Machine learning-based estimation and clustering of statistics within stratigraphic models as exemplified in Denmark

Estimating a covariance model for kriging purposes is traditionally done using semivariogram analyses, where an empirical semivariogram is calculated, and a chosen semivariogram model, usually defined by a sill and a range, is fitted. We demonstrate that a convolutional neural network can estimate such a semivariogram model with comparable accuracy and precision by training it to recognise the relationship between realisations of Gaussian random fields and the sill and range values that define it, for a Gaussian type semivariance model. We do this by training the network with synthetic data consisting of many such realisations with the sill and range as the target variables. Because training takes time, the method is best suited for cases where many models need to be estimated since the actual estimation itself is about 70 times faster with the neural network than with the traditional approach. We demonstrate the viability of the method in three ways: (1) we test the model’s performance on the validation data, (2) we do a test where we compare the model to the traditional approach and (3) we show an example of an actual application of the method using the Danish national hydrostratigraphic model.