Defining depositional environment by using neural network

Abstract

Traditional techniques to identify a depositional body from core data are costly and sometimes difficult to extrapolate to uncored wells. The application of Kohonen’s Self Organized Map (SOM) approach may be useful for the interpretation of a depositional rock body through well-log data. SOM is based on a clustering algorithm and this method can be used to discover spatial patterns occurring as clusters in unstructured data sets. An example of the application of SOM is presented whereby clusters through SOM can indicate the contours of well-known depositional patterns such as sub-environments.

Keywords

• clustering method, depositional environment, neural network, pattern recognition