Create an Upper Surface Model for a Selected Lithotype

RockWorks | Borehole Operations | Lithology | Superface Grid

Use this program to:

• Create a new 3-dimensional solid or block model representing interpolated lithology types (an .RwMod file)
  - OR -
  Read an existing lithology .RwMod file you've already created.
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• Create a grid model (.RwGrd file) whereby the elevations represent the top of the shallowest occurrence of a selected lithology. A "null" value (-1.0e27) is assigned to any grid nodes that do not have a corresponding lithology within the original lithology block model. The resulting surface can be displayed in 2D and/or 3D.
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See also
     Creating a Lower Surface Model, a 2D Isopach, or a 3D Isopach for a Selected Lithotype

Feature Level: RockWorks Standard and higher

Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary

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 lithology model or other map layers 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 maps or striplogs, if activated.
  • Stratigraphic Rules: Apply stratigraphy rules for Stratigraphy data in striplogs, if activated.
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• 3D Log Design
  If you create a 3D surface and choose to include logs ("Striplogs" setting, below), click on this button at the top of the window to set up how you want the 3D logs to look. (More info)

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• Model
  Click this tab to define whether you want to create a new lithology solid model or you wish to use an existing lithology solid model (from a previous use of this program or another Lithology menu program), by clicking in the appropriate radio button.
  ! NOTE ! This is not trivial. Creating the lithology 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 voxel diagram, for example, you can use the same model, which was stored on disk as an .RwMod file, for the surface map.
  
  
  • Create New Model: If you want to create a new model for the surface map, click in this radio button, and use the tabs to the right to establish the modeling settings.
    • Solid to be created: You can use the default program-assigned name, or click to the right to enter a different name for the lithologic model, such as "lithology". The program will append automatically the file name extension ".RwMod".
    • Create Filtering/Resampling Report: Check this item to generate a text report of the results of any spatial filtering you applied.
    • Limit Input: Check this box to activate an input data filter based on material type. Click on the tab to enter the filter settings. (More info)
    • Limit Output: Check this box to filter the output model based on material type. (More info)
    • Algorithm: Click this tab to select the modeling method to use, for interpolating your lithology model. (More info)
    • Special Options: Click on this tab to establish other model settings, such as tilting, warping, filtering above-ground, and smoothing. (More info)
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  • Use Existing Model: If you wish to use an already-existing lithology model, click in this radio button.
    • Solid Model: Browse for the name of the existing lithology model (.RwMod file) to be used for this surface map.
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• Lithologic Unit
  Click here to select the name of the lithology material type for which you want to create the elevation surface. The list of materials you see here is pulled from the Lithology Types Table in the current project database.
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• Output Grid
  Click here to type in the name to assign the output grid that will be created, such as "sand_superface.RwGrd". This grid model's nodes will represent the elevations of the uppermost occurrence of the selected lithology type in the new or existing model.
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• 2D Grid Map
  Check this box to display the output grid as a 2D map at this time.
  Click this tab to set up the 2D map layers (bitmap, symbols, labels, line contours, color-filled contours, labeled cells, map border, etc.).
  • Output Options
    • Save Output File: Check this to assign a name for the map in advance, rather than displaying it as Untitled.
      • Automatic: Choose this option to have RockWorks assign the name automatically. It will use the name of the current program plus a numeric suffix, plus the ".Rw2D" file name extension.
      • Manual: Choose this option to type in a name of your own for this file.
    • Display Output: Check this option to have the resulting map displayed in RockPlot2D once it is created.
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• 3D Grid Diagram
  Check this box to display the output grid as a 3D surface at this time.
  Click this tab to set up the 3D map layers (surface colors, images, reference cage, etc.).
  ! You can request both a 2D and 3D representation of the grid model.
  • Output Options
    
    • Save Output File: Check this to assign a name for the 3D scene in advance, rather than displaying it as Untitled.
      • Automatic: Choose this option to have RockWorks assign the name automatically. It will use the name of the current program plus a numeric suffix, plus the ".Rw3D" file name extension.
      • Manual: Choose this option to type in a name of your own for this RockPlot3D file.
    • Display Output: Check this option to have the resulting scene displayed in RockPlot3D once it is created.
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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. This tool specifically reads location, orientation (if any), and lithology data.
3. Select the Borehole Operations | Lithology | Superface Grid menu option.
4. Enter the requested menu items, described above.
5. Click the Continue button to proceed.

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

   If you've selected Create New Model, the program will scan the project database and extract the borehole locations, lithology depths and materials, and any borehole orientation. It will apply any source data filters you have requested, and will interpolate the solid lithology model, coding the lithotypes the numeric value declared in the Lithology Types Table. The completed model will be stored on disk under the indicated file name.

   Once the new model is created or the existing model loaded, Rockworks will then determine the uppermost elevation for the requested material in each vertical column of nodes in the input lithology model. That elevation will be stored in the corresponding node in the output grid model. Any locations for which there are no occurrences of the selected material, a null value will be assigned in the output grid.

   If requested, the program will create a 2D and/or 3D image representing the grid model. The requested diagram(s) will be displayed in a RockPlot2D tab and/or RockPlot3D tab in the Options window.

6. You can adjust any of the program settings in the Options tab and then click the Continue button again to regenerate the surface map.
7. View / save / manipulate / export / print the diagram in the RockPlot2D and/or RockPlot3D window.
   

See also

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

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