Create Aquifer Profile Diagrams

RockWorks | Borehole Operations | Aquifers | Profile

Use this program to:

• Interpolate grid models for the upper and lower surfaces of a single aquifer or multiple aquifers listed for a particular date or date range in the Water Levels table, and
• Slice these grid models between two points and create a 2D profile diagram. Because surfaces are interpolated across the entire project, you can place the profile slice anywhere you like.

Numerous surface modeling options are offered. The profile can be color- or pattern-filled. Logs can be projected onto the profile using true downhole geometry. Many other diagram layers are offered. The completed profile will be displayed in RockPlot2D. Multiple aquifers are supported.

See also
     Aquifer Sections for grid-based cross sections with multiple slices.

Feature Level: RockWorks Standard and higher

Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary
Tips

Menu Options

• Rules & Filters: Use the buttons at the top of the window to apply filters and rules for this program. (More info)
  • Spatial Filter: Filter the input data for the aquifer model based on XYZ location, filter the data to be displayed in striplogs, if activated. Note that these tools filter the data that is passed to the modeling and log-generating procedures. This is distinct from the filters that are applied once the model is completed, and described below.
  • Time Filter: Insert a check in this box at the top of the program window to filter the data based on date/time. If you have sampled aquifer levels on multiple dates, this is where you establish which dates are to be processed. Click this button to enter the filter settings. (More info)
    • Choose Exact to enter a specific date for the data is to be processed. The date you enter here should match the date you entered into the Water Levels data tables.
    • Click in the Range button if you want to process water level data for a range of dates, and then specify the starting and ending date and/or time for the data to be included in processing. (See Entering Water Level Data for details about how the dates are entered.)
      ! If you have multiple entries for a borehole for the selected date range, the program will include all of them when creating the model, in effect averaging them.
  • Stratigraphic Rules: Apply stratigraphy rules for stratigraphic logs, if activated.
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• 2D Log Design
  Click here to choose which data items are to be displayed in the logs, if activated via the Striplogs checkbox below, and in which order. See Using the 2D Log Designer and the Visible Item Summary.
  ! For Profile diagrams, striplogs will be projected onto the line of section; you'll be able to select the distance from the profile cut within which logs will be "grabbed" for display in the diagram. See Multi-Log Profiles for information.
  ! Deviated/inclined boreholes can be displayed with true geometry on the profile.
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• Profile Location
  Click on this button at the top of the window to draw or import, on a map display of your enabled boreholes, where the profile cut (or multiple cuts, if you've requested parallel profiles, below) is to be placed. The most recent profile drawn for this project will be displayed. (More info)
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• Location Map
  Check this box to create, along with the profile, a reference map that shows the profile cut's location. It can be embedded in or created separately from the profile.
  Click on this tab to establish the map options. (More info.)

  

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• Vertical Exaggeration
  Click here to pre-define the vertical stretch you would like to apply to your diagram. By giving the program this information in advance of generating the profile, it can help with text and graphic sizing and placement. (More info.)
  ! Note that you can always change the vertical exaggeration at which the diagram is displayed, in the RockPlot2D window itself. But, by telling the program up-front how stretched it will be, you'll get better placement of the graphic components.
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• Aquifer(s) to Model
  Click this tab to select which aquifers are to be represented in the model.
  • All Aquifers: Choose this option if surfaces for all defined aquifers are to be created.
  • Single Aquifer: Choose this option if you wish to model a single aquifer only.
    • Aquifer: Click to the right to select the name of the aquifer you wish to model at this time. The names that are displayed are read from the current Aquifer Types Table. This table also defines the color to be used to represent the aquifer - it's the background color defined in the Pattern block.
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• Modeling Options
  Click this tab to establish the gridding method, the grid dimensions, and other gridding options.
  • Dimensions: Use this tab to specify how the grid dimensions are to be established. Unless there's a specific reason to do otherwise, you should probably leave the grid dimensions set to the current project dimensions.
  • Algorithms: Select a gridding method for the interpolation of the surfaces.
  • Options: Establish the other general gridding options (declustering, logarithmic, high fidelity, etc.).
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• Fill Style
  Click on this tab to define how to fill the aquifer layers:
  • Fill Background will fill the section panels with the background color selected for the aquifer in the Aquifer Types Table.
  • Plot Patterns will display the pattern selected for the aquifer in the Aquifer Types Table.
  • Plot Outlines will border the layers with a solid black line of the width you set.
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• Striplogs
  Check this item to include 2D logs with the aquifer profile display. Click the 2D Log Design button at the top of the window to set up how you want the logs to look. Click on this tab to establish some additional striplog settings.
  • Clip: Check this box if you want to display a subset of the log data. Click on the tab to define the elevation range to be displayed.
    • Top Elevation: Enter the uppermost elevation to be displayed in the logs.
    • Base Elevation: Enter the lowermost elevation to be displayed in the logs.
      ! Log clipping parameters are defined using elevations, not depths. (More info.)
  • Save Log List: Check this to save to a text file the names of the boreholes that are included with the profile diagram.
    • File in which to store the Log List: Enter the name for the log list text file.
    • Display List Upon Completion: Check this to display the text list in Notepad (or equivalent) after the profile is completed.
  • Collar Distances: Check this box to display at the top of the profile a series of labels that represents each borehole's distance to the profile line. (More info)
  • Stripmap: Check this item to include a stripmap above or below the profile diagram, which depicts the position of the logs within the search "swath" relative to the profile. Click on this tab to establish the Stripmap location and appearance options. (More info)

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• Annotation
  Click on this tab to establish title, border, axis labels, and other perimeter settings for the profile. (More info.)

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• Surface Profile
  Check this box to include a polyline on the profile diagram that represents a user-selected elevation grid model, such as an aquitard formation surface.
  Click on this tab to access the surface profile options.
  • Grid Model: Browse for the name of the existing grid model (.RwGrd file) to be represented in the polyline.
  • Polyline Attributes: Click this tab to establish the line settings. (More info.)

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• Faults
  Check this box if you want to display lines in the output diagram where the profile slice intersects the fault(s) defined in the Faults program tab.
  Click on this tab to set up the fault lines. (More info.)

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• Parallel Profiles
  Check this box if you want multiple profile lines to be drawn automatically, offset from the profile that you define.
  Click on this tab to define the direction and spacing of the automatic profile lines, the maximum distance, and diagram labeling options. (More info.)

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• Infrastructure
  Check this box to display buildings, pipes, or other infrastructure with your profile.
  Click this tab to define the infrastructure file and plot settings. (More info)

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• Other 2D Files
  Check this option to include existing RockWorks profiles as layers with your aquifer profile.
  Click on this tab to select the existing profiles (.Rw2D files) to be included. (More info)
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• Peripherals
  Check this option to include various peripheral annotations with your profile. Options include titles, text blocks, pattern legends, and more.
  Click on this tab to activate the items and establish their settings. (More info)
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• Border
  Check this option to include a solid line border around the entire profile image.
  Click on this tab to establish border settings.
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• Output Options: Use these settings to define whether the output graphic is to be displayed after it is created and how/whether it is to be saved in a file in the project folder. (More info)
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Step-by-Step Summary

Follow these steps to create a 2-dimensional (flat) vertical profile of one or more aquifers:

1. Access the Borehole Manager program tab.
2. Enter/import your data into the Borehole Manager, if you have not done so already. This tool specifically reads location, orientation (if any), and water level data.
3. Enable boreholes: Be sure that all boreholes whose data are to be included in the aquifer model, which will be sliced for the profile, are enabled.
4. Select the Borehole Operations | Aquifers | Profile menu option.
5. Enter the requested program settings, described above
6. Set up logs: If you are including logs with the profile, be sure to click on the 2D Log Design button at the top of the window to establish how you want the logs to look.
7. Pick the profile: Click on the Profile Location tab at the top of the window to establish the profile location.
8. Click on the Continue button to interpolate the surfaces and create the profile diagram.

   Rockworks will use the selected gridding algorithm to create grid models of the surface, base, and thickness of the selected aquifer(s), storing the models in the project folder ("aquifername_date_top.RwGrd", "aquifername_date_base.RwGrd" and "aquifername_date_isopach.RwGrd"). The name portion of the file name will be pulled from the Aquifer Types table, and the date portion of the file name should comply with the mm_dd_yyyy or dd_mm_yyyy date format as established in Windows.

   It will then look at the coordinates specified for the profile cut and construct a vertical profile to illustrate the water level elevations, using the colors and/or patterns defined for the profile. Logs will be projected onto the profile panel if requested. Additional diagram layers will be appended, as requested. The completed diagram will be displayed in a RockPlot2D tab in the Options window. This example shows multiple aquifers.

   

9. You can adjust any of the program settings in the main Options tab to the left and then click the Continue button again to regenerate the profile.
10. View / save / manipulate / print / export the profile in the RockPlot2D window.
    

Tips

• Use the Stretch button in RockPlot to fill the window with the section. This is helpful if the profile is long and shallow.
• Adding this program to your Playlist
• Adding this program to your Favorites
• Save/load/view menu settings
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Back to Aquifers Menu Summary

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