1. A method for analyzing a geophysical data volume obtained or derived from a geophysical survey of a subsurface region to determine physical structure of the subsurface region, comprising:
(a) dividing the data volume into a plurality N of initial segments, at least one segment being greater than one voxel in size;
(b) successively combining pairs of segments until the number of segments is reduced to a selected number M, where M<N; and
(c) analyzing some or all of either the M segments, or segments from an intermediate stage of combination, to interpret subsurface physical structure.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein M=1, and a combination record is kept showing remaining segments after each segment pair combination.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial segments are topologically consistent.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein segments throughout the combining are topologically consistent, meaning that combinations that would violate topological consistency are not performed.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein combining is performed by successive combination of a smallest segment with its smallest neighbor.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein segment size and neighborhoods are determined only once and recorded in tables that are updated after each stage of the successive combining.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein neighbor is restricted to lateral neighbor at one or more selected stages of combining, or neighbor is restricted to vertical neighbor at one or more selected stages of combining.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein combining pairs of segments comprises:
sequencing the initial segments by a selected sequence rule;
graphing sequential sequence number vs. segment size;
smoothing the graph a plurality of times and tracking segment number boundaries that survive and those that vanish at each smoothing stage; and
using order of vanishing of boundaries to determine order of combining corresponding pairs of segments.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein each segment pair that is combined are most similar neighbors, and similarity is based on value for each segment of a selected attribute of the geophysical data.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein each segment pair that is combined also contains the currently smallest segment.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein distance between two segments is used as a factor to favor or disfavor combination of the two segments.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein connectivity between two segments is used as a factor to favor or disfavor combination of the two segments.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein sequence of combination of segment pairs is based on concurrence, meaning extent of each pair’s common boundary.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein concurrence values are weighted by a selected weighting function.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two different methods for selecting pairs of segments to combine are used in reducing from N segments to M segments.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein a first method is used for combining pairs until a selected stage of combination is reached, then the segments defined at that stage of combination are used as masks to constrain a successive combining of the N initial segments using a second method for combining.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the M segments comprises highgrading, ranking, or prioritizing the M segments based on one or more measures selected from a group consisting of segment geometrical properties, direct hydrocarbon indicators or DHI’s, and other secondary data collocated with the M segments.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising using the one or more measures after a plurality of stages of combination to determine an optimum stage of combination for analysis.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein determining an optimum stage of combination for analysis comprises using said one or more measures to compute an entropy value for each of the plurality of stages, and then using the entropy values to determine an optimum stage of combination for analysis.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the M segments comprises analyzing small segments combined to form larger ones, and combining, correlating or contrasting results.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein in the combining pairs of segments, each segment can be combined only with one of a prescribed list of neighbors.
22. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is computer implemented, and at least the successively combining pairs of segments is performed using the computer.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein interpreting the subsurface physical structure comprises searching a segment display for indication of one or more geobodies that potentially represent hydrocarbon accumulations.
24. A method for producing hydrocarbons from a subsurface region, comprising:
(a) obtaining a geophysical data volume from a survey of the subsurface region;
(b) analyzing the geophysical data volume to determine physical structure of the subsurface region, using a method as described in claim 1, which is incorporated herein by reference; and
(c) drilling a well into the subsurface region based at least partly on the preceding analysis, and producing hydrocarbons from the well.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claims which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An optical-fiber cable, comprising:
one or more optical fibers;
an enclosing tape at least partially enclosing said one or more optical fibers;
a plurality of discrete deposits of adhesive material coupling said enclosing tape to at least one said optical fiber; and
a buffer tube substantially enclosing said one or more optical fibers, said enclosing tape, and said discrete deposits of adhesive material;
wherein said buffer tube has a buffer-tube adhesive filling coefficient of between about 0.001 and 0.05 measured over a buffer-tube length of 100 meters.
2. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein:
said one or more optical fibers comprise a ribbon stack; and
the optical-fiber cable has an optical-fiber pullout force of least about 0.1625 Nfiber in accordance with the Ribbon Pullout Test Procedure as set forth in the Verizon Technical Purchasing Requirements VZ.TPR.9430 (Issue 4, April 2010).
3. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein said enclosing tape is perforated.
4. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein said enclosing tape comprises a water-swellable tape.
5. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said discrete deposits of adhesive material couples said enclosing tape to said buffer tube.
6. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein said discrete deposits of adhesive material couple said enclosing tape to at least one said optical fiber without requiring frictional coupling.
7. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein said discrete deposits of adhesive material resist movement of said one or more optical fibers relative to said enclosing tape without requiring the application of an external compressive force upon said enclosing tape.
8. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein said discrete deposits of adhesive material comprise a two-part silicone.
9. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein:
said buffer tube defines free space therein; and
at a cross section of said buffer tube, at least one of said discrete deposits of adhesive material substantially fills the free space within said buffer tube.
10. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein said buffer tube has a buffer-tube adhesive filling coefficient of less than about 0.01 measured over a buffer-tube length of 100 meters.
11. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein said buffer tube has a buffer-tube adhesive filling coefficient of between about 0.0015 and 0.005 measured over a buffer-tube length of 100 meters.
12. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein said buffer tube has a buffer-tube adhesive filling coefficient of between about 0.002 and 0.003 measured over a buffer-tube length of 100 meters.
13. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein said buffer tube is substantially free of thixotropic filling greases.
14. An optical-fiber cable, comprising:
one or more optical fibers;
an enclosing tape at least partially enclosing said one or more optical fibers;
a plurality of discrete deposits of adhesive material coupling said enclosing tape to at least one said optical fiber; and
a cable jacket substantially enclosing said one or more optical fibers, said enclosing tape, and said discrete deposits of adhesive material;
wherein the optical-fiber cable has a cable adhesive filling coefficient of between about 0.0005 and 0.05 measured over a cable length of 100 meters.
15. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 14, wherein:
said one or more optical fibers comprise a ribbon stack; and
the optical-fiber cable has an optical-fiber pullout force of least about 0.1625 Nfiber in accordance with the Ribbon Pullout Test Procedure as set forth in the Verizon Technical Purchasing Requirements VZ.TPR.9430 (Issue 4, April 2010).
16. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 14, wherein said enclosing tape is perforated.
17. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 14, wherein said enclosing tape comprises a water-swellable tape.
18. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said discrete deposits of adhesive material couples said enclosing tape to said cable jacket.
19. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 14, wherein said discrete deposits of adhesive material couple said enclosing tape to at least one said optical fiber without requiring frictional coupling.
20. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 14, wherein said discrete deposits of adhesive material resist movement of said one or more optical fibers relative to said enclosing tape without requiring the application of an external compressive force upon said enclosing tape.
21. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 14, wherein said discrete deposits of adhesive material comprise a two-part silicone.
22. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 14, wherein the optical-fiber cable has a cable adhesive filling coefficient of less than about 0.005 measured over a cable length of 100 meters.
23. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 14, wherein the optical-fiber cable has a cable adhesive filling coefficient of between about 0.0015 and 0.0025 measured over a cable length of 100 meters.
24. An optical-fiber cable according to claim 14, comprising a buffer tube positioned within said cable jacket, said buffer tube substantially enclosing said one or more optical fibers, said enclosing tape, and said discrete deposits of adhesive material.
25. A method for manufacturing an optical-fiber cable, comprising
applying a substantially uncured adhesive to (i) one or more optical fibers andor (ii) an enclosing tape, the substantially uncured adhesive having a viscosity at application of between about 500 centipoise and 5000 centipoise;
at least partially enclosing the optical fibers with the enclosing tape; and
curing the substantially uncured adhesive.
26. A method according to claim 25, comprising
extruding a molten polymeric tube around the optical fibers and the enclosing tape; and
cooling the molten polymeric tube to form a buffer tube or cable jacket;
wherein the substantially uncured adhesive does not finish curing until the molten polymeric tube solidifies.
27. A method according to claim 25, comprising seeping at least a portion of the substantially uncured adhesive entirely through the enclosing tape after the substantially uncured adhesive has been applied and before the substantially uncured adhesive finishes curing.
28. A method according to claim 25, wherein the viscosity at application of the substantially uncured adhesive is between about 1000 centipoise and 4000 centipoise.
29. A method according to claim 25, wherein the viscosity at application of the substantially uncured adhesive is between about 2000 centipoise and 3000 centipoise.