Update 02.09.2025 - add two more AI models:
Llama3 (Meta)
Falcon3 (TII)
*** Complete benchmark on modeling AVO out of a total of seven, six models executed the code successfully on the first attempt. However, only three produced meaningful AVO results, with one utilizing the Zoeppritz equations, another Shuey’s approximation and a third Aki-Richards equation. ***
Assessing the potential success of an oil and gas prospect is a critical task for any geoscientist. Historical data from an area where producing wells exhibited Class III AVO responses can offer valuable insights. If a new proposed well demonstrates the same Class III AVO response, does this indicate a high probability of success[1]?
In this blog, we delve into this question and extend our exploration further by examining quantitative AVO responses. This additional calibration point provides valuable insights for ensuring safe AI practice [2] and reliable AI applications to AVO modeling.
AI Going Quantitative
Prompt - "AVO is defined as amplitude-versus-offset. Write python code to perform modeling AVO."
We experiment with five LLMs on this AI coding exercise, namely Gemini (Google), Phi4 (Microsoft), Mistral (Mistral AI), Qwen (Alibaba) and DeepSeek (HighFlyer).
Out of these five, four models generated python codes that ran successfully on the first attempt. However, only two produced meaningful AVO results (one uses the Zoeppritz equations and the other Shuey’s approximation).
Quick look at AI-generated plots:
https://www.linkedin.com/...vo-patrick-ng-zjtbc/ Takeaway
While LLMs excel in language (qualitative) tasks, their strength lies in providing a cost-effective starting point for quantitative analysis, augmented by geophysics domain expertise. Without any specialized training of the AI models, this exercise demonstrates the potential of AI as a powerful tool for geoscientists, streamlining initial AVO modeling efforts from ideation to experimentation.
Reference to relevant blog posts:
[1] Prompt for a qualitative AVO response:
https://broken.aapg.donfick.com/care.../aft/671/groupid/979 [2] Safe AVO mentioned in passing:
https://broken.aapg.donfick.com/care.../aft/673/groupid/979