Fast wavelet-based stochastic simulation using training images

Spatial uncertainty modelling is a complex and challenging job for orebody modelling in mining, reservoir characterization in petroleum, and contamination modelling in air and water. Stochastic simulation algorithms are popular methods for such modelling. In this paper, discrete wavelet transformation (DWT)-based multiple point simulation algorithm for continuous variable is proposed that handles multi-scale spatial characteristics in datasets and training images. The DWT of a training image provides multi-scale high-frequency wavelet images and one low-frequency scaling image at the coarsest scale. The simulation of the proposed approach is performed on the frequency (wavelet) domain where the scaling image and wavelet images across the scale are simulated jointly. The inverse DWT reconstructs simulated realizations of an attribute of interest in the space domain. An automatic scale-selection algorithm using dominant mode difference is applied for the selection of the optimal scale of wavelet decomposition. The proposed algorithm reduces the computational time required for simulating large domain as compared to spatial domain multi-point simulation algorithm. The algorithm is tested with an exhaustive dataset using conditional and unconditional simulation in two- and three-dimensional fluvial reservoir and mining blasted rock data. The realizations generated by the proposed algorithm perform well and reproduce the statistics of the training image. The study conducted comparing the spatial domain filtersim multiple-point simulation algorithm suggests that the proposed algorithm generates equally good realizations at lower computational cost.