received by the International Bureau on 08 May 2014 (08.05.2014)

What is claimed is:

1. A population comparison system comprising:

a population storage storing a list of population members and parameters for corresponding known characteristics for each population member;

a new population member input receiving new population member

descriptions including parameters for each respective new population member;

a parameter extraction system automatically extracting an estimated value for missing parameter values, a supplemented description being provided by inclusion of estimated said values in each new population member description; and

an analogous member selector automatically selecting a subset of listed population members as analogous members for each new population member

responsive to said supplemented description.

2. A population comparison system as in claim 1, wherein a plurality of

parameters are identified as key parameters (KPs), said parameter extraction system identifies a plurality of KPs as controlling KPs (CKPs), and one or more said at least one missing member parameters is a CKP.

3. A population comparison system as in claim 2, wherein said parameter extraction system automatically estimates values for missing CKP values, the

estimated values supplementing said new population member description, missing values for parameters not identified as CKPs remaining unknown.

4. A population comparison system as in claim 3, wherein said parameter extraction system automatically determines an uncertainty for each estimated value, and said analogous member selector automatically provides a cumulative uncertainty for said each listed member responsive to determined uncertainties for estimated values.

5. A population comparison system as in claim 3, said parameter extraction system further automatically estimating remaining unknown values responsive to said selected subset.

6. A population comparison system as in claim 1, wherein said parameter extraction system comprises:

a data refinement unit refining listed member data; and

a controlling feature unit identifying controlling key parameters (CKPs) and projecting said missing characteristics responsive to refined said listed member data.

7. A population comparison system as in claim 6, said data refinement unit comprising:

means for pre-processing said raw member data, said raw member data including an entry for said each listed member, each said entry including

corresponding said parameters;

means for eliminating outlier members;

means for transforming, normalizing and standardizing listed member characteristics parameters; and

means for storing said list of population members in said population storage.

8. A population comparison system as in claim 7, wherein said population comprises hydrocarbon reservoirs, population members being known hydrocarbon reservoirs, and said new population member being a new hydrocarbon reservoir, and wherein said parameter extraction system further comprises training means comprising:

means for selecting a member as a target, one or more other members being previously identified as analogous members for said target;

means for receiving selection of member key parameters (KPs) as a CKPs; means for receiving weights for weighting said KPs in a similarity function to compare said target to other members, the weights and similarity function being adjusted to select said previously identified analogous members; and means for storing said weights and similarity function, said parameter extraction system applying said similarity function to said description and said weights to new member said parameters to estimate missing new member parameters.

9. A population comparison system comprising:

a population storage storing a list of population members and parameters for corresponding known characteristics for each population member;

a new population member input receiving new population member descriptions including parameters for each respective new population member;

a parameter extraction system automatically extracting an estimated value for missing parameter values, a supplemented description being provided by inclusion of estimated said values in each new population member description, said parameter extraction system comprises:

a data refinement unit refining listed member data, said data refinement unit comprising:

means for pre-processing said raw member data, said raw member data including an entry for said each listed member, each said entry including corresponding said parameters, wherein said means for pre-processing selectively replaces hierarchical parameters, chronological parameters and ranking parameters,

means for eliminating outlier members, means for transforming, normalizing and standardizing listed member characteristics parameters, and

means for storing said list of population members in said population storage, and

a controlling feature unit identifying controlling key parameters (CKPs) and projecting said missing characteristics responsive to refined said listed member data, said controlling feature unit comprising means for interactively identifying said CKPs in said stored list; and

an analogous member selector automatically selecting a subset of listed population members as analogous members for each new population member responsive to said supplemented description.

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10. A reservoir valuation system comprising:

a raw data storage storing a list of descriptions for all known reservoirs, each known reservoir description including parameters for corresponding known reservoir characteristics;

a data refinement unit refining said list;

a configured reservoir storage storing the refined list;

an expert interface receiving weights for a similarity function for estimating parameters for listed known reservoirs;

a weight storage storing said weights and said similarity function;

a new reservoir input receiving new reservoir descriptions including parameters for each respective new reservoir;

a parameter extraction system automatically weighting said similarity function and applying said weighted similarity function to said new reservoir descriptions, an estimated value for missing parameters being selectively extracted from application of said weighted similarity function, a supplemented description being provided by inclusion of estimates for missing parameters in each new reservoir description; and an analogous reservoir selector automatically selecting a subset of listed known reservoirs as analogous reservoirs for each new reservoir responsive to said supplemented description.

11. A reservoir valuation system as in claim 10, said data refinement unit comprising:

means for pre-processing said list;

means for eliminating listed outliers;

finalization means for transforming, normalizing and standardizing remaining listed known reservoir parameters; and

means for storing the finalized said list in said configured reservoir storage.

12. A reservoir valuation system comprising:

a raw data storage storing a list of descriptions for all known reservoirs, each known reservoir description including parameters for corresponding known reservoir characteristics;

32 a data refinement unit refining said list, said data refinement unit comprising: means for pre-processing said list, said means for pre-processing selectively replaces hierarchical parameters, chronological parameters and ranking parameters,

means for eliminating listed outliers,

finalization means for transforming, normalizing and standardizing remaining listed known reservoir parameters, and

means for storing the finalized said list in said configured reservoir storage;

a configured reservoir storage storing the refined list;

an expert interface receiving weights for a similarity function for estimating parameters for listed known reservoirs, said expert interface comprising:

means for selecting a listed known reservoir as a target, one or more other listed known reservoirs being previously identified as analogous reservoirs for said target,

means for receiving selection of key parameters (KPs) as a controlling (CKPs), and

means for receiving weights for weighting said KPs in a similarity function to compare said target to other listed known reservoirs, the weights and similarity function being adjusted to select said previously identified analogous reservoirs, said weights and similarity function being stored in said weight storage;

a weight storage storing said weights and said similarity function;

a new reservoir input receiving new reservoir descriptions including parameters for each respective new reservoir;

a parameter extraction system automatically weighting said similarity function and applying said weighted similarity function to said new reservoir descriptions, an estimated value for missing parameters being selectively extracted from application of said weighted similarity function, a supplemented description being provided by inclusion of estimates for missing parameters in each new reservoir description; and

33 an analogous reservoir selector automatically selecting a subset of listed known reservoirs as analogous reservoirs for each new reservoir responsive to said supplemented description.

13. A reservoir valuation system as in claim 12, wherein said parameter extraction system automatically estimates values for missing CKPs, estimated said values supplementing said new reservoir description, missing said values for KPs not identified as CKPs remaining unknown.

14. A reservoir valuation system as in claim 13, wherein said parameter extraction system automatically determines an uncertainty for each estimated value, and said analogous reservoir selector automatically provides a cumulative uncertainty for said each listed known reservoir responsive to determined uncertainties for estimated values.

15. A population comparison system as in claim 13, said parameter extraction system further automatically estimating remaining unknown KP values responsive to selecting said subset.

16. A computer program product for comparing members of a population, said computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code stored thereon, said computer readable program code comprising:

computer readable program code means for storing a list of population members and parameters for each population member;

computer readable program code means for receiving new population member descriptions including parameters for each respective new population member;

computer readable program code means for automatically extracting an estimated value for missing parameter values;

computer readable program code means for providing a supplemented description from each new population member description, each said supplemented description including estimates for missing parameters; and

34 computer readable program code means for automatically selecting for each new population member a subset of listed population members as analogous members responsive to said supplemented description.

17. A computer program product for comparing members of a population as in claim 16, wherein said computer readable program code means for automatically extracting comprises computer readable program code means for identifying a plurality of key parameters (KPs) as controlling KPs (CKPs), and one or more said at least one missing member characteristics parameters is an identified CKP.

18. A computer program product for comparing members of a population as in claim 17, wherein said computer readable program code means for automatically extracting comprises computer readable program code means for estimating values for missing said CKPs, estimated said values supplementing said new population member description, missing values for KPs not identified as a CKP remaining unknown.

19. A computer program product for comparing members of a population as in claim 18, wherein said computer readable program code means for automatically extracting comprises computer readable program code means for automatically determining an uncertainty for each estimated value, and said computer readable program code means for automatically selecting said subset comprises computer readable program code means for automatically providing a cumulative uncertainty for said each listed member responsive to determined uncertainties for estimated values, remaining unknown KPs being estimated responsive automatically selecting said subset.

20. A computer program product for comparing members of a population as in claim 19, wherein said computer readable program code means for automatically extracting comprises:

computer readable program code means for refining listed member data comprising:

35 computer readable program code means for pre-processing said raw member data, said raw member data including an entry for said each listed member, each said entry including corresponding said parameters,

computer readable program code means for eliminating outlier members,

computer readable program code means for transforming, normalizing and standardizing listed member characteristics parameters, and

computer readable program code means for storing said list of population members in said population storage; and

computer readable program code means for selectively projecting said missing CKPs responsive to refined said listed member data comprising:

computer readable program code means for selecting a member as a target, one or more other members being previously identified as analogous members for said target,

computer readable program code means for receiving selection of member KPs as said CKPs,

computer readable program code means for receiving weights for weighting said corresponding parameters in a similarity function to compare said target to other members, the weights and similarity function being adjusted to select said previously identified analogous members, and

computer readable program code means for storing said weights and similarity function, said parameter extraction system applying said similarity function to said description and said weights to new member said parameters to estimate missing new member CKPs.

21. A computer program product for valuating reservoirs, said computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code stored thereon, said computer readable program code comprising:

computer readable program code means for storing a list of descriptions for all known reservoirs, each known reservoir description including parameters for corresponding known reservoir characteristics;

computer readable program code means for refining said list;

36 computer readable program code means for storing the refined list;

computer readable program code means for receiving weights for a similarity function for estimating parameters for listed known reservoirs;

computer readable program code means for storing said weights and said similarity function;

computer readable program code means for receiving new reservoir descriptions including parameters for each respective new reservoir;

computer readable program code means for automatically weighting said similarity function and selectively applying said weighted similarity function to said new reservoir descriptions, an estimated value for selected missing parameters being automatically extracted responsive to application of said weighted similarity function; computer readable program code means for providing a supplemented description responsive to inclusion of estimates for missing parameters in each new reservoir description; and

computer readable program code means for automatically selecting a subset of listed known reservoirs as analogous reservoirs for each new reservoir responsive to said supplemented description.

22. A computer program product for valuating reservoirs as in claim 21, said computer readable program code means for refining said list comprising:

computer readable program code means for pre-processing said list;

computer readable program code means for eliminating listed outliers;

computer readable program code means for transforming, normalizing and standardizing remaining listed known reservoir parameters; and

computer readable program code means for storing the finalized said list in said configured reservoir storage.

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23. A computer program product for valuating reservoirs, said computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code stored thereon, said computer readable program code comprising:

computer readable program code means for storing a list of descriptions for all known reservoirs, each known reservoir description including parameters for corresponding known reservoir characteristics;

computer readable program code means for refining said list comprising: computer readable program code means for pre-processing said list, wherein pre-processing selectively replaces hierarchical parameters, chronological parameters and ranking parameters,

computer readable program code means for eliminating listed outliers, computer readable program code means for transforming, normalizing and standardizing remaining listed known reservoir parameters, and

computer readable program code means for storing the finalized said list in said configured reservoir storage;

computer readable program code means for storing the refined list;

computer readable program code means for receiving weights for a similarity function for estimating parameters for listed known reservoirs;

computer readable program code means for storing said weights and said similarity function;

computer readable program code means for receiving new reservoir descriptions including parameters for each respective new reservoir;

computer readable program code means for automatically weighting said similarity function and selectively applying said weighted similarity function to said new reservoir descriptions, an estimated value for selected missing parameters being automatically extracted responsive to application of said weighted similarity function, and said computer readable program code means for automatically weighting comprising:

computer readable program code means for selecting a listed known reservoir as a target, one or more other listed known reservoirs being previously identified as analogous reservoirs for said target,

38 computer readable program code means for receiving selection of key parameters (KPs) as a controlling KPs (CKPs), and

computer readable program code means for receiving weights for weighting said KPs in a similarity function to compare said target to other listed known reservoirs, the weights and similarity function being adjusted to select said previously identified analogous reservoirs, said weights and similarity function being stored in said weight storage;

computer readable program code means for providing a supplemented description responsive to inclusion of estimates for missing parameters in each new reservoir description; and

computer readable program code means for automatically selecting a subset of listed known reservoirs as analogous reservoirs for each new reservoir responsive to said supplemented description.

24. A computer program product for valuating reservoirs as in claim 23, wherein said computer readable program code means for automatically weighting

automatically estimates CKP values, missing values for KPs not identified as CKPs remaining unknown.

25. A computer program product for valuating reservoirs as in claim 24, wherein computer readable program code means for automatically weighting automatically determines an uncertainty for each estimated value, and computer readable program code means for automatically selecting a subset automatically provides a cumulative uncertainty for said each listed known reservoir responsive to determined

uncertainties for estimated values, remaining missing values being provided responsive to selecting said subset.

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