TecMod

TecMod is the solution for automated thermotectonostratigraphic basin reconstructions. TecMod accounts for a large number of geological processes and predicts a basin’s entire formation history including heat flow in time and space, the timing of hydrocarbon generation, and the complete sedimentation history.

  • TecMod’s forward modeling GUI allows making fully controlled forward runs for better process understanding and scenario analysis. It gives easy and intuitive access to TecMod’s advanced features (e.g. sealevel changes, various flexure models, and extensive material database).

    TecMod’s forward modeling GUI allows making fully controlled forward runs for better process understanding and scenario analysis.

  • Automated basin reconstructions are performed through TecMod’s inverse modeling GUI. The TecMod process manager allows for easy job control of reconstructions running on multi-core PCs and large clusters.

    Automated basin reconstructions are performed through TecMod’s inverse modeling GUI. The TecMod process manager allows for easy job control of reconstructions running on multi-core PCs and large clusters.

  • The entire model predictions at a glance: TecMod’s postprocessor visualizes all model predictions including subsidence in time and space, hydrocarbon generation, and porosity.

    The entire model predictions at a glance: TecMod’s postprocessor visualizes all model predictions including subsidence in time and space, hydrocarbon generation, and porosity.

Approach

TecMod couples a two-dimensional forward model that simultaneously resolves for lithosphere and basin scale processes to an inverse scheme for automated model parameter update. The only input data required is depth converted interpreted seismic and additional well and geological data can be included for further model refinement.

Features

  • Easy to use GUI with full physics control
  • Fully coupled structural, thermal, and infill modeling
  • Lithosphere, basin and reservoir processes are resolved simultaneously
  • Length-scales ranging from prospect to conjugate margin scale
  • Tectonic events: rifting, uplift, flexure
  • Igneous events: breakup, underplating, sill intrusion
  • Geological events: sea level changes, variations in atmosphere and seafloor temperature
  • Metamorphic events: serpentinization, crustal and mantle phase transitions

Benefits

  • Fully automated basin reconstructions
  • Easy scenario analysis of complex basins
  • Structural and thermal modeling combined in one powerful software package
  • Proven technology with successful case studies performed all over the world

Frequently Asked Questions

Why TecMod?

TecMod solves for a sedimentary basin’s complete structural and thermal evolution in a self-consistent way. The only input data required is a depth converted seismic interpretation of the basin in question but you can include additional geological and well data.
TecMod’s main advantages are that it automatically computes the best fitting crustal and mantle stretching factors as well as paleo-water depth values and that lithosphere scale and basin scale processes are resolved simultaneously. Such a self-consistent reconstruction provides, for example, basement heat flow maps in time and space that include sediment blanketing and tectonic deformation effects as well as the complete thermal maturation and sedimentation history of a basin.  It is also easily possible to test and explore more advanced scenarios and processes such as multiple breakup events (micro-continent formation), multiple igneous events (underplating, sills, extrusive flows), effects of mineral phase transitions (e.g. serpentinization), and sediment erosion.

While the basin fitting procedure is automated, TecMod is not a geo-scientist. Therefore the user configures the base geological scenario, e.g. initial crustal thickness, flexural parameters, timing of igneous events, basin infill and related rock properties. This way the best of both worlds, regional know-how of the specialist and computer automation, is combined and results in a superior model.

Did you ever wonder how the basement heatflow looks in space and time that one should specify in other packages? TecMod automatically computes it for you. Below is an example for the Viking Graben.

Heatflow variations in space and time computed for a Viking Graben model.


What makes TecMod different?

Most basin reconstruction tools rely on a combination of backtripping and forward temperature modeling techniques. While this approach is very powerful in terms of data integration, the decoupling of the structural and thermal solutions is physically not consistent.
In addition, sediment stretching/thinning is not accounted for in the backstripping solution, which may introduce errors into the obtained subsidence and sedimentation histories.
TecMod computes the structural and thermal solutions simultaneously so that a fully consistent basin evolution scenario is obtained. Furthermore, by resolving extension in the entire lithosphere, lateral movements including sediment stretching/thinning are accounted for and no thermal (heat flux) boundary condition has to be applied at the base of the sediments.
Below a movie of the lithopshere temperature evolution of the Viking Graben region.



What is inside TecMod?

TecMod solves for temperature on an unstructured finite-element mesh that follows material boundaries and deforms with crustal extension. In this way all material contrasts are accurately resolved. The finite-element approach is very flexible so that multiple processes like igneous events, erosion, and breakup can be accounted for. The underlying solver is one of the fastest direct solvers available. Flexure of the lithosphere is resolved using a finite-differences technique, which allows for lateral variations in the effective elastic thickness. The non-linearity in the flexure equation resulting from sediment compaction is treated with direct iterations. The inverse scheme uses an optimization procedure that minimized the goal function, i.e. the misfit between input and modeled stratigraphy. The algorithm is computationally very efficient and a typical forward model takes only minutes to complete.


Where is TecMod 3D?

The TecMod basin modeling approach is to fully resolve the key geological processes. This requires a fine computational mesh and small time steps. For example, during every time step a deposited sedimentary layer is explicitly resolved in the finite element mesh. This rigorous approach ensures high-quality results but is currently only feasible in 2D.

There is a 2.5D option for making automated multi-slice reconstructions of 3D datasets. In addition, we keep working on high-performance 3D reconstruction approaches as you can see in “custom models” section.


Which platforms are supported?

Standard TecMod runs on Windows, Linux, and OS X. The multislice feature is supported on Linux clusters.