Tutorial: Create a 2D Stratigraphic Structure Map

Estimated time: 5 minutes.

Let's move from profile-type views to plan-views of the stratigraphic units.  First we’ll create a 2D or "flat" contour map of the surface of one of the stratigraphic units.  In the process of building the contour map, the program will create a grid model of the surface elevations, just like the ones created for the stratigraphic model in a previous lesson.

! You must be using RockWorks in Trial mode, or have a Standard or Advanced license to run this modeling program.

1. Click on the Stratigraphy menu at the top of the program window, and select Structural Elevations | 2-Dimensional.
    
2. Stratigraphic Unit: Click here to select the unit to be modeled.
   • In the displayed window, which lists the formation names in the Stratigraphy Types Table, click on the item Leadville Ls.
   • Expand the Stratigraphic Unit heading.
   • Superface (Top): Click in this button to specify the model is to represent the top of the formation.
      
3. Establish gridding settings:
   • Grid (Output):  Click to the right and type in the following name for the surface’s grid model:   leadville
   • Gridding Options: Click here if you wish, to review the gridding settings used in the previous lessons.  We'll use the same settings here.
      
4. Diagram Options: Click on the Options button (to the right).
   • Background Image: Uncheck this.
   • Borehole Locations: Check this. Click on this tab to access the options.
     • Be sure the following items are turned on:
       • Symbols: This should be checked, so that the borehole locations will be represented with map symbols shown on each well’s Location tab.
       • Log Traces: You can turn these on.
       • Borehole IDs: This should be checked, so that the map symbols will show the well name.
       • Stratigraphy Data: Check this box, so that we can label the Leadville elevations.
         • Stratigraphic Unit: Click this to select the Leadville Ls. formation name.
         • Superface Elevation: Check this option.
         • Remove all other checks from the stratigraphy label options.
       • Label Options: Click here.
         • Auto-Offset: check this box.
         • The other defaults should be fine.
   • Contour Lines: Check this.  Click on this tab to access the options.
     • For this tutorial the defaults settings should be fine. (Intervals = Regular , Confirm Intervals = off; Label Contours = on; all Filters and Faults settings off.)
   • Colored Intervals: Check this option.  Click on the tab to see the settings.
     • The defaults should be fine. 
     • You can click on the color bar to view some of the other options.
   • Labeled cells: Uncheck this.
   • Fault Polylines: Uncheck this.
   • Border: Check this. The defaults should be fine.
   • Click OK to close the Map Options window.
      
5. Click the Process button to continue.

The program will read the well location and downhole survey information from the Borehole Manager tabs to determine the known location and elevation points on the surface of the Leadville Ls unit. It will use these known points to then create a grid model of the entire surface using the Triangulation gridding method, and will store the model under the file "Leadville.RwGrd." It will then create a color-filled contour map overlaid with line contours to represent these elevations. Map symbols and labels will be plotted.  The borders of the map will be annotated with coordinate labels. The completed map will be displayed in a RockPlot2D tab.

Hmmm - this map looks too busy.  Let's go back and change a few of the labeling settings:

6. Leave the map open, and click the Diagram Options button again, in the left pane of this window.
   • Click on the Borehole Locations tab.
   • Stratigraphy Data tab and edit the Prefix for the Superface Elevation to: Elev

   

   • Click on the Label Options tab and change the Font Size setting to: 1 (previously was "2.0")
   • Click OK to close this window.
      
7. Click the Process button again to recreate the map.
   
   RockWorks will close the existing map tab, recreate the contours and other map layers, and display it in a new map tab.
    
8. Zoom into the view: 
   • Click the zoom-in toolbar button.
   • Draw a rectangular zoom region.

   
    

9. Edit the contour line's label.
   • Click the Edit button in the toolbar.
   • Click on the labeled contour line.  The program will display it with handles at each polyline inflection point.
   • Right-click and choose Properties.
   • Change the Font Color to red.
   • Click Apply and Close.
   • The program will display the font label in red.
      
10. Zoom back out: click the Zoom-Out button.
     
11. Close this window by clicking on the Windows close button ("X") in the upper-right corner. You can answer "no" to the do-you-want-to-save prompt.
    
    

Creating 2D Stratigraphic Structure Maps
 

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