Geomechanics ......................................................................................... 100
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 100
Mud Weight Predictor ................................................................................................................. 100
Reservoir Engineering ................................................................................................................ 101
Reservoir Engineering: General ...................................................................................................... 101
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 101
INTERSECT User Edits ................................................................................................................. 101
Brine Support ............................................................................................................................... 103
Make fluid model process enhancements............................................................................................. 103
Initial conditions process enhancements.............................................................................................. 104
Display of simulation events on Results Charting and Analysis (RCA) .................................... 105

New picking mode in Results Charting and Analysis ......................................................................... 105
Message search tool .................................................................................................................................. 106
INTERSECT “Grid Edits” support for Development Strategies ................................................. 106
Thermal export enhancements ................................................................................................... 107
Support for initial composition ZMF arrays ............................................................................... 107
Reverse engineering of WELSPECS/ WELSPECL ...................................................................... 107
Setting the BHP reference depth ............................................................................................................. 108
Support for INTERSECT thermal dead oil cases ........................................................................ 109
WSEGAICD support for ECLIPSE Black-oil and Compositional ................................................ 109
LAB unit system ........................................................................................................................... 110
Hybrid initialization for INTERSECT cases ................................................................................. 110
End Point Scaling with surfactants ............................................................................................ 111
Workflow editor support for Results Charting and Analysis .................................................... 112
Guru Quality Reporting ............................................................................................................................... 112
Initial conditions sets extended support.................................................................................... 113
Extensions of Reservoir engineering unit settings.................................................................... 113
Redesign of Completion manager, Variable spreadsheet, Observed Data spreadsheet, and
Summary calculator .................................................................................................................... 114
Improved usability and performance, new look and feel ................................................................... 114
Reservoir Engineering: Wells ......................................................................................................... 116

2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 116
Changes to how Petrel Manages PI multiplier well test .......................................................... 116
Reservoir Engineering: Uncertainty and Optimization .................................................................. 116
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 116
U&O Data Center ......................................................................................................................... 116
Exploration Geology ................................................................................................................... 118
Exploration Geology: Petroleum Systems 3D................................................................................. 118
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 118
Simulation Preview ...................................................................................................................... 118
Review a 3D petroleum systems model before simulation ................................................................ 118
3D Erosion .................................................................................................................................... 118
Include the effect of erosion in 3D petroleum systems models ........................................................ 118

Petroleum Systems 3D Output .................................................................................................... 119
Analyze petroleum systems faults ........................................................................................................... 119
Exploration Geology: Kinetics ......................................................................................................... 119
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 119
Petroleum systems kinetics and kinetics editor ........................................................................ 119
Exploration Geology: Time trends and facies ................................................................................ 120
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 120
Time trend plots ........................................................................................................................... 120
Advanced facies tools ................................................................................................................. 121
Define intrusion, facies piercing, cementation, and fracturing for petroleum systems models 121
Exploration Geology: 1D workflow editor support ......................................................................... 122
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 122
1D model workflow editor support ............................................................................................. 122
1D simulation workflow editor support ...................................................................................... 122
Exploration Geology: Petroleum systems ...................................................................................... 123
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 123
Petroleum system-related units ................................................................................................. 123
Exploration Geology: Petroleum systems quick look .................................................................... 123
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 123
PSQL workflow editor support .................................................................................................... 123
Exploration Geology: Play and Prospect Assessment .................................................................. 124

2016.2 .................................................................................................................................................... 124
Save (overwrite) into GeoX database ........................................................................................ 124
Highlight of geopolygons through processes ............................................................................ 124
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 125
Conventional prospect assessment workflow ........................................................................... 125
Renaming part-plays and assessment units .............................................................................. 126
Drilling ......................................................................................................................................... 127
Drilling: General ............................................................................................................................... 127
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 127
Trajectory planning license ........................................................................................................ 127
Drilling: Well Positioning ................................................................................................................. 128
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 128

User-defined EOU confidence level ........................................................................................... 128
Production ................................................................................................................................... 129
Production: Bubble Mapping .......................................................................................................... 129
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 129
Snap well bubble map to well top, surface or any depth ......................................................... 129
Enable saved search selection for filtering interested wells ................................................... 129
Production: Production interpretation ........................................................................................... 130
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 130
Normalize production data.......................................................................................................... 130
Production: Type wells ................................................................................................................ 131
Studio ........................................................................................................................................... 133
Studio: Studio Client Petrel ............................................................................................................. 133
2016.2 .................................................................................................................................................... 133
Select and Show in Project Data Table ..................................................................................... 133
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 133
Transfer of Well Tops from the Project data table.................................................................... 133
Sychronized Studio Manager to Petrel CRS Mappings ............................................................ 134
Performance ................................................................................................................................ 135
Well Tops Synchronization ....................................................................................................................... 135
Display of Project data table .................................................................................................................... 135
Shale ............................................................................................................................................ 136

Shale: Geosteering .......................................................................................................................... 136
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 136
Target Lines ................................................................................................................................. 136
Target line display....................................................................................................................................... 136
Target line saving ........................................................................................................................................ 136
Target line relative to inclination ............................................................................................................ 136
Project target line........................................................................................................................................ 136
Show full target line ................................................................................................................................... 136
Display of surfaces and polygons .............................................................................................. 136
Display of surfaces...................................................................................................................................... 136
Display of polygons ..................................................................................................................................... 136
Readouts ....................................................................................................................................... 137

Position of bit readouts .............................................................................................................................. 137
Distance from Plan ...................................................................................................................................... 137
Reference project tool (RPT) ...................................................................................................... 137
Transferring by using the RPT .................................................................................................................. 137
Infrastructure .............................................................................................................................. 138
Infrastructure: User Experience ..................................................................................................... 138
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 138
Recent projects pane .................................................................................................................. 138
Clone window ............................................................................................................................... 138
Paint appearance ........................................................................................................................ 138
Infrastructure: Licensing ................................................................................................................. 139
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 139
Select license at runtime ............................................................................................................ 139
Guru ............................................................................................................................................. 141
2016.1 .................................................................................................................................................... 141
Guru .............................................................................................................................................. 141
Access to key Guru workflows and training from the Domain tabs ........................................ 141
Guru Quality reporting ................................................................................................................. 143
Accessing Guru Quality reporting .............................................................................................. 144
Guru Quality reporting 2016: Increased test template coverage ............................................. 144

3D pillar grid test templates ...................................................................................................................... 145
Volumetric case test templates................................................................................................................ 146
Studio test templates .................................................................................................................................. 147
Structural framework test templates ...................................................................................................... 148
Sequential capture test templates........................................................................................................... 149
Guru Quality reporting 2016: Enhancements to usability .......................................................... 150

Welcome to Petrel 2016
Finding, characterizing, and exploiting new and existing reservoirs is increasingly complex. To overcome these
challenges, we must continually improve and innovate the way we work. With the Petrel* E&P Software Platform,
Schlumberger revolutionized the oil and gas industry by bringing disciplines together with best-in-class science in an
unparalleled productivity environment.
Our commitment to Petrel resulted in dramatic strides forward in the way we develop and deliver a software
platform, and with the Petrel 2016 Platform and update releases, we continue to deliver on our promise of better
integration, deep science, and productivity. Today we support an engineering team unrivalled in size and expertise,
empowered by the Ocean software development framework. More than ever before, we are positioned to help you
develop critical insights into reservoirs throughout the oilfield lifecycle.
This document is created for the 2016.2 release. The following sections are organized, as far as possible, by domain.
Within each section you will find the new features and any significant behavioral changes listed, grouped by the

release in which they first appeared; with the newest release appearing first. Note that not all domains will have
new features in every release.
Refer to the companion documents, Petrel E&P Software Platform 2016 Release Notes and Petrel 2016 Installation
Guide, for information on licensing and system requirements.
Documentation for all prior Petrel releases is available from the Software Integrated Solutions (SIS) Support Portal.

Technology
Technology: Gridding
2016.1
Structural gridding
Fractional stratigraphic layering
The stratigraphic layering algorithms use the iso-stratigraphic function of the volume based structural framework to
generate grid layering within each zone. The calculation of the iso-stratigraphy function assumes that unconformities

correspond to erosive events. Therefore, these types of layering will yield truncated cell layers above or below
unconformities and should be used for representing partially eroded layers.
You can define variable layer thicknesses within a zone using the Stratigraphic Fraction method. Stratigraphic
Fraction method is an enhancement of Stratigraphic in the same way that the Fraction method is an enhancement of
Proportional layering.
Figure 1: Comparison of Stratigraphic Fraction (left) and the Stratigraphic (right) method
Full geological extent for stairstep grid faults

In previous releases, when the stairstepped grid was created, the grid faults were defined and visualized only for
those parts of the fault where there were grid cells on both sides of the fault. Now, when a stairstepped grid is
created, the grid’s faults are now defined through the full extent of the reservoir.

As a result, you can more easily QC your grid after construction by comparing the grid faults to the original structural
framework faults and applying the Structural and Fault Analysis module operations.
Dual scale reservoir modeling

Global refinement supports all stairstepped grids
The Global grid refinement dialog has been enhanced to accept all stairstepped grids. The process creates
appropriate mappings between the grid layers and geological layers for the refined grids from the coarse grid layer
maps, if necessary, and the Scale up well logs and Scale up properties processes have each been enhanced to
consume such grids. Basic property population using the simbox is also supported. In the 2016.1 release, the use of
the depobox for property population on the refined grids is not yet supported; this will be supported in a future
release.
Stairstepped grids of structural models with reverse faults required additional layers in the grid in order to represent
the vertically repeated zones in the portion of the reservoir below the reverse fault. For reservoirs with complex
structure or closely space faults, the quality of the stairstepped grids can be improved by allowing additional layers to

be created, even when geologically speaking, the faults are all normally oriented. The structural gridding process
creates a layer map that maps the geology layer for each cell to the grid K layer of that cell.
With this release, these grids can all be used in the global grid refinement process and the dual-scale modeling
workflow, in the same as pillar grids and stairstepped grids without layer maps could be used in previous releases.
There are some minor differences in the mapping properties created by the process and in the use of these
properties:
• The ‘K mapping’ property created on the refined grid signifies the mapping of the grid layer of the grid in the
refined grid to their corresponding cell in the input grid, and not the geological layers.
• An additional refinement property called ‘Coarse grid geological layers’ is created which supplies a mapping
from cells in geological layers in the refined grid to their corresponding cell in the input grid. The property will
have values from 1 to the maximum geological layers in the input grid.
• Refined geological Layers and Regions properties are created by default during the generation of the refined grid
for all stairstepped grids.
In the dual scale reservoir modeling workflow, the refined grid is used for property population and the original coarse
grid is used for simulation purposes. The I, J, and K mapping properties created during the Global grid refinement
are used by default in the Scale up properties process to perform fast and accurate upscaling between the two
grids using the Mapping with properties sampling method.
Visualization performance improvements

Visualization of stairstepped faults
The user experience when manipulating the faults in the window, for example, rotating and zooming now remains
interactive, even for models with large numbers of stairstepped faults. The time for the faults to first appear in the
3D window has been reduced by 20%; the time to pick a fault has been reduced by approximately one half.

Visualization of grids
The time to change between properties when visualizing grid properties in the 3D Window has been reduced by a
factor of 3 – 5. The improved interactivity is particularly noticeable when analyzing or QCing large grids. This
performance improvement applies to grid properties in the Models pane for all grid types, pillar and stairstepped
structural grids.
Behavioral changes
Make simple grid
In previous releases of Petrel, the rows within the Tartan grid tab could be reordered by dragging the rows, which
was a different user interaction to other tables within Petrel dialogs. Consistency of the user interface helps improves
usability, so the widely-used Up and Down arrow buttons have been introduced instead, in 2016.1.
Scale up properties
A number of algorithmic enhancements have been made to the flow-based and directional upscaling algorithms

within the Scale up properties process so that the source (fine) and target (coarse) grid cells are correctly mapped
to each other and correctly account for zones when upscaling stairstepped grids with layer maps.
In stairstepped grids with layer maps, the grid layer indices K for some grid cells differ from their simbox (geological)
layer index L. For example, below reverse faults extra grid layers need to be added to represent the repeated
geological layers. When upscaling between fine and coarse grids, Petrel needs to identify the correct cells in the
source grids from which to sample the geological properties, including, in most sampling methods, restricting the
source grids cells that are sampled to be from the same zone and fault block as the target cell. For fine grids created
using the global refinement method, a set of explicit mapping properties are created on the fine grid, defining in each
fine grid cell the corresponding coarse cell I, J, K, and L indices.
The directional and flow-based upscaling methods work by carrying out calculations using a mini-grid or box of cells
from the source grid that correspond to the target cell in the coarse grid. This box is constructed in IJL space, i.e.,
using the simbox indices, which means that it correctly selects the spatially adjacent cells from the source grid
included in these reverse faulted regions, and restricts sampling to the correct zone.
Retirement of support for creating hybrid pillar grids from

FGD or MPI structural frameworks
The process called Stair-step faulting in the Grid editing group on the Structural Modeling tab will be retired in
the Petrel 2016.1 release. The process supported adding stairstepped faults from structural frameworks that used the
Fault Center Grid Dislocation (FGD) and Multi Patch Interpolator (MPI) options for structural frameworks into pillar
grids; the creation of these frameworks was retired in the Petrel 2014.1 release, following the introduction of the
Volume Based Modeling (VBM) method. The process had been retained for two subsequent releases to enable new
pillar grids to be created from pre-existing Petrel 2013 frameworks.

For Petrel 2016, the two reservoir model and grid building options in Petrel are:
(1) A fully stairstepped structural grid, built directly from a complete structural model. This is the recommended
approach for building geomodels and simulation models, particularly those of complex or heavily-faulted
reservoirs.
(2) A pillar grid, with faults modeled as pillar faults. The input pillar fault framework can be constructed either
from raw input data, as in the original Petrel methodology, or by converting selected faults from a VBM
structural framework using the Fault model from structural framework process.
A pillar grid that includes a small number of stairstepped faults can in be constructed using the old “IJK
fault” option within the Scale up structure process. You can create a source pillar grid that includes all
faults, then upscale this onto your final pillar grid that has been built, excluding those faults that you want
to stairstep.

Geophysics
Geophysics: General
2016.2
Import prestack SEG-Y dataset
The SEG-Y loader to import 3D and 2D prestack seismic datasets has been improved with the following new
functionalities:
• When launching the SEG-Y loader now, by default, it opens the File list tab.
• In addition to *.segy, *.sgy and *.bin extensions, you can load a SEG-Y file with a *.dat extension or with no

extension.
• Index files can be saved to a location other than to the SEG-Y file directory. By default, if an output directory is
not set, then the SEG-Y file directory will be used.
• Because the index file contains information used during the import, you can load a SEG-Y prestack dataset from
an associated existing index file. If the Input index file option is turned on, the Import button is grayed out.

• Once an index file is selected, it is possible to crop an associated SEG-Y from the original index file.

• An existing index file can be used to obtain all the settings and geometry in the Import and SEG-Y byte
location definitions tabs, which were used previously to import an associated SEG-Y file. You can modify
the byte locations, overrides, etc., and QC the data as per the normal importing of SEG-Y files.


• Once the SEG-Y prestack dataset is loaded into Petrel, you can change the amplitude scan post loading in
the Operations tab of the Settings dialog.

• It is now possible to reconnect or regenerate a missing index file in the project. The Reconnect missing
file option is similar to the reconnect missing SEG-Y file functionality where you can search and select a
corresponding existing index file. The Regenerate option creates a new index file. It also allows you to
select a directory in which to save this new index file.

Spectral Analysis Tool
As part of the Seismic Interpretation offering, this new tool allows you to perform an extensive analysis of the power
spectrum of the seismic data. The tool has the following license dependencies:
• Geophysics Core
• Or Geoscience Core + Seismic Interpretation
• Or Combined Core + Seismic Interpretation

If any of the previous options is available, you will be able to work with the Spectral analysis tool and analyze the
following Time domain data types:
• 3D Post-stack seismic volumes
o Inlines
o Crosslines
o Random lines
• 2D Post-stack seismic lines
• Cropped volumes
• Virtual volumes
As part of the interactive workflows, the tool enables Auto update options to update, on the fly, the power spectrum
when:
• There is a change in the position of a seismic line under analysis
• Apply an update in the size of Cropped volumes

• And when Virtual Volume Attributes are being calibrated
Specially, in the last point, the Spectral analysis tool enhances the seismic conditioning workflows when
Signal Processing volume attributes are applied, before any seismic interpretation, AVO reconnaissance, or inversion
process.
2016.1
Import prestack SEG-Y dataset
The SEG-Y loader to import 3D and 2D prestack seismic datasets has been replaced with new functionalities to
provide robust and flexible handling of a wider range of file format descriptions, in particular, those not fully
compliant to the standard SEG-Y formats. Its main new features include:
• Major improvements to QC capabilities with interactive graphs and tables
• Preview plot of seismic data traces
• Preview plot of gather locations and data grid definitions
• Options in defining a data grid
• Support for sparse gather geometry
• Support for gathers of variable fold and gather traces of variable length
• Support for custom trace header attributes
• Ability to override key attributes in binary header and trace headers
• Options to save/retrieve byte location definitions as well as session parameters
The majority of the scanning tasks executed during analysis are run in the background, as does the main task of
importing. To cancel a running task, press Esc or click the Stop button on the Status bar of the Petrel main window.
To support the variety in gather geometry and an ever-increasing dataset size, a new indexing method of the prestack
dataset is implemented. This has been streamlined into a single new companion file *.pidx, which is created during
the import process and is located in the same directory as the SEG-Y file.

Reassign 2D line geometry

Petrel is very forgiving when importing SEG-Y files and by default, creates a new 2D line geometry when a match is
not found existing in the project. When importing SEG-Y files of multiple vintages belonging to a single 2D navigation
line, however, these data can, at times, end-up within Petrel as different and separate 2D geometry lines. As a
consequence of not sharing a common line geometry, when working with a 2D acquisition line, you find that:
• You are unable to switch views easily between seismic vintages in an intersection view.
• You are unable to interpret or edit a common horizon across different seismic vintages. Except for the seismic
line on which a horizon was interpreted, the horizon interpretation is displayed as dashed lines and only in view
mode on its vintage lines.
Differences in the vintage line geometries could arise from several factors, for example:
• Slight XY coordinate discrepancies due to precision differences in storage format and systems, but, which were
above a matching threshold.
• Different or incorrect annotations for Shot point and CDP. For example, SP or CDP numbers could have been
scaled differently.
Using the Reassign 2D line geometry tool, you can scan your project to automatically compare and detect potential
pairs of seismic for line geometry reassignment. Upon analyzing the proposed matches, you can accept to reassign all
or selected candidate seismic lines, along with its associated horizon interpretation.
To access this tool, right-click a seismic folder containing both the 2D seismic for reassigning and the target line
geometries and select Reassign 2D line geometry.

Copy 2D interpretation attributes

The new Copy 2D interpretation attributes tool allows you to copy 2D interpretation from one attribute to another.
The target attribute can be of the same or different horizon, and of the same or different 2D line geometry or survey.
Use this tool in conjunction with the new Reassign 2D line geometry tool, to resolve any conflicts in horizon
interpretation for the seismic line candidates prior to reassigning their line geometeries.
Seismic horizon Inspector: Metadata tab

A new Metadata group has been added to show a selected set of information from the seismic dataset on which the
horizon was last interpreted. This information is extracted from the Metadata tab in the Settings dialog of that
seismic dataset.

Interpretation window
Polygon ghost
Within the Interpretation window, comparing and correlating seismic across faults or across different seismic
vintages is now easier and more accurate using the new polygon ghost. Digitizing a free-form polygon, you are no
longer restricted to a rectangle. Within the polygon, you can slide the seismic vertically and along the fault cut to
achieve finer correlation. Additionally, transparency can be applied to overlay wiggle displays or when comparing two
seismic vintages.
Like the regular seismic ghost, you can access the polygon ghost tool in the Seismic interpretation Tool Palette.
Once created, you will find the bitmap polygon ghost located at the bottom of the main Seismic folder on the Input
tab. In comparison, the regular seismic ghost that is a small-scale window view plot is located under an
Interpretation window in the Windows tab.

Seismic section display in explicit line orientation
With the default view from Grid south, sections will now display with the western edge on the left in the
Interpretation window. The view point orientation can be customized via the Interpretation window Settings
dialog. For example, to have sections always display the eastern edge on the left in the Interpretation window, set
the View point orientation to “View from North”.
Via the Seismic interpretation process dialog, you can also set a default viewpoint orientation for future
Interpretation windows that are created.
Cardinal (for example, E-W) and ordinal (NE-SW) directions are now also annotated at the top-left and top-right
corners.

Mixer
Seismic interpretation on Mixer objects
Horizons (manual interpretation, guided, seeded 2D and seeded 3D autotracking), faults including fault tracking and
multi-Z objects can now be interpreted on all types of mixer objects. The interpretation tools are available on the
Seismic interpretation Tool Palette.
To interactively pick seed points on mixer intersections, different selection modes are available depending of the
mixer type: Flip/Roll, RGB/CMY, Data weighted blend or Mask.

Refer to the online Help topic “Seismic interpretation on Mixers” for a more detailed description of the volume
selection modes for interpreting.
Data weighted blending

A new workflow, where it is possible to blend up to four different attributes, is now available using the Data
weighted blend mixer. Each input can get its own opacity curve either from the color table or be manually defined
directly in the mixer user interface.

RGB/CMY mixer: color mapping curve
By default, the color mapping for each color (Red, Green, Blue or Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) is linear. It is now possible
to edit manually the color mapping curves directly in the mixer interface by drawing on the histogram in the area
delimited by the two slider handles. The result is instantaneously seen in the mixer intersections displayed.

Usability enhancements
The blend weights and slider values can be manually entered in all different mixer interfaces.
A new option is available to invert the masked area in the Mask mixer.

It is possible to copy/paint all types of mixer objects.
3D Horizon interpretation
New default display style for 3D horizon interpretation (Behavioral change)
The 3D horizon interpretation now displays as a triangulated surface (Style setting: Triangle surface) for better
rendering quality and faster display performance, replacing the Cell box style.
Streamlined layout of 3D autotracking parameters

The layout of the Autotracking tab has been streamlined to present a better logical flow, making it easier to follow
the autotracking process sequences. These minor but significant improvements, provide a clearer understanding to
the parameters, constraints and their inter-relationships, and allow you to now have more control in the resulting
autotracked horizon.

Refer to the online Help topic, “What happens during 3D track” for a process description of 3D autotracking.
Live trace diagrams and last picked point

Located next to the Cross correlation diagram, the additional live trace diagram now displays neighboring traces
when picking on 2D seismic, in addition to 3D random lines, composite lines, and General intersections and repeats
the dip trace diagram when picking on Crosslines or Inlines. You can magnify the trace display in this diagram by
dragging the side handle vertically. Two orange horizontal lines indicate the correlation window length used in the
wavelet tracking option.
For easy reference, information on the last picked or selected point is also displayed towards the bottom of the
dialogue
Live update display of 3D horizon interpretation (Behavioral change)

The option to switch off the live update display of the 3D autotracker, which previously was located on the Style tab
of the Seismic interpretation Settings dialog, has moved into the new Settings tab (located to the right of the
Style tab).

Interpolate 3D horizon interpretation
Using the Interpolate 3D horizon tool, remaining gaps in a 3D horizon interpretation can be easily and quickly filled in.
Access the tool in the Seismic interpretation Tool Palette and interactively digitize a larger overlapping area
within which to selectively interpolate. Alternatively, within the Operations tab of a 3D horizon grid, you can drop-in
an existing polygon set containing multiple polygons to the Interpolate process. In this same mode, the horizon
interpretation can also be interpolated to fill the entire grid.
Multi-Z interpretation
Robustness and performance
The overall robustness in the multi-Z interpretation object has been improved. Previously, multi-Z interpretation was
using the same structure as faults. Now it is renewed as a new object with various improvements. Petrel will perform
a one-time upgrade on opening the Petrel projects and it will be saved when you save the project. In the Input tree,
you will not see any differences before/after the upgrade. All the attached objects, such as attributes, will be shown
in the same way in the Input tree. Also in visualization windows, if the object was visualized in the Petrel windows in

old version, it should be also displayed when it is opened in the new version.
All data in the old multi-Z object will be copied to the upgraded object. However, the number of the points could be
different between before/after the upgrade since points duplication found in the old object will be removed in the
new object.
Select/add multi-Z interpretation points

A new icon dedicated for multi-Z interpretation editing has been added in Seismic interpretation Tool Palette for
increased usability of multi-Z interpretation.
Append multi-Z interpretation from seismic horizons

A seismic horizon is commonly used to interpret the top of the multi-Z object, such as salt domes. Now, you can
append the seismic horizon interpretation directly to a multi-Z interpretation.
This operation is available in the Operations tab for a multi-Z interpretation, in Seismic operations.

Neighbor section for multi-Z in Interpretation window (Behavioral change)
Line projection that projects interpretation data shape in current interpreting section has been renamed to Neighbor
section and improved to display only neighboring interpretation to current section. And you can now set different
colors for the Previous and Next section for those neighboring interpretations. This recognizes player step increment
and gets the closest interpretation within that increment range from the current active section.
Create editable triangle mesh and Regenerate

Now you can create and regenerate an editable triangle mesh directly from a multi-Z interpretation without creating
a triangle mesh. The Create editable triangle mesh menu is available from the multi-Z interpretation mini toolbar,
context menu for multi-Z in the Input pane, the Operations tab for the multi-Z interpretation, and the Workflow
editor. Triangle mesh can still be created from the editable triangle mesh.

Boundary polygon in Meshing tab
In the Meshing tab, a boundary polygon can be assigned to limit input data extent that is used for editable triangle
mesh generation.
Interactive Mesh Editing

Free-directional editing
Previously, the Push/Pull mode only allowed editing to the normals direction of the editable triangle mesh. Now,
while the Push or Pull mode is active, by pressing down the Shift key, you can activate the free-directional edit
mode. This mode allows you to edit the editable triangle mesh inside of the influence circle in any direction following
your mouse movement.

Erase spike mode

A new mesh editing mode has been added, which looks for anamorphic triangles (elongated) within the selected area
and flattens them relatively to more isomorphic triangles in this same area. It is possible to erase more than one
spike at once. Click and drag to erase the spikes. This option will have minimal to no effect, in case the triangles are
quasi-isomorphic in the selected area. This option is not suited for spike removal on boundaries of a mesh.
Erase spike mode
Snap to an existing object

You can now snap a part of editable triangle mesh to another editable triangle mesh or a surface. This option is found
under the Mesh control tab of an editable triangle mesh. If Check triangle self-intersections is selected, the
process will detect if the resulted editable triangle mesh has self-intersections.

Snap to a surface
Detect self-intersections
The Detect self-intersections option allows you to quickly QC the editable triangle mesh object for the presence of
self-intersecting triangles and ensure the quality of the object. If the editable triangle mesh object includes self-

intersecting triangles, the process will create a point set in the Input pane. This menu is available in the editable
triangle mesh mini toolbar, Contextual menu in the Input pane, and the editable triangle mesh contextual tab.
QC on self-intersection
Sphere-shaped editable triangle mesh creation

Sometimes, you may want to use a simple shape like sphere as a starting point to create a quick and arbitrary shape
of geological bodies. Now, you can create a sphere-shaped editable triangle mesh object, from the Mesh editing
process dialog.

Sphere shaped editable triangle mesh
Volume interpretation
CMY color blending
The CMY color blending workflow is now available for all types of probes to supplement the existing RGB color blend.

Probe enhancements
The geometry of a box probe can be defined by selecting Insert box probe with a specified geometry.
All types of probes can be now visualized on intersections by clicking on Visualize on intersection button.

It is possible to make a Log selection to define the opacity filter curve while being in histogram mode for all types of
probe.
Velocity Modeling
Realize and move cubes in velocity models to Input pane
When velocity cubes were used in the velocity modeling process, seismic cubes may be attached to the output
velocity model in the Models pane. Such cubes are always physically stored inside the project’s .ptd folder. To avoid
folders becoming very large and to enrich velocity modeling data management workflow, it is now possible to realize
those cubes to an external location and move them to the Input pane.

Rebuild velocity model
You can now rebuild your velocity model and previously converted interpretation/polygon/point data with the same
settings without re-opening the velocity modeling dialog. This will help you to quickly update your velocity model and
converted data whenever new well data has come in.
This option can be accessed from the right-click menu for the velocity model in the Models pane, the Operations
tab for the Velocity modeling Settings dialog, or the Velocity conversion folder in the Operations tab in the
Workflow editor.

Improvements in stretch-squeeze scenario
Now you can apply instantaneous and interval “velocity” (scaling factor in this case) cube in same-domain
conversions. In addition, previously those TWT-TWT or Z-Z models with velocity cubes as input allowed only one-way
conversion. Now it allows two-way conversion (i.e., if the TWT1-TWT2 model is a stretching scenario, the backward
is squeezing.)
Note: The input cube has to be assigned an appropriate “velocity” template for each case, even if the input is scaling
factor (non-dimension). Also note that the built “velocity” model is actually a scaling model, even if it is labeled as a
“velocity” model.

Performance
Significant performance improvements have been made in the following areas:
• New scanning options in Probe histogram and crossplot modes give more control on how the histogram and
crossplot are calculated, so that you can decide to choose to go for interactivity over full accuracy.
• New transparency style supporting the pixel-sorted blending and addressing many enhancements and issues
is now implemented.
• General performance improvement of cursor tracking in 2D and 3D windows.
• General performance improvement of multi-Z interpretation in 2D and 3D windows.
• Performance improvement using the interactive eraser and the paintbrush autotracking tools on large
horizon interpretation.
Due to the improvements made, the performance of the above activity is now limited by the available storage and
network configurations.
Geophysics: Microseismic

2016.1
Microseismic events
Selection modes
It is now possible to select microseismic events displayed in 2D and 3D windows by using three new different
modes: select events by bounding box, by polygon and by freehand draw. The selection modes are available in the
Microseismic Tool Palette.
Figure 2: New selection modes for microseismic events

Microseismic events properties: Grouping
The microseismic event properties are reorganized with new groups created and some rearrangements in the existing
ones. The groups are now, as follows:
• General
• Source parameters
• Event quality indicators
• Source parameters quality indicators
• Location uncertainties
• Moment tensor decomposition
• Moment tensor
Event filter editor enhancements

The Event filter editor now has a unique interface where the filter definition and application are visible at the same
time. The histogram is live updated based on the events or particular event set(s) selected. In addition, the filter name

can be automatically generated from the event property and filter expression.
Figure 3: Event filter editor – New user interface

Pumping data properties
A set of new pumping data properties, with their templates, is now available. The properties are also supported by
the Pumping data RDV loader:
• Nolte-Smith time
• For the pressures: Treating pressure backup, Annulus pressure, Annulus pressure backup, Net pressure, Auxiliary
pressures (I, II, III), Calculated bottom hole treating pressure
• For the rates: Slurry rate backup, CO2 rate, Nitrogen rate, Auxiliary rates (I, II, III)
• For the concentrations: Proppant concentration backup, Liquid additive concentrations (I, II, III), Solid additive
concentrations (I, II, III)
• Foam quality
• Bottom hole foam quality
• Slurry density
• Bottom hole proppant cumulative
• Fluid acidity

The Bottom hole treating pressure now has its own template, as well.
Treatment data
Treatment data intervals can now be easily selected in the Perforation depth tab in the Treatment interval Settings
dialog.
• You can select a set of perforations from the Completions folder.
• Top and bottom MD values for the treatment interval are automatically generated from the perforations selection
when clicking Get MD values from selection.
Figure 4: Event filter editor – New user interface
Time plot analysis window

Some new display options in the Time plot analysis window are now available from the Inspector under the
Window tab.
There is a set of statistical functions for the property histogram display: Count, Sum, Average, Maximum, Minimum
and Median.
It is possible to choose between Line and Points styles to display properties. The Points style is particularly useful
when displaying microseismic event attributes.

Figure 5: Easy access to display options from the Inspector
Geophysics: Quantitative Interpretation

2016.2

QI Volume Attributes Cleanup
Most of the QI Volume attributes were able to be executed also in the Volume Attributes (VA) interface, but as the
usability was compromised in the VA dialog, some of them had to be removed from this user interface. However, they
are still available in the original dialogs from the Quantitative Interpretation domain tab.
The following are the attributes retired from the VA dialog, but still available in the original QI dialogs:
Category & Attribute Summary
Category: AVO attributes This set of attributes can be still executed from the
Attributes: AVO Reconnaissance dialog.
• AVO Shuey 2-term Access to this dialog: in the Advanced Geophysics

perspective, on the Quantitative Interpretation tab,
• AVO Shuey 2-term (Robust fitting)
in the AVO group, click AVO reconnaissance
• AVO Shuey 2-term – Intercept and Gradient for pre-
stack
• AVO Gidlow (Robust fitting)
• AVO Gidlow (Std. fitting)
• AVO Gidlow - AI and SI contrasts for pre-stack
• AVO Pan & Gardner (Robust fitting)
• AVO Pan & Gardner (Std. fitting)
• AVO Pan-Gardner 3-term - constant, linear and
quadratic terms for pre-stack

Category & Attribute Summary
Category: Pre-stack secondary AVO attributes This set of attributes under this category can be still
executed from the AVO Reconnaissance dialog.
Attributes: All the attributes in this category were
retired from the VA interface Access to this dialog: in the Advanced Geophysics
in the AVO group, click AVO reconnaissance
Category: Crossplot When working with seismic data, this set of attributes
under this category can be still executed from the QI
Attributes: All the attributes in this category were
crossplot window in the Create classification
retired from the VA interface
data dialog.
Access to this dialog:
1. In the Advanced Geophysics perspective, on the
Quantitative Interpretation tab, in the QI
analysis tools group, click QI crossplots, and
then click QI crossplot window .

2. In the QI Crossplot window, display and interpret
the data of interest.
3. In the QI crossplot window toolbar, click Create
classification data .
Category: Basic attributes This set of attributes can be still executed from the
Litho prediction dialog.
Attributes:
Access to this dialog: in the Advanced Geophysics
• Litho Prediction 1
• Litho Prediction 2 in the Litho classification group, click Litho
prediction.
The same changes will be observed in the workstep of Volume attributes inside the Workflow editor. Workflows
that used these attributes before will not be affected by this change, unless you select another attribute in the VA
workstep.

Rock Physics Dialog Usability & Productivity
As requested by many users, a small behavioral change has been introduced in this version, in order to improve the
usability and users productivity.
In previous versions, if the user already had a Rock physics study in the dialog and wanted to create a new study
for a different well, when the new well was selected, the complete dialog reset all the inputs to the default values. In
some cases, like Fluid Substitution, for example, it was difficult to set up the tool if the user wanted to use the same
variables and inputs.
In this version, when a new well is selected, all the inputs and variables from the previous Rock physics study are
kept. This increases the users’ productivity, since it allows them to reuse the same variables between wells without
needing to spend time setting up the Rock physics dialog again.
2016.1
Quantitative Interpretation Ribbon Update

With the objective of enabling a better user experience and logical workflow guidance, the Petrel Quantitative
Interpretation (QI) Ribbon has been reorganized. You will find new tools, and that the access to some of the existing
tools in previous Petrel versions, has changed:
• Access to the QI tool palette is now through a single button located in the QI analysis tools group.
• The new QI crossplots button, in the QI analysis tools group, allows access to the PDF viewer and the QI
crossplot window.
• The QI crossplot window toolbar contains all the necessary buttons to create and activate the crossplot
collection. Also, the button to create classification data and open the crossplot collection settings is located on
the window’s toolbar.
The following image highlights the differences between the new Ribbon in Petrel 2016.1 and the last Ribbon in Petrel
2015.

Reset parameters to default in the Rock Physics studies
In the Rock physics process dialog, when the mode is changed from Edit existing to Create new, the process
dialog keeps all the parameters and variables used in the previous rock physics study. This new functionality enables
being able to reset the complete set of entries to default values in the new rock physic study. The button is located
next to the Create new text box, in the upper section of the Rock physics process dialog.

Rock Physics studies and the Reference Project Tool (RPT)
With the introduction of the preview tool in the RPT, you have the ability to observe the related data, which will
be transferred between the background project and the working project.
When a Rock physics study is copied using the Reference project tool:
• The Rock physics study itself is copied
• The parameters and variables are kept for the selected Rock physics study
• And some of the inputs are transferred together if they do not exist in the working project
Calculate EI & EEI using well logs

Two new operation methods that are included in the Rock physics process dialog enable you to calculate the
Elastic impedance (EI) and the Extended elastic impedance (EEI).
Elastic impedance is a generalization of acoustic impedance for the variable incidence angle. The EI log can be used
to calibrate far-offset angle stack seismic data in the same way that acoustic impedance logs are used to calibrate
zero-offset seismic data.
Extended elastic impedance is a method for fluid and lithology prediction, which allows a better distinction between
anomalies caused by lithology and those associated with fluid content.

EEI correlation plot
Along with the new Extended elastic impedance computation in the Rock physics dialog, the EEI correlation plot
was introduced in order to support the complete EEI workflow. The EEI correlation plot allows you to perform an
extensive scanning of the Chi projection angle to find the best match with the target property while analyzing the
correlation coefficient.
You are able to generate a crossplot of the correlation coefficient, between the EEI log and a target property, versus
the Chi projection angle used to calculate the EEI log. As you interactively change the Chi projection angle, the EEI log
updates and ideally match the target log at the best correlation point.

EEI using seismic volumes
As part of the Extended Elastic Impedance workflow, you can calculate extended elastic impedance (EEI) reflectivity
volumes from Intercept and Gradient input or from Acoustic impedance and Gradient impedance volumes.
The tool allows you to create a single virtual volume where you can interactively define the Chi projection angle, or
create multiple EEI reflectivity volumes in a single click.

Wavelet equalization
The process corrects the wavelet in the data to true zero phase and stabilizes any residual variation in space.
Stabilization of the wavelet is performed by estimating and compensating for the space variant component (which is
associated with the propagation effects in the overburden) and the non-space variant component (contributed by
acquisition or processing systems) of the wavelet. The wavelet processing operators are individually designed for
each trace to convert the varying wavelet to zero phase. Extreme care is taken to minimize spectral coloration due to
reflectivity and noise.
The process works on 3D seismic cubes. The following image shows a panel of seismic data with inserted well
synthetic before and after the application of Wavelet equalization. A wavelet estimated from the panel is also
included. After Wavelet equalization, the data are now zero phase and the tie to the well synthetic is improved.

Litho classification of 2D lines
In Petrel 2016, the Litho classification workflow can now be applied to 2D post-stack seismic data.

AVO Modeling algorithms
As part of the continuous improvements of the Quantitative Interpretation workflows, the existing process of AVO
Modeling enables the application of new algorithms, which allow you to create pre-stack seismic data to explain the
rock physics properties in terms of seismic amplitudes.
Zoeppritz post-critical reflections

This new method allows you to model the AVO or AVA seismic response, beyond the critical angle using the
Zoeppritz approximation. Previous versions only allowed modeling the amplitude response for Pre-critical reflections,
but, you can now choose between:
• Zoeppritz pre-critical reflections
• Zoeppritz post-critical reflections (New)
• Zoeppritz pre-critical & post-critical reflections (New)

Gathers sorted by offset
Previous versions only allowed modeling gathers sorted by angle. In this version, you have an additional option to
model gathers sorted by offset, thereby, allowing a complete workflow to analyze either AVO or AVA seismic
responses.
AVO modeling in the Workflow editor

By using the AVO modeling process in the Workflow editor, you have the opportunity to execute single-well or
multi-well computations by using the loop function.
3D Selections in the QI crossplot window

In a QI crossplot window, when it is in 3D mode, you can select data to classify by using the 3D crossplot selection
methods. This new functionality allows you to execute advanced crossplot classification workflows.

You can classify the following data:
• Well logs
• Post-stack seismic data
• Horizon interpretation attributes
• Surface attributes
• Point attributes
The complete functionality includes 3D crossplot data selection, and the edition of any selection done in the crossplot
to properly define the classification data.

3D Density map in the QI Crossplot window
This new functionality aims to improve the workflow of manual cluster classification, using post-stack seismic data.
In Petrel 2016, you can visualize the set of points in the 3D visualization mode as a 3D Density map. In previous Petrel
versions, when you crossplot post-stack seismic data, the set of points can be displayed as a density map in the 2D
visualization mode, which in 3D mode looks like a flat surface of points. In Petrel 2016, you can visualize the set of
points in the 3D visualization mode as a 3D Density map.

The 3D Density map, in the 3D visualization mode, in conjunction with the 3D selection mechanisms, improves the
manual post-stack seismic data classification.

Classification objects to be either "dynamic" or "static"
By default, the QI crossplot window generates dynamic classification data, which means that every time a QI
crossplot selection that created classification data is modified, the classification data will be updated. However, with
this new functionality, you can modify this behavior by setting the classification settings to static mode.

Time-Lapse Analysis Domain Tab
This new Petrel domain tab, in the Advanced Geophysics perspective, aims to help Geologists and Geophysicists
execute the Seismic Reservoir Monitoring Workflow. This means that once a Petrel user has completed the Seismic
to Simulation workflow, the domain tab provides the tools to execute 4D Feasibility studies, and returns to the
Seismic domain once again by using the Simulation Results.
Reservoir Elastic Modeling

Reservoir elastic modeling (REM) is a fluid substitution process for oil, brine, and hydrocarbon and CO2 gases. REM
utilizes reservoir and earth models through effective elastic property calculations and, thus, serves as a direct link
between reservoir simulation and synthetic seismic waveform generation.
REM utilizes fluid and formation properties from a simulation case in a Petrel project and calculates the effective bulk
and shear moduli, bulk density, and compressional and shear velocities, accordingly. Moreover, it has the flexibility of
assigning user-defined values to some or all of the input parameters required in fluid substitution.

REM is built with accurate mathematical models for calculating thermodynamic properties of fluids providing accurate
and robust modeling in Petrel for use in:
• Reservoir characterization and history matching
• Time-lapse synthetic seismic waveform generation
• Feasibility studies for:
o Fluid monitoring via seismic
o Inter-well front tracking via seismic
• Providing input data for synthetic seismic response of earth models using Reservoir AVO Modeling Petrel
technology
• Providing input data for survey design and modeling using ray tracing and illumination (SDM/RTI) Petrel plug-in
• Aiding in well-trajectory design by providing effective elastic 3D cubes fully consistent with reservoir model
• Aiding seismic monitoring
• Uncertainty analysis for feasibility studies and survey design
REM provides accurate effective elastic property calculations through integrated simulation of fluid flow in porous
media, FSM, and uncertainty quantification, which make REM a well-suited tool to conduct feasibility studies for

seismic monitoring, survey design, seismic interpretation, and decision making. It can be used as an informed
decision making tool for multiphysics surveys design for fluid monitoring, for instance monitoring CO2 in CO2-EOR.

Geophysics: Seismic Well Tie
2016.1
Wavelet frequency as filter in Log Conditioning
As an additional option for log conditioning, where you can filter well log data by using the wavelet’s frequency
spectrum, this functionality works by interacting directly with the Well section window.
When the wavelet used is modified with the Wavelet toolbox, the changes in the virtual log will be reflected on the
fly and the QC is done using the Well section window and the Frequency spectrum of the inputs.

Goodness of fit parameters in deterministic wavelet
extraction
During the Deterministic Wavelet Extraction, QC parameters were introduced to evaluate the goodness of fit and
accuracy of the extracted wavelet. A new algorithm called Signal/Noise was added under the Deterministic method.
The algorithm for this Deterministic wavelet calculation is Extended White. After the deterministic wavelet has been
extracted, the Statistics are calculated, providing the NMSE Confidence (%), the normalized mean square error
(NMSE), and bandwidth ratio.

These tests allow an evaluation of the closeness of the fit between the synthetic generated from the extracted
wavelet and information about the time and trace location of the seismic data used for the extraction.

Generate different wavelet cases in the Wavelet toolbox
As part of the continuous improvements of the Wavelet extraction workflows, this new set of functionalities enables
you to generate multiple cases without the need of redefining all the inputs and variables in the Wavelet toolbox.
Keep or Reset parameters to default in the Wavelet toolbox

As part of the new set of functionalities in the Wavelet toolbox dialog, when the mode is changed from Edit
existing to Create new, the process dialog keeps all the parameters and variables used in the previous wavelet.
IAs there is the need to reset the complete set of entries to default values, a new button has been added next to the
Create new text box, in the upper section of the Wavelet toolbox dialog. This functionality is available in all the
methods in the Wavelet toolbox.
Wavelet output option

When the Deterministic method is being used, a new field, to generate a single wavelet as output, has been added in
the Output tab of the Wavelet toolbox. This feature allows you to test different wavelet scenarios, without the
need of having to go back to the Create new option.


Wavelet axes display settings
Axes controls have been added to the visualization pane in the Wavelet toolbox. They allow you to specify the plot
ranges, which give you the flexibility to personalize the results presentation.

Seismic well tie template improvements
The use of the appropriate visualization templates is important during the synthetic generation workflow and the
results presentation. The following improvements have been added to the default synthetic generation template:
• The new Residual trace track helps to QC and understand the difference between the seismic and synthetic
seismic data.
• A consistent color table and annotations have been added to the:
o Seismic track
o Synthetic track
o Correlation track
o Residuals track (New)
• In the synthetic generation workflow, the synthetic seismic trace is posted, by default, in the seismic track along
the well trajectory.
• The Cross-Correlation track shows by default the Single trace option.

• Seismic along the wellbore is a new method for data visualization and analysis in the Seismic track; this is the
default visualization option for new studies. The option is located on the Input tab of the Synthetic generation,
Integrated seismic well tie and Depth seismic calibration options.

• A new option to Show or Hide the alignment points was introduced on the Style tab.

Seismic well tie data management and organization
Data management and organization is very important in any project, and previously, Seismic well tie only had the
option to create a new Global study folder per well. In this version, the data management and its organization was
improved by allowing you to link different wells to the same Global folder, which resides under the new Seismic well
tie sub folder.
In the following example, you can see that previous versions, you could only create one folder per study; however, in
Petrel 2016, you can create a single results folder containing any amount of wells.

Multi-well workflow improvements
In cases where you want to edit a study or interact with multiple wells in the Well section window at the same
time, Seismic well tie offers the opportunity to display the results of every study created in a single Well section
window, by selecting the same Well section window to display the results. This functionality also prevents the
creation of a new window, every time a Seismic well tie study is created.

Using the Seismic well tie editing Tool Palette to edit interactively all the synthetic studies displayed in the
window, activate the Seismic well tie edit mode button and then select the well from the Active study drop-down
arrow, to activate the study to be edited.
Studies deletion
In previous versions, a Seismic well tie study was completely linked to the Well section window used during its
creation, and you were able to delete the study by deleting the assigned Well section window.

In this version, the Seismic well tie dialog box contains a new button to delete the desired study. Deletion of the
assigned Well section window does not erase the study and the study is preserved in the project, unless the
delete button is clicked.
Reflection coefficient algorithms

Reflection coefficient for Primaries and Multiples
This is a new option to post the reflection coefficients (RCs) from Primaries and Multiples calculated from the input
logs. The following options are available:
• Primaries only - Generate RC values for single points of impedance contrast. The option is selected by default.
• Multiples only - Generate RC values using multiples only.
• Primaries and Multiples - Generate RC values for single points plus all multiples.

The Surface Reflection Coefficient option default value is 1.0. It is the magnitude of the reflection coefficient of
the surface interface (time =0) at which the multiples are assumed to be generated. The higher the value, the
stronger the multiples generated on the synthetic seismogram.
EEI and EI for reflection coefficient computation

As part of the Extended Elastic Impedance (EEI) and Elastic Impedance (EI) workflow, you can calculate the reflection
coefficients (RCs) using these logs as input. This option is also available for wavelet extraction in the Wavelet
toolbox.

Gardner’s equation for Sonic or Density data
The method is applicable when Sonic data or Density data are missing; it computes the missing samples by using the
Gardner’s equation.
Auto population of Aki and Richards inputs from seismic metadata

When the RC calculation method of Aki and Richards is selected, the Angle range (Minimum and Maximum angle) is
auto-populated, according to the Angle information in the Metadata of the seismic cube used as input for the
synthetic generation process.

Wavelet synchronization option for synthetic generation
This new functionality locks and populates the input fields (seismic and well logs) of the Synthetic generation study,
with inputs used to extract the selected Deterministic wavelet that is being used. You can change the inputs by
unlocking the option marked in the image below.

Geology
Geology: Geology & Modeling
2016.2
Georeferenced images
Import a georeferenced image
Using the Bitmap image import format, if the image is accompanied by a World file containing georeferencing
information, it will be used to predefine the location settings of the image in Petrel. The World file must have the

same name as the image and an extension ending in “w”. This enables Petrel to load images exported from ArcGIS,
for example. The Surface imaging license module is required. See the Help center for details of the World file format
and import workflow.
2016.1
Isochore gridding improvement
The handling of isochore data with zero values using Isochore interpolation algorithm in Make/edit surface process
has been improved to effectively control the placement of a zero contour line in the isochore map. The Use zero
contour proximity factor check box is now available in the Settings dialog of Isochore interpolation to make
zero contour line have the same representation like any other contour.
The value varies from 0 to 1:

• 0 = maximizes the area within the zero contour by shifting the zero contour away from non-zero isochores
towards zero value.
• 0.5 = places the zero contours half way between 0 and 1 values.
• 1= minimizes the area within the zero contour by shifting the zero contour away from the zero isochore to none
zero thickness value.

Figure 6: Example of the Use zero contour proximity factor in the Isochore interpolation of Make/edit surface dialog
Visualization of isochores with zero contour line in 2D/3D and Map windows Schlumberger Private – Customer Use
The isochores with zero contour line visualized in 2D/3D and Map windows now show a smooth display without zig-
zag edges. The rendering in 2D/3D and Map windows are controlled by a new zero contouring method in the
Contouring method sub tab.

The different settings available for the Classic and Enhanced contouring methods when visualizing isochores with
zero contour line are:
• Classic method:
The zero contouring method is Smooth extrapolated and uses the output threshold to control the smoothing of
the zero contour line and the vertical offset. The initial value corresponds to 10% of the contour increment.
Smoothing is used to apply local flexing to an area with few zero points. Input threshold gives the minimum
value considered when creating a zero contour line.
• Enhanced method:
Uses Smooth extrapolated as the zero contouring method, but only the input threshold can be modified. The
standard and strict allow you visualize the zero contour line with default parameters.
Figure 7: Example of the Use zero contour line visualized in Map and 2D windows with Zero contouring method
Log signatures improvements

The Log signatures generated from well folder / sub well folder Settings tab and labeling settings are improved
with changes in the display section of the UI for a proper alignment. You now have Vertical scale and Width
controls to improve the rendering of Log signatures in the Map window. The Locked check box controls the display
as you pan and zoom.

The Width and Vertical scale defines the actual size of the log signatures that you will plot on the paper, based on
the scale in the Map window.
Modifying the Width/Vertical scale by entering a value in the field requires you to click Apply/OK to reflect the
changes in the display.
Figure 8: Example of the changes to Log signatures UI in well settings tab and labeling settings.

Log signatures visualization: It is now possible to visualize log signatures in the Map window as a vector
graphics image which gives a sharp and non-pixelated image. The rendering in the Map window and printing to file
in pdf or CGM format produce an undistorted image.
On upgrade, log signatures are not stretched and produce a consistent image properly scaled with a very good visual
and high print quality.

Figure 9: Example of Log signatures rendered as vector graphics image

Stratigraphic charts enhancement
Stratigraphic chart spreadsheet
You can now efficiently access the stratigraphic chart spreadsheet with the command enabled in the Stratigraphic
charts group on the Stratigraphy domain tab. The spreadsheet for stratigraphic chart column and Geo-time curves
can also be accessed from the right-click menu on the Stratigraphic chart window.
Discrete curves editing tools

It is now possible to interactively create and edit discrete curves with tools on the Stratigraphic chart editing Tool
Palette in the Stratigraphic chart window.

In an empty discrete curve displayed in the Stratigraphic chart window, you can create a new discrete curve by:
Right-clicking the Geo-time data folder and then, clicking Insert discrete curve from the context menu:
- Open the settings of the newly created discrete curve to define a name and select a template with a
corresponding color table.
- You can modify the name, background color and discrete lithology pattern in the color table settings page.
- Click Apply/OK to commit the changes.
From the Stratigraphic chart editing Tool Palette, click to select the discrete facies editing tools:
- Paint discrete curve and drag to assign the selected pattern and color in the interval. It will use the first
discrete pattern in the template to paint. If no pattern is selected, right-click to select the code and pattern
for use in painting.
- Flood fill discrete curve: Right-click the discrete curve to select a pattern and click any of the intervals to
automatically assign the pattern to the interval.
- Pick up a discrete pattern: Click a discrete curve in the Stratigraphic chart window. The selected
pattern is assigned to the selected pattern in the interval.

Saved search in the Make/edit surface process
A new option to use saved search in the Make/edit surface process when the input data is a well top horizon/
zones/faults/ others is now available.
It removes the burden of either duplicating a Well tops folder or selecting Use by Geo Mod in the Well tops
spreadsheet in order to filter on a specific well tops horizon.

Figure 10: Example of saved search option in the Make/edit surface dialog

Other improvements
• Overwrite bold contour style
The Contour lines style option for surfaces and horizons has been improved to support an independent contour
line style and color for bold contour lines in 2D and Map windows. The Overwrite bold style check box
available in surfaces and 3D grid horizons help to control line weight and color of bold contours.
• Adaptive rendering for large surfaces (>100M Nodes)
When working with large surfaces in a 2D/3D window, the resolution is set to Adaptive when using the surface
editing tools. This can lead to visual artifacts in areas of the surface using a lower resolution. Refreshing the
surface, via the icon in the mini toolbar, will restore the surface to High resolution and remove the artifacts.
• MBVC in Surfaces MTB
It is now possible to access the MBVC command from the surfaces MTB by right-clicking on a surface displayed
in 2D/3D and Map windows.
• Geopolygons as a boundary
Geopolygons are now supported as a boundary in Extrapolate within a boundary and Distance to object of
surface operations and in the MBVC process dialog.
Geopolygon editing shortcuts

When one of the geopolygon editing tools is active, the following key shortcuts afford easy selection of tools:
• [E] = activate Edit geopolygons
• [A] = activate Draw geopolygons
• [C] = activate Cut geopolygons
Pending changes can be committed and reverted using Shift+Enter and Shift+Del, respectively.

Geopolygon spreadsheet tools
The geopolygon attribute spreadsheet can now be grouped and filtered. It is also possible to copy and paste values.
Geology: Well Section Window

2016.2
Auto marker correlation
Auto marker correlation allows you to quickly generate well top markers across the field. A reference well with
marker(s) defined with a distinct log signature is used as the input to identify similar log signatures in other wells.
Wells that contain similar log signatures will receive the auto tracked markers.
Well identification

When creating a cross section, you can indicate to highlight or blink the well that is under the cursor to assist with
determining which well will be selected for inclusion in the cross section. This feature is best used where there are
densely populated wells and/or many trajectories.
Figure 11: Well is highlighted in yellow indicating that it could be selected to include in the cross section

Geo mod and depth conversion flags
The Geo mod and depth conversion flags can be accessed by selecting the Edit well tops icon and right-clicking the
marker instead of having to open the Well tops spreadsheet manager. You can choose to use or not use the Geo
mod or Depth conversion flags. If turned on, they will be used in the depth conversion process and the surface and
modeling processes.

2016.1
Cross section creation along planar objects
A cross section can be defined along existing planar objects which include 2D seismic lines, 3D seismic inlines and
crosslines, arbitrary polylines, georeferenced images, existing cross section planes, and open and closed polygons.

Figure 12: Cross section created along planar objects

Background Points
Point sets can be posted, modified and created within the Well section window background. Points that are within
a certain distance limit from the cross section plane can be snapped to the nearest cross section plane. Point sets can
also be created by defining a reference surface, input surface and a well top. The difference between the input
surface and the well top will be added to the reference surface which will create a point at this location. The
resulting points can be used in any operation that consumes point data.
Figure 13: Background points displayed on curtain section with background surfaces

Navigation
Navigation has been improved by using the view mode to pan the Well section window. Undo/redo is available on
1D and Magnify zoom. By using the middle mouse wheel and holding the Ctrl key, you can zoom in and out on the
Well section window.
The Well section window settings allow for Data padding to extend the view past the deepest posted object. An
index range can be defined for the Well section window to restrict the amount of data displayed in time or depth.
The Well section window can now receive cursor tracking events, and this is controlled in the Well section
window settings.

Figure 14: Well section window with depth range defined from 1960 to 2180m

Template and Cross section settings
The labels for background surfaces and 3D grid horizons and faults can be displayed, and the style settings can be
controlled in the Well section template. It is also possible to turn off the vertical and deviated track borderlines and
the color fill level lines in the Well section template.
The placement of the deviated path can be manually adjusted in relation to the deviated tracks in the Cross section
settings. It is also possible to extend the cross section by adding beginning and/or ending padding hinges in the Cross
section settings.

Figure 15: Track borderlines and color fill level lines turned off, and surface labels displayed

Geology: Structural Modeling
2016.2
Vertical Resolution Enhancement
A higher level of vertical resolution (“Ultra thin layers”) has been added to the Structural Framework Horizon
Modeling process to improve the modeling of a high number of horizons.
The Vertical resolution enhancement controls the ratio between the vertical resolution and the horizontal resolution
of the available tetrahedra defined by the Complexity/size parameter. “Thin layers”, “Very thin layers”, and “Ultra
thin layers” favor the vertical distribution of the available tetrahedral mesh elements (high vertical resolution, to the
detriment of the horizontal resolution). This should be selected when dealing with closely spaced horizons, especially
if they cover a large area and if the resulting zones show important lateral thickness variations; it is also
recommended if the model presents a high degree of stratigraphic complexity.
Note that the increase of the vertical resolution (towards “Ultra thin layers”) might require an increase in
Complexity/size.

Figure 16: Vertical resolution enhancement “Ultra thin layers”
Base/Base Horizon Relationship

From this version on, base/base horizons relationships can be modeled in the Structural Framework Horizon Modeling
process.
Figure 17: Stratigraphic model with base/base relationships

Well Top Adjustment Enhancement
For seismic-based horizons, the well correction has been changed in a way that it is applied before modeling the
well-based horizons. This prevents the issue of the wrong stratigraphic sequence when well correction is greater
than layer thicknesses.

Figure 18: Adjustment of model horizons (blue lines on intersection) to well tops (T1, T2) where mistie between horizon
input (yellow points) and corresponding well top (T1) is greater than well-based zone thickness (T1-T2)

Geology: Structural Fault Analysis
2016.1
Grid operations
Stairstep grid
Allows the calculation of fault property along the entire stairstep fault, rather than being focused on the area of
horizon juxtaposition.
Workflow editor worksteps

Enhanced collection of Workflow editor worksteps for stairstep grids.
1D Juxtaposition
Calculate reverse throw
Calculates reverse throw for 1D juxtaposition analysis.
Create throw scale

Generates a user-defined scale for 1D juxtaposition analysis.

Worksteps
Stairstep grids
The following stairstep grid operations have been added as worksteps to the Workflow editor:
• Fault throw
• Fault displacement
• Fault clay content prediction
• Fault permeability prediction
• Fault thickness prediction
• Column Height prediction
• Transmissibility multipliers
• 2D fault plane view
Other worksteps

The following worksteps have been added to Structural Fault Analysis (SFA) operations in the Workflow editor:
• Seismic horizon isochore
• Surface isochore
• Residual difference for structural framework

Geology: Modeling
2016.2
Modeling Input Parameters for Multipoint simulation method
The Modeling Input Parameters (MIP) editor for facies modeling allows you to view, edit, exchange, and report all
modeling parameters for the Multipoint simulation (MPS) method. The Workflow editor version of the MIP is also
available for this MPS method.

As for any other methods, the Modeling input parameters for a discrete property simulated with the Multipoint
simulation method can be accessed by right-clicking a property in the tree, in a 2D or 3D window, or through a
shortcut button at the top of the Facies modeling process dialog:
Through the MIP editor, it is possible to copy and paste the Multipoint simulation parameters:
• From zone to zone within the same property
• From property to property in the same 3D grid
• From property to property in different 3D grids

By pressing the Report button, all currently displayed parameters are sent to the output sheet in a compact
spreadsheet format.

For additional details, see “Modeling Input Parameters Editor” in the online Help.
2016.1
Truncated Gaussians with trends
Local editing of transition lines in section view
In Petrel 2015.1, it was possible to edit the facies boundaries of the trend model in the section view. The editing
functionality in the section view had a global effect, which mean that the changes to the facies boundaries in a
selected section are proportionally applied throughout all the cross-sections, parallel to the selected azimuth line. In
Petrel 2016, it is now possible to also perform local editing of facies boundaries in the section view; that is, the
changes to the facies boundaries will affect only the neighboring parallel intersections located within a user-
specified distance.
A new two-state Global/local editing button and text box allow you to select between ‘global’ or ‘local’ editing
options in the section view and, when in the local mode, to input the lateral extent of the local changes.

Figure 19: Example of local editing in section view of Geometry tab
Interactive display and editing of trend model cross-sections

In Petrel 2015, editing facies boundaries in the section view were limited to cross sections that intersect either the
center point or well points parallel to the azimuth direction. An important enhancement in Petrel 2016.1 is the ability
to interactively select in the map view any cross-section parallel to the selected azimuth direction. The selected cross
section will be displayed in the section view where all editing capabilities will be available.
Operations tab (individual properties)

A new Regenerate upscaled operation has been added to the Property operations folder in the Operations tab
of discrete and continuous properties settings. This operation regenerates the original upscaled cells data as a new
object in the Models tree, and can be used, for example, to inspect the integrity of the original upscaled data of a
simulated/edited property model.
Figure 20: New Regenerate upscaled operation in discrete and continuous properties settings

Data analysis option in Facies modeling methods
“Use estimated facies proportions from Data analysis” available
The “Use estimated facies proportions from Data analysis” option can also be used now in the following Facies
modeling methods: Multipoint simulation, Indicator Kriging, and Truncated Gaussian with Trends.
Figure 21: Example of the “Use estimated facies proportions from Data analysis” in
Multipoint simulation method of Facies modeling process
Property calculator Schlumberger Private – Customer Use
New Lock upscaled and Use filter buttons

The Use filter check box has been replaced by a new button while keeping the same behavior, that is, when the Use
filter button is toggled on, any calculations involving properties will use the active filters. Additionally, a Lock
upscaled button has been added to the Property calculator. When the Lock upscaled button is toggled on, the
upscaled cells will not be changed by the calculations.

Figure 22: Use filter and Lock upscaled buttons in Property calculator

Discrete and continuous Modeling Input Parameters (MIP)
New Run button
A new Run button has been added to the discrete and continuous MIP. This allows you to directly save changes and
run the Modeling process from the MIP.
Figure 23: Directly save changes and run modeling process from MIP (left). This is equivalent to using run modeling
process right-click command (right) on MIP-edited property

Scale up well logs – Zone correction
Algorithm improvement
The zone correction algorithm has been improved. Repositioned log portions are always rescaled, either stretched or
squeezed, depending on the geometry.
Figure 24: Scale up well logs dialog with the Zone correction setting

Geopolygons in Property modeling processes
Geopolygons consumption
Geopolygons can be used in the following Property modeling processes:
• As a boundary in the Assign between surfaces and polygons method in the Geometrical modeling process
• As an inside boundary when performing Local model update of a property in the Facies modeling or
Petrophysical modeling processes
• As an object to compute distance from in the Distance to object method in the Geometrical modeling process
• As a polygon to add regions to an existing property in the Make regions property tab of the Make contacts
process
Figure 25: Geopolygon set with holes (yellow lines on the left picture) used as boundary polygon in the Assign between
surfaces and polygons method in Geometrical modeling process. Resulting property is on the right picture

Facies and Petrophysical modeling in the Workflow editor
Use of object variable for the primary property
It is now possible to use an object variable for the primary property for the Facies modeling and Petrophysical
modeling commands in the Workflow editor.

You can run a workflow using multiple primary properties in the Facies modeling and/or Petrophysical modeling
processes by inserting an object variable to reference the primary properties on which to perform the modeling. The
process will be run for all the reference properties using the process parameters specified for the base case property.
In the following example, the Facies modeling process will be run for the facies properties listed in the reference
list. Also, a reference list with three columns is used to link the object variables "Primary property", "SandFraction"
and "ShaleFraction". The result will be the modeling of three facies properties. Note that Facies modeling is not
performed on the base case property unless this property is also listed in the reference list. It is also possible to use
no base case property (no property has been selected); in this case, the process is performed on the referenced
primary properties using their own process settings.
Figure 26: Example of a workflow using object variables for primary property in Facies modeling

Connected volumes method in Geometrical modeling
process
Use cumulative option
It is now possible to perform a cumulative or non-cumulative analysis of connected volumes using the Connected
volumes method in the Geometrical modeling process. A cumulative analysis includes the cells that are already
populated in the primary property, while a non-cumulative analysis is only performed on the property to analyze.

Figure 27: Use cumulative option of the Connected volumes method in Geometrical modeling process

Geology: Wells
2016.1
Explicit well path/deviation loader
Import of explicit surveys/plans
It is now possible to import an explicit trajectory in the import well path/deviation (ASCII) (*.*) files of type format.
The trajectory type can be a plan/survey selected from a drop-down arrow.
Figure 28: Plan/survey trajectory type selection

These trajectory type files allow loading of well deviation files with six channels and are generated with a third-party
trajectory algorithm into a Petrel project without recalculation. An example can be a well path data computed from
compass and other vendor trajectory applications.
• The dialog box shows the six rows (X, Y, Z, MD, INCL, and AZIM) and all the columns are auto detected.
• If the trajectory type, explicit survey/plan is the first survey/plan to be loaded in the well, it will be set to a
definitive or active plan.
• If there are other survey types/plans in the well, the imported deviation file can be set to definitive by selecting
the Set to definitive survey or Set to active plan check box.
Figure 29: Import survey path deviation dialog showing six channels column selection

An explicit plan can also be loaded by selecting the trajectory type as the plan. The following figure shows how it
appears in the Input tree.

Figure 30: Input tree showing loaded explicit survey and plan in A10 well

Convert definitive explicit survey
The Convert a definitive explicit survey command in Upgrade explicit trajectory is available from the context
menu on a well folder/subfolder and allows you create an editable survey from a well with a definitive explicit
survey.
• The command uses the definitive explicit survey to create an MD, INCL & AZIM / X, Y, Z survey and sets it to
definitive. The MD, INCL and AZIM / X, Y, Z columns in white can be edited
• Only one MD, INCL and AZIM / X, Y, Z survey per well can be created from this operation in the Input tree.
There can be distinct differences between the explicit survey and the new MD, INCL & AZIM survey, particularly,
when the well was originally loaded in another format. It is recommended to QC the survey. An upgrade report
detailing the differences is written to the Output sheet.
Figure 31: Upgrade explicit trajectory command from well folder context menu

Multiple well path/deviation file
You can now import a survey in the new well model survey with the Multiple well paths/deviation (ASCII) (*.*) files
of type. You have an option to set the survey to definitive in the Import multiple well paths dialog.
Figure 32: Import multiple well paths dialog
Well tops spreadsheet enhancement

• It is possible to show green/red colors in the cells of the Well tops spreadsheet to indicate which well tops
surfaces are used/not used in the ‘Used by depth conversion’ and ‘Used by geo modeling’ workflows. This visual
display shows green for each well top surface used in the depth conversion and geo modeling workflows and
shows red, if not used. When the Yes check box is selected, the cell color automatically switches to green and
when is not selected, the cell color switches to red.

Figure 33: Well to spreadsheet showing cell colors and Last edited

• A new Last edited column has been added in the Well tops spreadsheet to show the update time when an
attribute value of a well top is changed. The column is sorted by double clicking on its header. It is read only and
the format is "MM/dd/yyyy HH:mm:ss".
• Well trace MTB: A Well tops spreadsheet command to filter markers on a selected well trace has been
added to the well trace mini toolbar (MTB). By right-clicking a well trace visualized in 3D, 2D, Map and Well
section windows, the icon is active; if there are well tops picked on the well and deactivated when there is
none and as soon as the well exists in the active well top sets well filter.
Figure 34: Well tops spreadsheet command (first from right)
Make logs from property in Workflow editor

The Make logs from property command is now available in the Workflow editor. The input requires a well/well
folder and a property in the 3D grid model to make a synthetic log. The command can be accessed from the well log
operations folder on the Operations tab.
Well operations commands

It is now possible to accept a new model standalone well with multi-trajectory surveys in the Translate and Rotate
well operations command folder on the Operations tab in the Workflow editor. The commands also support wells
with active drilling plans, XYZ and automatic plans. Both operations make changes on the well head and modify the
design points.

Wells that have lateral/sidetrack relationships are not handled in the Translate/Rotate operation.
The following table summarizes the objects supported by the Translate and Rotate well operation commands.
Object Rotate Translate

Supported surveys (standalone Supported Supported
wells)
Drilling plans Supported Supported
Supported plans XYZ plan, automatic plan XYZ plan, automatic plan
Wellhead changes Supported Supported
Well does not have plan Operation terminates Operations terminates with error
messages
Message log Explicit trajectory (plan) is Explicit trajectory (plan) is supported
supported
You can use the commands in the Workflow editor to change the standalone wells and well plan locations.
Move well process dialog

The Move well process always creates a new object using the specified input parameters on execution. The Move
well process now supports wells with active drilling plans. Using a well with an active automatic plan trajectory as
input will generate a well with an automatic plan and editable XYZ and DLS constraints.
Moving a well with an active explicit plan creates an explicit plan if the move is purely a translation of the well. If the
well head is fixed or the moved well is constrained by surfaces, the process will create an XYZ plan.
Other improvements
Geopolygons as a boundary in well operations
It is now possible to use geopolygons as a boundary in Saved searches and Move wells inside boundary
operations. If a geopolygon is filled and the top/mid/base (TD) of a well falls inside, it is treated as inside, but if the
geopolygon has holes, any part of the well that falls in the hole is treated as outside.

Geology: Mapping
2016.1
Petrel Mapping Module by Petrosys
A new map window has been developed together with Petrosys. This provides you with everything you need to
display exploration, production, and geographical data from your Petrel projects in the most compelling, relevant, and
easily understood way.
This new mapping window brings the following enhanced map making capabilities to Petrel:
• Produces presentation quality map outputs by generating PDF, Images, and Scaled Print outputs
• Produces quality contour maps up to faults with a variety of fault throw symbologies.
• Performs map-based contour editing. Clean up artifacts or drive changes to the underlying surface
• Provides project data in a different CRS

• Gains fine control of fonts, colors, and line styles for all map elements
• Thematically maps cultural data to highlight trends
• Provides overpost correction that gives professional quality cartographic output
• Customizes Legends, Titeblocks and display elements
• Implements standard corporate map templates, providing common communication themes
• Generates multi-layer PDF output. You can switch layers on/off from your PDF viewer to help with publishing and
archiving.
Figure 35: The new Petrosys map window in Petrel

Geomechanics
Geomechanics: Reservoir Geomechanics
2016.1
VISAGE-INTERSECT coupling
Fully automatic two-way coupling (permeability updating) between VISAGE* and INTERSECT* on structured grids.
Figure 36: VISAGE-INTERSECT coupling workflow

Generalized strain boundary condition
This new boundary condition is more consistent with 1D mechanical earth model calibration and removes the
necessity of modeling the overburden and sideburdens, resulting in smaller model size and faster computation.

New VISAGE deflation solver
Significant performance improvements due to the addition of the new Deflation solver
and of the strain boundary condition.
Figure 37: Performance improvements of 1.5 – 3 times when comparing the new deflation solver
with legacy (Jacobi) solver

Figure 38: Performance improvements (19 times in the example below) when comparing legacy workflow with the new
workflow (deflation solver and new strain boundary condition)

Quick Mechanical Earth Model (MEM)
An integrated process that quickly calculates 3D dynamic and static mechanical properties from well logs or/and
seismic data.
Vp Vs Density Pore pressure Mechanical properties
When shear slowness or/and density cubes are not available, it can calculate these on the fly, using empirical
correlations (Castagna and Gardner, respectively).

Figure 39: New Quick MEM window interface

Geomechanics: Drilling Geomechanics
2016.1
Mud Weight Predictor
Mud Weight Predictor (MWP) provides wellbore stability post-processing for 3D geomechanics models created using
Petrel Geomechanics.
• Calculates mud weight properties for 1D and 3D regimes.
• MWP enables interactive drilling direction optimization.
• Requires a 3D calculated stress tensor field.

• Usually obtained from a reservoir scale model.
Figure 40: Mud weight predictor window allows to calculate the shear failure and breakdown limits
along a wellbore trajectory

Reservoir Engineering
Reservoir Engineering: General
2016.1
INTERSECT User Edits
From Petrel 2016.1 onwards, INTERSECT User Edits are part of the simulation case which means they are as
relevant to Petrel as any other case components (e.g. Fluid Model, Saturation Functions, Field Management, Aquifers,
etc.). This enables user edits to be used more consistently with Petrel native functionalities such as: support for the
Uncertainty and Optimization process, transferring between projects using the Reference Project Transfer

(RPT) tool, sharing among various INTERSECT cases, and with the creation and editing of user edits within
Petrel.
For consistency with the INTERSECT simulator, user edits are divided into “IX” (Reservoir) user edits and “FM” (Field
Management) user edits.
Figure 41: Location of INTERSECT User Edits in the Input pane and simulation ribbon

Figure 42: User edits in Define Simulation case

This development is supported by an advanced IXF editor embedded in Petrel, which provides:
• Autocomplete functionality when typing nodes, fields and commands

• Syntax highlighting, nodes expand collapse
• Automated handling of brackets, quotes, etc.
• Table editing capabilities for compatible nodes (tables)
• IXF validation prior running the simulation case
• Context sensible information when hovering on nodes, fields and commands
• Direct access to the INTERSECT manual from nodes, fields or commands
• Multi selection of lines for commenting in and out

Figure 43: IXF advanced editor

Brine Support
Brine tracking is supported in Petrel 2016.1 for the ECLIPSE and INTERSECT simulators. This development is
focused on the single component brine model, where all salt species are lumped into a single salt.
Make fluid model process enhancements

You can now enable brine tracking in their fluid definition when using the Make fluid model process by checking
the Brine Tracking checkbox found under the General tab. Enabling this checkbox alters the inputs available under the
Water tab.
A brine fluid model can be created using the existing correlations or can be defined manually via the water
spreadsheet by entering water properties as a function of salt concentration.
Initial brine concentration with respect to depth can be entered in the spreadsheet for initial conditions.

Figure 44: Make fluid model – General tab (left), Water tab (Right)

Initial conditions process enhancements
With Petrel 2015.1, the new Initial Conditions process was developed to provide a more accurate definition of the fluid
initial conditions. As part of the support for brine fluids in Petrel 2016.1, the Initial Condition process now includes
entries to define the fluid salt concentration as a constant or as a function of depth. To enable salt concentration
input in this process, a fluid model with Brine Tracking enabled under the General tab must be used.
Figure 45: Initial conditions process – salt concentration entries

Display of simulation events on Results Charting and
Analysis (RCA)
New picking mode in Results Charting and Analysis
A new picking mode, “Simulation events” has been added in the Results Charting and Analysis dialog allowing
the plotting of simulation events along with 2D summary vectors. The functionality supports well and completions
status changes (Open/Shut), and the display of control constraints for open wells. Hovering on the event marker on a
summary vector plot displays a description of the current control in-place.
Figure 46: New picking mode in RCA – simulation events

Figure 47: Simulation events displayed on top of summary vectors

Message search tool
ECLIPSE and INTERSECT 2016.1 stream simulation messages and record them as simulation events in a database
file, DBPRTX. The information in this file can be accessed from Petrel by right-mouse-clicking on a simulation case.
This action brings up the message search tool allowing filtering by entities, event type and other properties such
as message levels (warning, problem or error).
Figure 48: Petrel case pane - right-click a simulation case to access the message search tool

INTERSECT “Grid Edits” support for Development Strategies
Export from Petrel of INTERSECT cases with Development Strategies (DS) now uses a “Grid Edits”
workflow. This is achieved by passing a structured grid to INTERSECT using an EGRID file. The main advantage of
this development is the transferring of transmissibility and pore volumes calculations to INTERSECT during
model initialization. This significantly speeds up the calculation by using the simulator parallel processing, and also
generates more consistent results with simulation cases using the Field Management (FM) component.
The use of EGRID files implies that grids with curved or listric pillars will be straightened. Therefore for cases with
significant amount of non-straight pillars, it is recommend switching from Development Strategies to Field
Management to take advantage of the FM Direct Export workflow, which is designed to handle complex structures.
Grid coarsening, Mangrove cases, unstructured grids, and cases containing truncated or piecewise linear
pillars are not supported by this development, therefore PV&T are calculated by Petrel.
Note 1: For INTERSECT cases where T&PV calculations are still exported by Petrel, the display of cell transmissibility
must be done only through the Ti property generated by Petrel (transmissibility values imported back into Petrel from
simulation results will significantly differ from Ti, as they are reworked during the export process becoming only
relevant for INTERSECT).

Note 2: Please contact your local support staff for cases presenting non negligible differences in initial volumes if
Development Strategies are not easily migrated to Field Management.
Thermal export enhancements

A significant number of issues were identified and fixed in the export of INTERSECT thermal models. Most of these
fixes have also been implemented in Petrel 2015.4.
Support for initial composition ZMF arrays

For INTERSECT cases using initialization by enumeration, Petrel 2016.1 supports ZMF arrays in addition to the
previously supported XMF and YMF.
Reverse engineering of WELSPECS/ WELSPECL

In pre-2016 Petrel versions, only WELSPECS parameters 1 to 4 were reverse engineered when using convert to
Petrel case, getting default values for parameters 5 to 17. If non-default values were required, Development
Strategy rules had to be manually entered in Petrel or hand-editing of the generated ECLIPSE files was needed. This
can be time-consuming and error-prone, especially for projects with a large number of wells.
In 2016.1, most of the WELSPECS and WELSPECL parameters are reverse-engineered.
The Reference depth for bottom hole pressure (Item #5) is reverse-engineered into a well completion “gauge”
indicating the required depth.

Figure 49: Correspondence between WELSPECS or WELSPECL parameters and Development strategy rules
WELSPECS Description Development Rule Comments

(WELSPECL) strategy rule parameter
parameter # Name
6 (7) Preferred phase for the well Well preferred phase Phase
7 (8) Drainage radius for Well model options Drainage radius
productivity/injectivity index for PI
calculation. calculation
8 (9) Flag for use of a special inflow Well model options Inflow equation
equation to model the flow of gas
between the completed grid blocks
and the well completions
9 (10) Instructions for automatic shut-in Well model options Automatic shut
in
10 (11) Crossflow ability flag Well model options Cross flow
allowed
11 (12) Pressure table number for wellbore NOT reverse-engineered If a value other than 0 is
fluid properties entered, user is warned (see
below)

12 (13) Type of density calculation for the Well model options Hydrostatic
wellbore hydrostatic head head
calculation
13 (14) Fluids-in-place region number Well model options Reservoir 0 (or default) is left blank,
volume which maps to “Field
conditions average”. Negative values
region map to “Well lowest
connection”. Positive values
are not supported and the
user is warned.
14, 15 Reserved for use by FRONTSIM. NOT reverse-engineered Not used
(15, 16)
16 (17) Type of well model Well model options Injection well
model
17 (18) Polymer mixing table number NOT reverse-engineered If a value other than 0 is
entered, user is warned (see
below)
Setting the BHP reference depth

Item 5 of WELSPECS (Reference depth for bottom hole pressure or BHP reference depth) is reverse-engineered into a
Gauge positioned in the annular space of the well at the required date and measured depth. The gauge has a special
status flag set to indicate it is a BHP reference depth gauge (or “BHP gauge”). When the case is exported, if a BHP
gauge is found in the flowing path, its TVDSS value is written into the exported deck.

Figure 50: BHP gauge – inserting a BHP gauge interactively

Support for INTERSECT thermal dead oil cases
Export of INTERSECT thermal dead oil cases, import and loading of results, as well as result visualization is now
supported in Petrel 2016.1.
WSEGAICD support for ECLIPSE Black-oil and Compositional

ECLIPSE 2016.1 enables the use of exponents for the flowing fractions of oil, water and gas used in the
calculation of the density and viscosity of the fluid mixture in a multi-segmented well. This development is supported
in Petrel by adding entries for these exponents in the Completion manager for AICD equipment.
Figure 51: Completion manager showing exponents entries for oil, water and gas flowing fractions

LAB unit system
Petrel now supports the export of simulation decks in the LAB unit system in addition to METRIC and FIELD. There
is an extra item “ECLIPSE-Lab” for Simulation units on the Coordinates and units tab of Project settings. ECLIPSE-
Lab can also be selected in Reservoir engineering unit settings, Results Charting and when exporting an ECLIPSE
network simulation.
Support for LAB units was implemented in ECLIPSE and INTERSECT 2016.1.
Figure 52: Default reservoir engineering unit system set to lab units

Hybrid initialization for INTERSECT cases
Pre-2016.1 versions of Petrel supported the Hybrid initialization option through the Make fluid model process only
for ECLIPSE thermal cases. In 2016.1 the support for hybrid initialization has been extended to INTERSECT
thermal, meaning that the initial condition of the case can be defined by initializing pressure by equilibrium, fluid
saturation by enumeration while the component mole fractions are adjusted by the simulator to match the saturation
input.

Figure 53: Make fluid model process- mixed hydrostatic initialization

End Point Scaling with surfactants
In Petrel 2016.1, the function tab of Define Simulation Case now supports high salinity water-wet saturation
functions and relative permeability at adsorb state.
In addition, the new set of ECLIPSE keywords SSWL, SSWCR, SSWU, SSGL, SSOWCR, SKRO, SKRORW, SKRW
and SKRWR for scaling miscible saturation functions are also supported.
Figure 54: Function tab on define simulation case – high salinity relative permeability

Workflow editor support for Results Charting and Analysis
Simulation summary plotting worksteps have been added to support summary plots for Results Charting and
Analysis (RCA).
The key worksteps are:

1. Create a new study
2. Create a new chart
3. Set chart styles such as split mode, series style
4. Select Sources, identifiers (Primary and secondary), properties
5. Ability to create and display on a charting window
6. Ability to clear chart
7. Export to excel
8. Export to graphic support now extended for Summary plots
These worksteps enable RCA-based results analysis using the Workflow editor.

Figure 55: Workflow editor – RCA worksteps examples
Guru Quality Reporting

The Workflow editor support for Results Charting and Analysis (RCA) enabled the replacement of the
Function Window by RCA for quality reports. This leverages the Guru Quality Reporting in Petrel 2016.1 by generating
richer and more professional-looking reports.

Initial conditions sets extended support
In 2016.1, the Initial Conditions dialog box was extended to support new model types:
• Dual Porosity Dual Permeability simulation case
• FRONTSIM simulation case
The usability of the dialog was also improved by enabling opening by right-clicking from the Models pane.
Figure 56: Initial conditions sets supported by FRONTSIM and Dual porosity cases

Note: The processes to create an initial condition set currently supports black oil cases, including black oil cases in
ECLIPSE 300 mode. The initial condition set is not supported in the Workflow editor or Uncertainty &
optimization process.
Extensions of Reservoir engineering unit settings

In the 2015 release, Petrel introduced the Reservoir engineering unit settings dialog box to define flexible units for
some dialogs and spreadsheets. This allowed data to be inputted in arbitrary units, without affecting the project unit
system or any data stored in Petrel. In Petrel 2016.1, support was extended to the following dialogs and spreadsheets:
• Observed Data spreadsheet (right click)
• Make aquifer dialog box
• Separator modeling dialog box
• Grid tab on the Define Simulation Case dialog box
• Thermal boundary condition dialog box

Figure 57: Reservoir engineering unit settings supported by new dialogs

Redesign of Completion manager, Variable spreadsheet,
Observed Data spreadsheet, and Summary calculator
Improved usability and performance, new look and feel
The Completion Manager, Variable Spreadsheet, Observed Data spreadsheet and Summary Calculator
dialogs are redesigned using the latest Windows user interface technology to improve usability and performance.
Besides the new look and feel, specific improvements for Completion Manager include: flexible column selection,
multiple column filters, searchable column/filter selection, project data filtering, completion attributes precision link
to Petrel templates, improved validation messages, toolbar actions on multiple rows, instant refresh for completion
and equipment changes, and performance enhancement.
The improvements for Variables spreadsheet include: Column filters, read-only user columns, and opening time
speed-up.
The Observed Data spreadsheet now includes: display of field and well data, data entry validation, and support for
reservoir engineering unit settings.

Minor usability improvements were also made to the Summary Calculator.
Figure 58: Observed Data spreadsheet

Figure 59: Completion manager dialog box

Reservoir Engineering: Wells
2016.1
Changes to how Petrel Manages PI multiplier well test
To enhance consistency between simulators and ensure multipliers are applied correctly in all situations Petrel now
accumulates the effect of PI Multipliers internally rather than relying on the simulators to do so. As a result,
now the COMPDAT keyword is ‘unscaled by previous PI multipliers’ every time the WPIMULT keyword is exported,
and accumulate any previous multipliers onto the WPIMULT keyword value. Re-perforating an existing perforation
has the effect of removing any previously existing PI Multipliers.
Reservoir Engineering: Uncertainty and

Optimization

2016.1
U&O Data Center
U&O data center provides access to all U&O-related information for simulation cases. You can get access to the
partial mismatches (objective function values for specific well, simulation property and date), quickly find cases using
flexible system of filters, save cases selection for later use and launch all U&O analysis tools directly from one place.

Figure 60: U&O Data Center

Exploration Geology
Exploration Geology: Petroleum Systems 3D
2016.1
Simulation Preview
Review a 3D petroleum systems model before simulation
When building a 3D petroleum systems model, it is essential to review and quality check the geometries and
properties prior to a simulation run.

The 3D petroleum systems models are now located on the Models pane. Click a model and activate the Geotime
player to view a certain event. The model geometry will be modified so the model shows the geometries and
properties at the selected time. This will include effects like erosion and a proper visualization of the effect of
changing paleo water depths.
3D Erosion
Include the effect of erosion in 3D petroleum systems models
Include erosion and hiatus events in the 3D petroleum systems model.
Define erosion and/or hiatus events in the chronostratigraphy. Assign the chronostratigraphy to a 3D model, then
define the amount of erosion and the facies and property distribution in the eroded parts.
The eroded part of a zone is defined by the difference between the present day thickness and the originally deposited
thickness. It is possible to use the new simulation preview to go back in geologic time to the event before an erosion
occurred. You can now re-construct the geometry at that time and assign the resulting maps to the Facies and horizon
assignment table in the Make 3D model process.
Figure 61: New Facies and horizon assignment table in the 3D model process

Petroleum Systems 3D Output
Analyze petroleum systems faults
Analyze the effect of faults in a 3D simulation by visualizing the simulated fault geometry and fault properties. The
faults are part of the output model on the Results pane and include the simulated geometry and PetroMod fault
properties.
Figure 62: PetroMod simulated fault

Exploration Geology: Kinetics
2016.1
Petroleum systems kinetics and kinetics editor
Access the full default set of petroleum systems source rock kinetics and hydrocarbon components and modify or
setup user-defined kinetics in the kinetics editor.
PetroMod provides a set of hydrocarbon components, kinetics, and reactions to describe the generation of
hydrocarbons from source rocks. Define the source rock properties completely in Petrel using the existing total
organic carbon, hydrogen index properties from a simple grid in 3D or well log data in 1D, and the new kinetics
definitions.
The kinetics are located on the Templates pane. Access the editor via the settings of an existing kinetics or from the
ribbon. On the Settings pages different kinetics can be compared to assess different source rock maturation
properties.
In addition to the standard PetroMod kinetics, you can check out the licenses for 14-component phase kinetics and
SARA kinetics in the Petrel license catalog. These additional licenses are required to use the special kinetics in Petrel
petroleum systems 1D and the kinetics editor, and they are part of the PetroMod Advanced Geochemistry Add-On.

Figure 63: The new Petrel petroleum systems source rock kinetics data

Exploration Geology: Time trends and facies
2016.1
Time trend plots
New time trend plots help to define boundary conditions in the Make time trends dialog.
The time trends are visualized and interactively connected to the time trend definition table. Changes to the plotted
curve are directly reflected in the table and vice versa.
Compare different trends or align special events correlated with each other via drag-and-drop into the active plot, for
example the changing heat flow at the time of an active rifting event with increasing water depth.
Interactively compare the values of the plotted curves using the new multi-value pointer.

Figure 64: New time trend plots and multi-value pointer

Advanced facies tools
Define intrusion, facies piercing, cementation, and fracturing for petroleum systems
models
A new tab in the Facies definition table of petroleum systems provides four new tables to define additional facies-
related boundary conditions for a 1D or 3D petroleum systems model:
• Intrusion table: Define the time and properties of a magmatic intrusion in the petroleum systems model.
• Cementation table: Define the effects of cementation on a lithology triggered by specific temperature, depth, and
age thresholds.
• Fracturing table: Define changes in permeabilities of a lithology defined in the petroleum systems model.
• Facies piercing: Define a time in the history of a model when a certain lithology was replaced by a different one.
This could happen when salt bodies move through a model or mud diapirs intrude into the overburden.

Figure 65: Facies definition: New additional facies tools

Exploration Geology: 1D workflow editor support
2016.1
1D model workflow editor support
Set up the 1D model process as a workstep in a Petrel workflow.
It is possible to build 1D models from multiple wells using facies, TOC, and HI logs to define the geometry and
properties of a 1D petroleum systems model.
1D simulation workflow editor support

Create simulation worksteps from multiple 1D models in a Petrel workflow. It is possible to run simulations of
multiple models or build scenarios with changing boundary conditions for one or multiple wells in one single
workflow.

Figure 66: 1D petroleum systems worksteps

Exploration Geology: Petroleum systems
2016.1
Petroleum system-related units
A full set of new petroleum systems related units are introduced to Petrel.
Exploration Geology: Petroleum systems quick

look
2016.1
PSQL workflow editor support
The new worksteps of Petroleum Systems Quick Look in the Petrel 2016 Workflow editor combine the old setup and
run worksteps into one single workstep for each process. All Petroleum Systems Quick Look processes are now
executed when the workflow is run.

Exploration Geology: Play and Prospect
Assessment
2016.2
Save (overwrite) into GeoX database
When saving assessment updates made in Petrel with the PPA tool, you now have the option to overwrite the
existing analysis into the GeoX database. Previously, you could only “Save as”, which created a significant amount of
unnecessary information within the database.
Figure 67: Save as and Save (overwrite) options are now available
Highlight of geopolygons through processes

This functionality provides the identification of geopolygon units in the 2D/3D window directly from the processes.
Highlight an assessment unit row inside the Make assessment units process dialog for easy identification of that
geopolygon and further analysis.

Figure 68: Identification of geopolygon units through the processes. Highlight the row(s) that
you want to identify in your map

2016.1
Conventional prospect assessment workflow
In 2016.1, Play and Prospect Assessment introduces a key workflow to previous versions: conventional prospect
assessment. The segment analysis capability implemented replicates the non-depth dependent GeoX volume
methods. The GeoX tools (risk models) are integrated through the common GeoX database.
This workflow differs from the unconventional assessments in the way of how part-plays and assessment units are
generated. The main differences are in Make assessment units. Stacking for conventional assessments is done in
two steps:
1. Stacking of risk play elements to create part-plays with shared play risks;
2. Overlay of a geopolygon set that represents identified prospects. After the assessment units are created, the
conditional risks are defined for each risk element.
Assessment units are always in a part-play, so they cannot span part-plays. Issues handling methods (centroid or split
segments) are available to resolve any occurring problem.

Figure 69: Creation of assessment units for conventional prospect assessment

Renaming part-plays and assessment units
You can choose different prefixes for the part-plays and the assessment units IDs prior to stacking. You can also
specify individual names for different part-plays and assessment units after stacking.
Note: If you restack your risk elements due to changes in the geometry or attributes, you will lose the names you set
for the part-plays and assessment units in individual cells.
Figure 70: Renaming part-plays and assessment units in the Make assessment units process.

Drilling
Drilling: General
2016.1
Trajectory planning license
In previous releases, there were the following Petrel module licenses: Well path design, Relief well simulation, and
Well positioning. Now, the Trajectory planning bundle license has been created and it replaces Well path design,
Well positioning, Relief well simulation, and Predict mud weight module licenses. You can see the Trajectory
planning module license in the Combined core, Geophysics core, Geoscience core, and Reservoir engineering core;
while Trajectory planning is included (but not seen) in the Shale core.
Drilling: Well Positioning
2016.1
User-defined EOU confidence level
In previous releases, the EOU confidence level was predefined as 95%. The fixed parameter restricted the well
uncertainty assessment in the different conditions. You can now change the EOU confidence level from 0 to 100% for
your project; all the EOU of the wells in the project will follow the user-defined parameter.

Production
Production: Bubble Mapping
2016.1
Snap well bubble map to well top, surface or any depth
You can draw the well production bubbles to a specified location, such as well head, TVDSS, TVD, MD, well top or
surface. The feature assists reservoir performance analysis by visualizing the spatial distribution of the top producers,
sub-performance producers, and injection activities.
Figure 71: Bubble map snapped to a geology surface at a specified time step, presented together

with depositional facies log and permeability log
Enable saved search selection for filtering interested wells

You can utilize saved searches to filter the wells of interest for bubble mapping. These saved searches in the Input
pane can be created based on well ID, well attributes (such as vintage), log data, well tops and boundaries, etc.
Figure 72: Utilization of predefined saved search to filter the wells

Production: Production interpretation
2016.1
Normalize production data
You can normalize production data to remove influence of production parameters. The production parameters that can
be normalized on are production interval (perforation length or lateral length) and/or number of fractures.
Normalization can be done on well and completion production data. You will get alerts on the wells that were not
normalized. The normalized dataset can be plotted in the Charting window and compared with production from any
wells.
Figure 73: Normalization of production data by lateral length

Figure 74: Visualization of normalized production data by lateral length in Charting window

Production: Type wells
Each well may have a different production trend owing to flow-back, operation constraints including shut downs,
completion parameters like number of fractures, perforation length. To get a meaningful trend from all the production
either on a pad level, reservoir level, or a full asset level, would be very useful. This can then serve as input, for
characterizing the field with a single pseudo-well or for predicting production of a new well that may be drilled,
based on existing wells’ production.
Type wells are used to get a statistical overview of the field production from the all the wells’ production history. The
four statistical type wells are P10, P50, P90 and Average type well.
Type wells can be created on well, completion, and normalized production data. The groups of wells can be easily
selected based on saved search, polygons and vintage (start year of production). You have options to calculate type
wells considering flowing time, minimum number of wells and time since maximum production to remove the effect
of flow back. You can compare type wells with production from any well, as you are creating the type wells. Decline
curves can be used to forecast production from type wells.
Figure 75: Filtering of groups of wells to create type wells

Figure 76: Generation of type wells
Figure 77: Decline curve analysis on type wells

Studio
Studio: Studio Client Petrel
2016.2
Select and Show in Project Data Table
In a Petrel 2016.2 project, when right clicking on a data item from the input pane, it is now possible to choose Select
and show in Project Data Table. Using this option will open the Project data table with that item, and any
children, automatically filtered to display, and turned on for selection. It is then possible to send or retrieve updates
for this selected data in a single click from the Project data table.
Figure 78: Option highlighted in Right Click Menu
2016.1
Transfer of Well Tops from the Project data table
Well Tops can now be sent and retrieved from the Project data table using the Select well data option to select
the well tops that belong to the selected wells or to all the wells available in the project. Using this dialog, it is
possible to transfer well tops that belong to a specific well and/or a specific Stratigraphic Horizon.

Figure 79: Select well data selection dialog in the project data table

Sychronized Studio Manager to Petrel CRS Mappings
When a Petrel user connects to a Studio* repository, the CRS Mappings table created in Studio Manager will be
synchronized in Petrel, merged with the approved CRS replacements already available in Petrel, and applied when
performing CRS consolidation in Petrel.

Performance
Well Tops Synchronization
In the scenario where the Well Tops are very frequently synchronized and thus, only a few changes need to be
applied, the synchronization workflow will be approximately two times faster.
Display of Project data table

Performance improvements were made that allow the Project data table to open and load up to four times faster than
in previous versions, allowing the new Project data table workflows to be completed in a more efficient manner.

Shale
Shale: Geosteering
2016.1
Target Lines
Target line display
The default behavior now is to show a dashed line to illustrate the target line.
Target line saving

While clicking on a target positon, you can hold down the Ctrl key and this will save a polygon in the Input pane
under the folder named after the curtain section. These lines can be displayed back in the curtain section.
Target line relative to inclination

You can now input the inclination you wish to calculate the target line, i.e., inclination can be the formation
inclination. Instead of the target using the bit inclination, it will use the inputted inclination.
Project target line

It is now possible to extend the target line beyond the position you select. This is just graphical and the calculation is
done at the position you select, not at the end of the projection.
Show full target line

It is now possible to display the full target line back to 0 vertical section
Display of surfaces and polygons

Display of surfaces
You can now turn on surfaces from the Input pane. This will display the intersection of the surface as a dotted line in
the color of the object. This is very useful in comparing the geosteering changes to the original surface, which were
used for the creation of the model.
Display of polygons
You can now display open polygons from the Input pane. This will display a dotted line in the color of the object. This
can be useful for hard-lines or faults

Readouts
Position of bit readouts
It is now possible to obtain a readout from the position of the bit in relation to:
• The zone in which the bit is drilling – the top and base of this zone
• All surfaces that are displayed
To turn on these readouts, click the Bit icon.

Figure 80: Readouts to bit – the readouts here are in relation to the pink zone and the blue dotted surface

Distance from Plan
In previous versions, there was an option to provide a warning if the real-time well deviated from a distance. This has
now been updated to provide a real-time readout of the perpendicular distance between the planned and real-time
well. This readout can be found in the lower left section.
Reference project tool (RPT)

Transferring by using the RPT
Now, when transferring a curtain section using the RPT, all associated data will be transferred with it. This ensures
that the curtain section is fully functional in the new project. This functionality will only take place after the project is
upgraded to a 2016 project.

Infrastructure
Infrastructure: User Experience
2016.1
Recent projects pane
The Projects pane contains a list of recently accessed projects and is shown automatically when you open Petrel with
no project pre-selected. To open a project, simply click it.
Right-click the project in the list to find other actions, such as:
• Pin to list - Ensures the project stays in the list. It will appear at the top of the pane above a separator line.

Pinning and unpinning is also afforded by a button next to the project entry.
• Set as favorite - Opens the selected project automatically when starting Petrel. To unset the project as favorite,
open the Projects pane from the Panes menu in the Ribbon.
• Open project without windows - If a project takes a long time to open, this option closes the windows in the
project to save time. The windows can be opened from the Windows pane once the project is open.
• Open project in reference tool - Once you have created or opened a project, if you want to bring in some data
from a project, you can use this option to open it in the Reference project tool.
Clone window
Clone window is a new tool in the Home tab. It creates an identical copy of the active window to speed up the
creation of window layouts.
Paint appearance
Supported objects now feature tools to Copy their appearance and Paint it to another, or to a view of the object in
another window:
1. Right-click the object you want to copy in the explorer pane or window and click Copy appearance.
2. Right-click the object you want to update. This must be another object of the same type (for example, a surface),
but can be in a different window of the same type. Go to Paint and choose one of the following options:
o Click Paint to update all the display properties of the object. This includes the color table settings and other
properties that are important for the object you want to update.
o Click Paint style to update only the contents of the Style tab.
o Click Paint color table to update only the color table settings.

Infrastructure: Licensing
2016.1
Select license at runtime
Select license at runtime
Check out functional Stack on Start (SOS) license modules while Petrel is running directly from the feature icon in the
Petrel ribbon interface. This enables easy access to additional functionality without prior knowledge about the
specific module required to enable the selected functionality.
Icons in the Petrel ribbon that are greyed out and show a lock overlay indicate that a license is required to enable
them. For example, the little lock in the lower right corner indicates that a license is required to enable the selected
feature.

There are two options to check out licenses at runtime.
From the Petrel ribbon icon
Right-click the icon in the Petrel ribbon and select Get license
This will launch the License selection dialog box and highlight and select the license module required to enable the
feature. If the feature is enabled by multiple license modules, then, all valid license modules are highlighted and you
have to select the appropriate license module.
Click OK in the License selection dialog box. The icon in the ribbon changes from gray (to indicate that the process
is not available) to a colored icon (to indicate that the process is available) and the lock is removed.

If you need to know which license module enables a specific icon in the ribbon, right-click the ribbon icon and select
Get license info.
This will launch the License selection dialog box and highlight the license module that enables the feature.

Guru
2016.1
Guru
Guru offers training, workflows, reference guides, and quality reporting on all aspects of Petrel usage.
Access to key Guru workflows and training from the Domain

tabs
New to Petrel 2016.1, is the addition of a dedicated Guru drop-down option for each Domain tab. From here, you can
access key workflows and training relevant to a particular Domain tab.

In addition, you can quickly access all pages relating to a particular Group in that Domain tab.

Guru Quality reporting
The Quality reporting tools allow you to carry out quality assurance, tracking, guidance, auditing, and reporting at all
steps of the Petrel workflow.
Guru Quality reporting provides a testing and reporting framework. You can import a library of tests or create your
own custom tests. Tests can be applied to all aspects of Petrel, to any data object type in any part of the Petrel
workflow and be written in any language.

Accessing Guru Quality reporting
From the ‘Quick access toolbar’.
From the Quality Control domain tab in the Data Management user perspective.

Guru Quality reporting 2016: Increased test template
coverage
New to Petrel 2016.1, are additional test templates designed to carry out quality assurance, tracking, auditing, and
reporting on key data objects and interpretations across the full Petrel workflow.
The new test templates include data validation checks for migration from Petrel into Studio, image rich quality checks
of seismic, seismic horizon, 3D grids, structural frameworks, volumetric cases, and general image capture tests on
any suite of properties on any type of data object.
Workstep developments have enabled further quality assurance and quality confidence workflows.

These test templates are available to import into any Petrel project. Select Import templates from the ‘Quick
access toolbar’.
A series of new worksteps have been made to enable the development of these workflows. Worksteps can be found
in the Workflow Editor > Processes tab > Quality reporting.
3D pillar grid test templates

Enhancements to the comprehensive suite of test templates for 3D grids, including 3D grid-well penetration QC and
grid property bulls-eye analysis.
• Grid-well penetration QC will critically examine the interactions between wells and the provided 3D grid,
showing the distribution of wells that intersect the 3D grid, which zone and faults they intersect.

• Grid property bulls-eye test template analyzes if a 3D grid property has localized distortions associated with
wells. The test shows the clustering of local minima and maxima values of the 3D grid property relative to the
wells penetrating the supplied grid.

Volumetric case test templates
For a provided volumetric case, the volumetric case QC test template will perform an examination of the volumetric
case results, including bulk volume, net volume, pore volume and hydrocarbon volume shown per zone on the
overlying grid horizon as well as reporting key statistics.

Studio test templates
Four test templates designed to critically evaluate and assess the key attributes of wells and seismic data that are
stored within the Petrel project before being transferred to Studio 2016.
• Well headers, paths and logs within a Petrel project are accessed to see if they conform to a set of editable
standards and criteria, resulting in a summary report illustrating their status.
• Seismic data location test template will perform a simple check to see if seismic is being stored internally
within the Petrel project.

Structural framework test templates
A new suite of test templates that will assess the quality of structural and fault frameworks. Examining input
interpretation horizons and faults as well as characterizing their modelled geometries.

Sequential capture test templates
Two sequential image capture test templates were also introduced to 2015.5 – capture seismic sections and
basemaps and capture multiple properties from any data object type (for example, seismic attributes, grid properties,
fault properties).
• Capture seismic section test template will step through a seismic cube in either inline or crossline
orientations at a prescribed step increment in a pre-configured Intersection or Interpretation window, capturing
high resolution images which can either be output to disk or included in a summary report.

• Capture multiple properties test template will capture images of a pre-configured window, sequentially
turning on properties, functions or attributes from a supplied folder. Images can either be output to disk or
included in a summary report.
Guru Quality reporting 2016: Enhancements to usability

Several significant enhancements have been made to the core functional of Guru Quality Reporting in 2016 enabling
quality to quickly and efficiently be assessed within a Petrel workflows:
• Addition of an import test templates tool – allowing users the option to import test templates from either the

ready-made test templates within the Quality Reporting reference project, or test templates from a specific
project.
• Test and report manager filtering and sorting. Filtering and sorting has been added to many of the columns
within the test and report manager, allowing quick and efficient navigation tests and reports of interest to them.
• Reporting enhancements.
o Links to data objects. Direct links from a report to the Petrel panes allowing you to efficiently find data
objects from which their reports have been generated.

o Reference list support – enabling summary tables of statistics and results be included in reports.

o Export reports via email and saving to disk with.pdf format.
o Option to overwrite reports.
• Playlists. Available within the Test & report manager, playlists allow multiple tests to be run at once,
enabling a quick and efficient visibility of quality across an entire workflow.


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Data weighted blending

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