Import Multiple LAS Files

Borehole Manager | File | Import | LAS | Multiple Files

The Borehole Manager's Multiple LAS import program is designed to import all the LAS files in a given directory.

Note: This bulk import of LAS files makes some simplifying assumptions, limiting the flexibility of what is imported. See also: Importing Individual LAS Files which gives much more flexibility as to what to import and where the data goes in RockWorks.

Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary

Menu Options

• Directory for LAS Files: Click on the open-folder button to browse for the folder where the LAS files reside. All of the files with the file name extension "LAS" in this folder will be imported into the project database.
• 
  
• Curves to Import: This is where you define which curves will be imported. You can do this one of two ways:
  1. Easiest: Scan the files for the curves represented.
     1. Be sure the List Curves from Scan check-box is checked.
     2. Click the Scan Wells button, as described below, and click OK to return to the main window.
     3. You'll see all of the curves encountered in the files. You can delete any of the curve names by inserting your cursor into the pane, and deleting the text.
  2. Or, type the names of the curves into the Curves to Import pane. Be careful - the names you type must match exactly the names defined in the LAS files.

     The curves listed (one per line) must be the mnemonic from the LAS file’s Curve Information Block, and will be imported to the Point Data column with that name. If you check the Add Curves if they do not exist check box, new Point Data columns will be added to the borehole database during import if they do not yet exist.
     
     ! Important: If you will be importing downhole survey data, using the Orientation Options button described below, be sure the azimuth and inclination curves are listed here. They must be listed here to be available for the program to be able to import them.

• Link to Borehole On: If you are appending data to existing wells, you can use this setting to tell the program how to match up LAS wells to those in the RockWorks database.
  • Well Name: Choose this option to identify wells based on the "Well Name" field in the LAS file and the Name field in the Borehole Manager's Location table.
  • API Number: Choose this option to identify wells based on the API number in both the LAS files being imported and in the project database.
  • UWI Field: Choose this to identify wells based on the Unique Well Identifier field in both the LAS files being imported and in the project database.
  • File Name: Choose this option to identify wells based on the LAS file names being imported and the Name field in the Borehole Manager's Location table.
  • 
    
• Add Boreholes if they do not exist: Check this option if the wells in the LAS file(s) are to be added to the project database if they are not already present.
• 
  
• Add Curves if they do not exist: Check this option if the curves listed in the Curves to Import box are to be added to the project database if they are not already present. The curve names are added to the P-Data Types table.
• 
  
• List Curves from Scan: Check this option if, after clicking the Scan LAS Files button, you want the program to display in the Curves to Import box a list of all of the curves in the LAS files.
• 
  
• Scan LAS Files: Use this button to pre-scan the LAS files and list the filename, Well Name, API Number and what curves exist in each file, for all the files in the directory. The last three columns Borehole, API and BhId will have RockWorks data if a pre-existing borehole is found in the Borehole Manager based on what you choose to link on (above); the Well Name or API Number. BhId is the RockWorks internal id number for the borehole. If you have checked the List Curves from Scan option, these curve names will be displayed in the Curves to Import box.
  You do not need to pre-scan the files, the result is purely informational to see how the Bulk Importer will link to existing boreholes and what curves are available.
• 
  
• Orientation Options: If the LAS files contain downhole survey data listed in the curve tracks, click this button to select which curves contain the survey bearing and inclination data.
  • Import Orientation Data: Insert a check here to import bearing and dip measurements into the RockWorks Orientation table.
    • Azimuth: Select the name of the curve in the LAS file that contains the azimuth (0 to 360) degree measurements.
      ! If you would like to review the names of all of the curves in the LAS file, you can click the Back button to return to the previous screen where the curve names are all listed.
    • Inclination: Select the name of the curve in the LAS file that contains the inclination measurements.
      • Adjust Inclination by: Use this setting to change how the inclination data is brought into the RockWorks database. RockWorks requires that inclinations are recorded such that +90 is straight up, 0 is horizontal, and -90 is straight down; this allows for both downward- and upward-orienting wells.
      • If the LAS file records data such that 90 = horizontal and 0 = straight down, then you'll need to set this to -90.
      • If the LAS file records data such that -90 is straight down and 0 = horizontal, then you'll need to set this to 0. (No change is required.)
      • ! The value you enter is added to the LAS measurements.
      • 
        
• Data Options: Click on this tab to enter data filtering options.
  • Filter Depth: Insert a check here if you wish to import a subset of the entire depth range represented in the LAS files. If activated you can type in the top and bottom depth to be imported. This filter will apply to all of the curves in all of the files.
  • Convert Null Values: Null values (such as "-999.25") are usually ignored, but you can insert a check here if any null values should be replaced by a specified number, character, etc. They can be replaced by a numeric value (such as 0) or by a blank (just leave the prompt box blank). When RockWorks plots the curves in logs, numeric null-replacements will be plotted at their true value, and blanks will be skipped.
  • Decimate Data: Insert a check here if you want to resample all of the curve data, by depth. This can be helpful if the LAS curves are recorded, for example, at 0.1 foot intervals but you've determined that 1-foot intervals are adequate for your P-Data in RockWorks. If you set this to "2" then every other measurement will be brought in. If you set this to "5" then every 5th measurement will be imported. ! Note that there are also more advanced resampling tools in the P-Data menu (P-Data / Analyze / Resample) should you wish to bring all of the LAS measurements into the database and resample at a later time.
  • 
    

Step-by-Step Summary

1. Start up RockWorks as necessary, and open the project folder containing the database into which the imported LAS data is to be imported and stored.
2. Back up the project database (File | Backup Database) if you wish.
3. Select the File | Import | Multiple LAS menu option.
4. Browse for the folder where the LAS files reside, using the Directory for LAS Files prompt.
5. Type in the names of the curve(s) to import.
   Or, check the List Curves from Scan option and click the Scan LAS Files button to view a summary of the LAS data and post the names of the curves in the Curves to Import window.
6. If you have existing wells in the database to which the LAS data is to be appended, use the Link to Borehole On options to specify how the LAS and project wells are to be matched.
7. Choose whether new boreholes and curves are to be added to the database.
8. Choose whether to import well survey data by clicking the Orientation Options button.
9. Use the Data Options tab to apply any filters.
10. When the curves to be imported are listed to your satisfaction, click on the Import Curves button.

The program will add all new curves to the project database P-Data Types, if requested. LAS data for existing boreholes will be posted to the P-Data tables. If a new borehole is added, the Easting, Northing and Elevation will be imported as zero; the Total Depth will be set to the Stop Depth, and API Number set to the API number. All other Well and Parameter Information Block data will be ignored.

Post-import:

• Be sure to enter, import, or transfer into the database the well locations, if they were imported as zeroes. You need to have locations for the wells to do any work in the Borehole Manager.
• Be sure to enter, import, or transfer the surface elevations of the well locations, if they were imported as zeroes.
• Update your output dimensions if necessary for the new data.
• 
  

Back to Import Data

RockWare home page