Displaying Deviated Wells in ArcScene

[ChrisDonihee]

Hello, not sure if this is the proper forum or not but I am having difficulty showing deviated wells in ArcScene.

I have surface hole locations with x,y coordinates and bottom hole locations with slightly different x,y coordinates and need to display the extruded wells not just to depth, but deviated to the new coordinates of the bottom hole location. Any hints on how to do this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[JakubSisak]

You need to create a 3D polyline from the coordinates.  Not sure if there is an out-of-the-box tool for drillholes with deviation and curve. If not someone may have created an add-on for something like this. I wrote a script that creates 3D boreholes from borehole log data but only straight down. No curve or deviation.  You could probably import your 3D coordinates as points, then load them into arc-scene and digitize a new 3d line snapping to the coordinates. This features is only available in version 10 and it would likely be tedious to create many wells in this way.

[swatisingh1]

hi
I am facing same problem not able to create 3D borelog with lithology data in arc gis 10. Please help me.

[JakubSisak]

3D analyst is a good 3D viewer but when it comes to modelling subsurface geology and constructing logs and producing cross sections and such you might need to use 3rd party software. There is a Target for ArcGIS extension by Geosoft which does not require 3D Analyst but allows you to import, edit and visualize assay values, etc.  (Free trial, then about $5000)  It is still too simple for serious geology analysis though. I hear the standalone version is a bit more feature rich.

[AllieStoddard]

You need to create a 3D polyline from the coordinates.  Not sure if there is an out-of-the-box tool for drillholes with deviation and curve. If not someone may have created an add-on for something like this. I wrote a script that creates 3D boreholes from borehole log data but only straight down. No curve or deviation.  You could probably import your 3D coordinates as points, then load them into arc-scene and digitize a new 3d line snapping to the coordinates. This features is only available in version 10 and it would likely be tedious to create many wells in this way.

I wrote a script that creates 3D boreholes from borehole log data? Jakub: How on Earth did you do that? Can you show it to me? I am currently a student at CSULB and I am trying to learn how to best display landfill wells and probes in ArcScene 3D. Can you help me out with some information, please? Any help would be greatly apprectiated.

[JakubSisak]

A borehole log (those we were using were generated with Gint) is basically a table of values. 

Convert the log into a table that contains coordinates (X,Y) of the hole location, Surface Elevation, Depth (top of sample), Bottom (depth of sample), and other attributes you will need.  (You can probably write a VB procedure to streamline this part.)

Convert this table into a 2D point feature class (XY Event layer -> Export to Feature Class)

Create a UIButton and connect it with the attached VBA procedures. (Not tested in about 2 years. Hopefully I've included everything)

You might need to add all the needed references to VBA.


There is an exaggeration option as well. A message will pop up asking you if you which to exaggerate the vertical lines. I did it because i did not want the surface the be vertically exxagerated but wanted the holes to be.

It basically creates 3D lines from coordinates starting at the top and subtracting the depth of the samples. It does not support inclination or deviation only because when I wrote it we only dealt with vertical BH, MW.

My drillholes are now a lot more complicated (mining) so every one is deviated and inclined in various directions. I have not use the script in a long time as it does not fulfill my needs.  You can probably use any decent drillhole management software to handle your borehole logs as long as you have them in an excel/table format and they contain X,Y,Z values and depth of samples at minimum. This type of software also handles deviated and inclined holes so long you have the drillhole survey data. (azimuth, dip, etc.) 
I've personally only used GEMS by Gemcom (very expensive), Target by Geosoft and Target for ArcGIS. The Target for ArcGIS is an ArcGIS Extension and it comes with a voxel grid functionality and 3D visualization capabilities but I use the standalone version because there were some limitations with the extension. The extension is about $2500 and the standalone version about $6000. I hear that Leapfrog Hydrology/Mining can also do this although it is meant mostly for 3D visualization (it's also very expensive but it is suppose to be the absolute best tool for rapid 3D visualization of subsurface geology / hydrology drillholes and wells. etc.  - not personally tested but have the license on my desk)  And of course you can export the results of any of the mentioned software into a format compatible with ArcGIS / ArcScene.

[AndrewMeyer1]

Hey Jakub,

I am wondering if you could give me an update with what programs you use at the moment to deal with visualizing the deviated boreholes. I have a thesis project and am required to query mining deviated boreholes in order to generate an optimal deviation that will be ideal to penetrate a target area. If you have any ideas or programs to direct me - it would be much appreciated!

I have have a bunch of data depicting drilling and geologic variables and have been using excel but was wondering if there was a software program out there to calculate deviated statistics?

Thanks, please let me know if you have any input on my topic

Andrew
a_meyer9@hotmail.com