Creating 3D Stratigraphic Surfaces

Creating 3D Stratigraphic Surfaces - One Formation

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 3D surface map representing the grid model.
Plot the surface in RockPlot3D.

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 3D surface. The units that are displayed are read from the current 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 project dimensions.
- Additional options: Establish the other general gridding options (declustering, logarithmic, high fidelity, etc.).
Color Scheme: Click on this Options button to access a window where you can define the colors to use for the 3D surface. More.
3D Surface Options: Click on this button to access a window where you can establish the appearance of the 3D surface. More.
Reference Cage: Insert a check in this box to include a 3-dimensional frame around the surface, with coordinate labels.
- Expand this heading to access the Options button where you can define how you want the frame to look. 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 3-dimensional surface representation of a single stratigraphic unit.

Access the RockWorks Borehole Manager program tab.
Enter/import your data into the Borehole Manager database. This tool specifically reads location, orientation (if any), and stratigraphy data.
Select the Stratigraphy | Structural Elevations | 3-Dimensional | One Surface menu option.
Enter the requested menu options, described above.
Click the Process button when the gridding and diagram settings are established to your satisfaction.
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.

The program will read the depth intervals for the selected stratigraphic unit as listed in the project's Stratigraphy tab. 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 3-dimensional surface map. The surface will be displayed in a RockPlot3D tab in the Options window.

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 surface.

! Each time you click the Process button, the existing display will be replaced.
View / save / manipulate / print / export the image in the RockPlot3D window.

Back to Stratigraphy Menu Summary

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