Artificial neural networks as a tool for pattern recognition and electrofacies analysis in Polish palaeozoic shale gas formations

Abstract

Abstract Unconventional oil and gas reservoirs from the lower Palaeozoic basin at the western slope of the East European Craton were taken into account in this study. The aim was to supply and improve standard well logs interpretation based on machine learning methods, especially ANNs. ANNs were used on standard well logging data, e.g. P-wave velocity, density, resistivity, neutron porosity, radioactivity and photoelectric factor. During the calculations, information about lithology or stratigraphy was not taken into account. We apply different methods of classification: cluster analysis, support vector machine and artificial neural network—Kohonen algorithm. We compare the results and analyse obtained electrofacies. Machine learning method–support vector machine SVM was used for classification. For the same data set, SVM algorithm application results were compared to the results of the Kohonen algorithm. The results were very similar. We obtained very good agreement of results. Kohonen algorithm (ANN) was used for pattern recognition and identification of electrofacies. Kohonen algorithm was also used for geological interpretation of well logs data. As a result of Kohonen algorithm application, groups corresponding to the gas-bearing intervals were found. Analysis showed diversification between gas-bearing formations and surrounding beds. It is also shown that internal diversification in gas-saturated beds is present. It is concluded that ANN appeared to be a useful and quick tool for preliminary classification of members and gas-saturated identification.