Representing a 3D surface on a map

Geol 472
Subsurface Mapping

Movie

The arrow points at … What is a contour line?

A. A ridge.
B. A valley.

Describe
the
structure

1
 Simple Contouring Rules
How do you make a contour map?
• A contour line separates points that are higher
from points that are lower
• Contour lines cannot cross
• A contour lines separate points that
• Contour lines cannot merge
are higher from points that are lower
• Contour lines must close on themselves or • Space the contours between all the
extend to the edge of the map know points
• Contour interval must remain constant for the • Honor all the data
entire map

Contour this data using 25m interval

Datum = 0 m

2
 Problem: How to interpolate
between the known points?

175
150
125
100

10m contour spacing

a. Inverse distance
Methods of interpolation
b. Kriging
• Least squares c. Minumum
• Tangential curvature

• Spline d. Triangulation

• Weighted average e. Polynomial

a. b. regression
• Minimum curvature
• Polynomial
• Hyperbolic
• Kriging
• Trend surface
• Etc., etc., etc.! c. d. e.

Advantages of Hand Contouring Advantages of Computer Contouring

• Allows you to impart your geologic
knowledge to the interpretation
• Objective and unbiased
• Easily updated
• Ready for subsequent processing
• Only practical way if you have 1000s of data
points

3
 Depth Structure Maps Dealing with multiple layers
Land surface •Isopach maps
•Plot the elevation difference between two maps
Sea level

-152 (302)

-211
(356) -362 (502)
-385 (525)

Pennsylvanian Top Mississippian

1800

1700
00
15

1800

Pennsylvanian-Mississippian Isopach Pennsylvanian plus Isopach

800

700

600

500

400

300

4
 What about Unconformities?
What about mapping other parameters?
• Extensive Surfaces:
– Tops and Bottoms of formations
– Isopachs
– Fault surfaces
– Fluid contacts, i.e. Gas-Oil, Water-Oil
• Intensive Surfaces:
– Porosities
– Fluid Saturations
– Ash content
– BTU

Unconformity Surface Top of Layer A

Base of Layer A Isopach of Layer A

5
Which well would encounter the thickest Types of fault
sand?

Contouring Faulted Surfaces Faulted structure contour map

• Faults break the continuity of a surface

Faulted surfaces

6
 Making a map of a faulted structure Faulted structure contour map
1. Contour the surface without faults
2. Contour the fault plane
3. Find the intersection of the two maps
4. Correct the contours for the vertical
separation across the fault
5. Clean up

Faults from well data

Reverse Faults Reverse Faulting Example

7
 UNION OOLITE THRUST MODEL WITH FRACTURE SWARM DEPI #5639 (047-
(047-055-
055-00226) Gamma Ray log

UNION OOLITE
(Hanging wall)

100’

PILOT KNOB
THRUST FAULT
228’ vertical displacement
UNION OOLITE
UNION OOLITE
(Foot wall)
(after Nelson, 2001)
no scale

Where is the
highest point in the
Cross-
Cross-section A - A’ E
structure in this
NW SE depth map?
5

6
39

35

34
45
44

46

71

89

36

93
7
56

30

52
56
56

56

12

12

12

30
44

A A’
PILOT KNOB A.
0
LITTLE
LIME ARISTA

-500
UNION
PICKAWAY
B.
-1000 DENMAR D A
PRICE
B
-1500
C.
D.
500’

Scale:
500’

E.
C