Creating 2D Stratigraphic Structure Maps

RockWorks | Borehole Manager | Stratigraphy | Structural Elevations | 2-Dimensional

Use this program tool to:

• Read a listing of stratigraphic contacts from the Borehole Manager database.
• Interpolate a grid model representing those elevations across the project area.
• Create a (flat) contour map representing the grid model, with a variety of map layers.
• Plot the map in RockPlot2D.

See also: Creating 3D Stratigraphic Surfaces

Feature Level: RockWorks Standard and higher

Menu Options
Step-by-Step Instructions

Menu Options

• Stratigraphic Unit: Click on the formation name to the right to select the unit you wish to view in the map. The units that are displayed are read from the project's Stratigraphy Types Table.
  • Expand this heading to select which surface to model:
    • Superface: Click in this radio button to model the formation top.
    • Subface: Click in this button to model the formation base. 
       
• Grid (Output):  Click on the small open-file button to the right to enter the name for the grid file that will contain the model for the stratigraphic surface.  The program will append the .RwGrd file name extension.
   
• Gridding Options: Click on the Options button to the right to establish the gridding method (aka algorithm), the grid dimensions, and other gridding options.
  • Algorithms: Select a gridding method from the list on the left, and establish the method-specific Options in the middle pane.
  • Grid Dimensions:  Specify how the grid dimensions are to be established, using the settings on the right side of the dialog box.  Unless there's a specific reason to do otherwise, you should probably leave the grid dimensions set to the current output dimensions.
  • Additional options: Establish the other general gridding options (declustering, logarithmic, high fidelity, etc.).
     
• Diagram Options: Establish the 2-D mapping options. To activate a layer insert a mark in its check-box. To access the layer's settings expand the item by clicking on its "+" button. You may include any/all of the layers to illustrate the stratigraphic surface. 
  • Background Image: Insert a check in this check-box to include a raster image behind the line contours.
    • Expand this heading to establish the bitmap settings. (Note that this layer will be hidden if Colored Intervals are selected, above.) More. 
  • Contour Lines: Insert a check in this box to illustrate the surface with line contours.
    • Expand this heading to click on the Options button establish the contour settings. More.  
  • Colored Intervals: Insert a check in this box to illustrate the surface with color-filled contour intervals.
    • Expand this heading to click on the Options button to establish the color contour settings. More.  
  • Fault Polylines: Insert a check here if you've set up the grid model to contain faults, and want to display the fault lines in the map.
    • Expand this heading to define the line style.  More.
  • Labeled Cells: Insert a check in this box to display on the map the actual node values stored in the grid model.
    • Expand this heading to access the Options button where you can establish this layer’s settings. More.  
  • Borehole Locations:  Check this box to include a map layer with the borehole locations noted with symbols, plus a variety of labeling options. 
    • Expand this heading to click on the Options button where you can select symbol and label settings.  More.
  • Border: Insert a check in this check-box to annotate the map borders with axis titles and/or coordinate labels.
    • Expand this heading to click on the Options button where you can establish the border annotation settings. More.  
      
      
• Rules & Filters: Use the settings on the far right side of the window to apply stratigraphic rules to data being processed here. More.
  
  

Step-by-Step Summary

Follow these steps to create a 2-dimensional (flat) contour map of the upper or base elevations of a single stratigraphic unit. 

1. Access the RockWorks Borehole Manager program tab. 
2. Enter/import your data into the Borehole Manager database. This tool specifically reads location, orientation (if any), and stratigraphy data.
3. Select the Stratigraphy | Structural Elevations | 2-Dimensional menu option. 
4. Enter the requested menu options, described above.
5. Click the Process button when the gridding and mapping settings are established to your satisfaction. 
6. If you have activated the Model Dimensions / Confirm Dimensions option, the program will display a summary window with the grid boundary coordinates and node spacing.  Adjust these items if necessary and click OK.  More. 
7. If you have activated the Confirm Intervals setting for the Contour Lines, the program will display a summary window with default contour intervals.  Adjust these items if necessary and click OK.  More. 
8. If you have activated the Confirm Intervals setting for the Colored Intervals, the program will display a summary window with default color-contour intervals.  Adjust this item if necessary and click OK.  More. 

The program will read the depth intervals for the selected stratigraphic unit as listed in the project's Stratigraphy data tables. It will internally translate depths to elevations based on the boreholes' surface and downhole surveys. It will create a grid model of the layer's upper or lower elevations using the selected gridding method, and from this model it will create a 2-dimensional map with the selected layers.  The map will be displayed in a RockPlot2D tab in the Options window.

9. You can adjust any of the options along the left, or rules and filters to the right, and click the Process button to regenerate the grid model and the map.
   
   ! Each time you click the Process button, the grid model will be interpolaed and the existing map display will be replaced. 
    
10. View / save / manipulate / print / export the map in the RockPlot2D window.  (More.)
    
    

 Back to Stratigraphy Menu Summary

RockWare home page