Create Fracture Profile Diagrams

RockWorks | Borehole Manager | Fractures | Profile

Use this program to:

• Create a new 3-dimensional solid or block model representing distance to fractures or to fracture intersections across the study area (an .RwMod file)
  - OR -
  Read an existing .RwMod file you've already created.
• Create a 2-dimensional (flat) vertical profile of fracture proximities, sliced anywhere in the study area. Because the model is interpolated across the entire project, you can place the profile slice anywhere you like.

The profile can be color-coded in a variety of ways. Logs can be projected onto the profile panel. Faults, surface profiles, infrastructure, and other layers can be appended to the diagram. The resulting profile is displayed in the RockPlot2D window.

Unlike P-Data, T-Data, and I-Data models, Fracture models are created using a specialized modeling algorithm that represents distance to fractures.

See also
     Fracture Sections for multi-panel profile 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 fracture 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: Filter any T-Data or Aquifer data in striplogs, if activated.
  • Stratigraphic Rules: Apply stratigraphy rules for Stratigraphy data in striplogs, 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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• Model
  Click this tab to define whether you wish to use an existing solid model (from a previous use of this program or another Fractures menu program) or you wish to create a new solid model, by clicking in the appropriate radio button.
  
  ! NOTE This is not trivial. Creating the solid model can take some time, depending on the resolution of the model and the detail of your data. If you already created a pleasing model for display as a 3D solid, for example, you can use the same model, which was stored on disk as an .RwMod file, for the profile.
  • Create New Model: If want to create a new model, click in this radio button, and use the tabs to the right to establish the modeling settings.
    • Solid To Be Created: Click to the right to enter a name for the solid model. RockWorks should appen the .RwMod file name extension.
    • Fracture Options: Use these settings to define the type of frature model to be created:
      • Distance to Closest Fracture: This algorithm assigns block model node values that represent the distance to the closest fracture.
      • Distance to Closest Fracture Intersection (Very Slow): This algorithm assigns block model node values that represent the distance to the closest fracture intersection. Due to the huge amount of possible "beta" intersections, this algorithm can be very slow. The resolution of the model also determines the "granularity" of the intersection computations.These models can become very important when performing geotechnical analyses (tunneling, fluid flow, mineralization, etc.).

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      • Negate Node Values: Fracture models represent distance-to-fractures, so sometimes you'll be looking for high values (long distances to fractures representing stable areas) and sometimes you'll be looking for low values (short distances to fractures, for material movement).
        • Leaving this setting OFF will result in close-fracture areas being at the bottom of the model's scale (low values) and distant-from-fracture areas being at the top of the model's scale (high values).
        • The Negate Node Values option basically switches the scale around by multiplying the distance values by -1, so that low-valued/close-to-fracture areas now plot at the top of the scale. This can be particularly handy when displaying isosurface models of fracture proximities in RockPlot3D, and you really want to see close-to-fracture zones. Note, however, that with Negate Node Values turned on, you'll get negative distance values.
        • Consider the following diagram of a solid fracture model, generated with Negate Node Values turned on, and shown with the isosurface filtered to show only high values. These represent close-to-fracture zones.

        

    • Dimensions: Click here to establish the output dimensions (and node density) of the Fracture model. Unless there's a specific reason to do otherwise, you should probably leave the solid model dimensions set to the current project dimensions. (More info)
    • Smoothing: Insert a check here to smooth the solid model G values based on a filter size and number of iterations. This can generally create a smoother, less "noisy" model. (More info)
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  • Use Existing Model: Click in this radio button if you wish to use an already-existing solid model of your fracture data.
    • Solid Model: Click to the right to browse for the name of the existing solid model (.RwMod file) to be used for this 3D display.
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• Contours
  Click this tab to access the panel appearance settings.
  • Colored Intervals: Check this item to display G-value distribution on the profile panel with color-filled intervals. Click this tab to access the color contour settings. (More info)
  • Contour Lines: Check this item to include G-value contour lines on the profile panel. Click on this tab to access the contour settings. (More info)
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• Striplogs
  Check this item to include 2D logs with the 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.)

  

• Surface Profile
  Check this box to include a polyline on the profile diagram that represents a user-selected elevation grid model, such as the ground 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.)

  

  
  
• Faults
  Check this box if you want to display vertical lines in the output diagram where the section slice intersects the fault(s) defined in a project Faults Table.
  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 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, 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

1. Access the RockWorks 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 Fractures data.
3. Select the Borehole Operations | Fractures | Profile menu option.
4. Enter the requested program settings, described above.
5. If you are including logs with the profile, be sure to click on the 2D Log Design tab at the top of the window to establish how you want the logs to look.
6. Click on the Profile Location tab at the top of the window to set the profile location.
7. Click on the Continue button to create the profile diagram.

   If you've selected Use Existing Model, the program will load the information from the existing fracture model (.RwMod file) and proceed to diagram generation.

   If you've selected Create New Model, RockWorks will scan the project database and extract the XYZ points for all of the downhole fracture measurements.

   The program will use its dedicated fracture-proximity algorithm to create a solid model of the distance to fractures or the distance to fracture intersections (as requested). The completed model will be stored on disk under the indicated file name.

   If you have requested "Negate Values" then the distances will be multiplied by "-1" so that large distances will become very large negative numbers.

   RockWorks will then look at the coordinates specified for the profile cut and determine the closest nodes along the cut in the brand-new model, if created, or in the existing model. It will construct a vertical profile to illustrate the data values, using the selected color scheme. The completed diagram will be displayed in a RockPlot2D tab in the Options window, if requested.

8. 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.

   ! If the fracture model looks OK and you just need to adjust one of the diagram settings, you don't need to keep re-interpolating the model. Choose Use Existing Model and browse for the .RwMod file to be used for the profile.

9. View / save / manipulate / print / export the profile in the RockPlot2D window.
   

Tips

• Use the Stretch button in RockPlot to fill the window with the profile. This is helpful if the profile is long and shallow.
• If the profile looks better with a vertical exaggeration greater than or less than 1, you can pre-define this in the Options tab which will generate better-looking axis annotations.
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See also

• Adding this program to your Playlist
• Adding this program to your Favorites
• Save/load/view menu settings
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Back to Fracture Menu Summary

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