RockWorks | Borehole Manager | Fractures | Fence
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.
- "Slice" this model along multiple panels. Because the model is interpolated across the entire project, you can place the fence panels anywhere you like.
You may request regular panel spacing, in a variety of configurations, or you can draw your own panels. The data values can be color-coded in a variety of ways; 3D logs can be appended. The completed fence diagram will be displayed in RockPlot3D where there is a variety of visualization tools.
Unlike P-Data, T-Data and I-Data models, Fracture models are created using a specialized modeling algorithm that represents distance to fractures.
Feature Level: RockWorks Standard and higher
Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary
Menu Options
- Solid Modeling Options: First, tell the program whether you wish to use an existing solid model (from a previous use of this tool or another Fractures menu tool) 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 profile, for example, you can use the same model, which was stored on disk as an .RwMod file, for the fence diagram.
- Create New Model: If want to create a new model, click in this radio button, and expand this item to establish the modeling settings.
- Solid Model Name: Click to the right to enter a name for the solid model, with an .RwMod file name extension.
- Model Dimensions: Expand this item to set the model density. (More.) Unless there's a specific reason to do otherwise, you should probably leave the solid model dimensions set to the current output dimensions.
- Type of Model: 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 frature.
- 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.).
-
- 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. Though this may not be as relevant for fence panel display, you will probably want to be consistent with future isosurface models you create. 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.
- Smooth Solid: 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.)
- Use Existing Model: Click in this radio button if you wish to use an already-existing solid model of your fracture data. Expand this item to select:
- Model Name: Click to the right to browse for the name of the existing solid model (.RwMod file) to be used for this fence diagram.
- Color Scheme: Click on the Options button to define the display's color scheme - automatic, table-based, etc. (More.)
- Include Color Legend: Insert a check here to include an index to the colors and G values in the fence diagram. (More.)
- Plot Outline Around Each Panel: Insert a check here to include a solid-line outline around each fence panel, and expand the heading to define the line style and color. Leave this option un-checked to omit the outline.
- Plot Surface Profile: Insert a check here to include a solid line profile on each fence panel that represents a user-selected grid model, typically the ground surface.
- Expand this heading to select the grid model to be represented, and to establish the profile settings. (More.)
- Plot Logs: Check this box to append striplogs to your fence diagram.
! Note that 3D logs for all active boreholes will be appended to the fence diagram.
-
- Clip Logs: Check this sub-item if you want to restrict the logs to a particular elevation range. This should match the elevation range of the model you are creating at this time (or the existing model, if specified).
- 3D Striplog Designer: Click on the 3D Striplog Designer tab to the right, to select the items to display in the individual logs to plot with the fence diagram.
-
- Visible Items: Use the check-boxes in the Visible Items column to select which log items are to be displayed. See Visible Item Summary for information.
- Options: Click on any of the Visible Items names to see the item's settings in the Options pane to the right. See the Visible Item Summary for links to the Options settings.
- Layout Preview: For each item you've activated, you'll see a preview cartoon in the upper pane, showing an overhead view of the log columns. Click and drag any item to rearrange the log columns; click and drag the circle handles to resize a column. See Using the 3D Log Designer.
- Reference Cage: Insert a check here to include vertical elevation axes and X and Y coordinate axes in the 3D diagram. Expand this item to set up the cage items. (More.)
- Create Location Map: Insert a check here to have the program create, along with the fence diagram, a reference map that shows the fence panel locations. (More.)
- Fence Selection Map: Click on the Fence Selection Map tab to the right, to draw where the fence panels are to be placed. The most recent panels drawn for this project will be displayed. (More.)
Step-by-Step Summary
- Access the RockWorks Borehole Manager program tab.
- Enter/import your data into the Borehole Manager. This tool specifically reads location, orientation (if any), and Fractures data.
- Select the Fractures | Fence menu option.
- Enter the requested menu settings, described above.
- If you are including logs, be sure to click on the 3D Striplog Designer tab to establish how you want the logs to look.
- Click on the Fence Selection Map tab to select the fence panel locations.
- Click on the Process button to create the fracture fence diagram.
If you've selected Use Existing Model, the program will load the information from the existing fracture model (.MOD file), and will proceed to diagram generation.
If you've selected Create New Model, the program will scan the project database and extract the XYZ points for all of the downhole fracture measurements.
- If you requested Confirm Dimensions, the program will first prompt you to confirm the default solid model dimensions. (More.)
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) in the project. 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.
The program will then look at the coordinates specified for each fence panel and determine the closest nodes along the cuts in the brand-new model, if created, or in the existing model. It will construct a vertical profile to illustrate the data values. This process will be repeated for each fence panel you drew. If strip logs were requested, the 3D logs will be appended to the 3D diagram. The completed diagram will be displayed in a RockPlot3D tab in the Options window.
- You can adjust any of the following items and then click the Process button again to regenerate the diagram.
- Fracture model settings in the Options pane on the left*, and/or
- Fence diagram settings in the Options pane on the left, and/or
- Striplog settings in the 3D Striplog Designer tab, and/or
- Panel locations in the Fence Selection Map tab.
! Each time you click the Process button, the existing display will be replaced.
! * If the solid 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 fence.
- View / save / manipulate / print / export the image in the RockPlot3D window.
Back to Fracture Menu Summary
RockWare home page