Working with cross sections

Cross sections are the most flexible way of viewing data and validating models at various angles, shapes, and locations. You can display a cross section in a 3D View, a CoView and in a dedicated Cross Section View. In the 3D View and Cross Section View, you can edit points, polylines and tri-meshes directly on the cross section. You can also create a well group based on wells captured in a Cross Section View, which you can use in the Well View (via the Cross Section context menu) or you can use a cross section for random line visualization in the Seismic View (see Visualizing your (seismic) data in the Seismic View).

All cross sections are stored in the Cross Sections folder in the JewelExplorer, taking the name of the (type of) cross section that you created ('Vertical Section', 'Plane Section'), or the name of the surface or well it is based on (e.g. 'Well A Section', 'Fault 1 Section'). When the cross section takes the name of the surface or well, you can recognize which type of cross section it is by the symbol in front of the name in the JewelExplorer.

Cross section types

There are three types of cross sections in JewelSuite Subsurface Modeling. Each type has its own features regarding the number and shape of the panes, and its rotation and moving options. Note that with 'rotation' is meant the fee rotation in all directions, while 'moving' refers to lateral movement along an axis.

Creating cross sections with the 3D View toolbar

The Cross Sections drop-down list down list () in the 3D View toolbar allows you to create various types of cross sections:

  From the drop-down list, select Create Planar Cross-section, then click two locations to construct a vertical plane.

Constructing a plane cross section    click to enlarge

  From the drop-down list, select Create Arbitrary Cross-Section, then click several locations to construct a vertical section based on the corresponding line.

Constructing a vertical cross section    click to enlarge

  From the drop-down list, select Delete a Pane of Cross-Section, then click the pane to be deleted.

Deleting a cross section pane    click to enlarge

  From the drop-down list, select Delete an Edge of a Cross Section. This action will delete (collape) a pane between two cross section panes. Click on the edge you want to delete.

Collapsing an edge    click to enlarge

  From the drop-down list, select Open Cross-Section Form. See below how to use this form.

Creating cross sections using the Cross Sections form

Use the Cross Sections form. It is opened via the drop-down list in the toolbar at the top of a 3D View.

1. Select the type of cross section that you want to create:

   

   

   The Cross Sections form    click to enlarge

   Planar section A planar section is a flat display canvas extending through the 3D space as defined by the horizontal and vertical extremes of all objects in the solution. It consists of only one pane. Planar sections can be rotated in all directions.

   Two points determine a line through which the plane section will go. Initially the generated pane is vertical.

   

   

   Specifying a planar section    click to enlarge

   Vertical section This option creates a vertical section based on existing data such as surfaces or well data. Vertical sections can consist of one or more panes.

   Click the Polyline Set tab, then select the required polyline set to generate a section based on the polyline set.

   Click the Wells tab to generate a section through wells. Select the wells from the list.

   

   

   Vertical section through a well    click to enlarge

   Connection method Select one of the following:

   Regression (projection) connects wells in the order of their projection on a regression line. The regression line is calculated using the lateral coordinates of the wells.

   Genetic (shortest way) is a method that attempts to connect wells in such a way that the length of the section trajectory is minimal.

   One VCS for each wellbore is a method that creates separate sections for each well. This method is most appropriate for wells in a ‘spider’ geometry, e.g. deviated wells drilled from a shared surface location, such as an offshore platform.

   Extension distance is the parameter controlling the extension of well sections beyond the start and end locations of the wellbore trajectory.

   For a single well you can also create a cross section with the option Create > Create Wellbore Section in the well’s right-click context menu.
   

   

   Examples of the different construction methods    click to enlarge

   Surface-parallel section This uses the existing tri-meshes to create the canvasses.

   

   

   Select tri-mesh for the surface parallel section    click to enlarge

   Surface-parallel cross sections can be moved as phantom surfaces along predefined directions, vertical for horizon slices, horizontal along dip for fault slices.

   Select the required tri-mesh in order to generate a surface section.

   Wellbore projection distance This parameter defines the half-width of a 'corridor' around planar and vertical cross sections. Wellbores will be shown projected on the cross section view if they are partially or completely located inside the corridor.

   When you display wellbores or point set data on a cross section that consists of more than one pane in a Seismic View or a Cross Section View, JewelSuite projects the wellbores and point set data using a non-orthogonal method. An advantage of the non-orthogonal projection is that you will get a consistent cross-section in either view, i.e. objects are projected in the right order, which is less likely to be the case for orthogonal projection.

   

   

   Point set with distance to cross section. When viewing this point set projected on the cross section in the Seismic View or Cross Section View, a non-orthogonal method is used.    click to enlarge

   

   

   Projection using a non-orthogonal method. This method is chosen to prevent duplication and blind spots around the corners of the cross section panes when displaying wellbore or point set data.    click to enlarge

   The greater the projection distance, the larger the (possible) distortion of the projected wellbores and point set data, and the higher chance of a mismatch between cross-section backdrop data (e.g. seismic, 3D grid properties) and the projected wellbores and point set data. This effect does not occur when you display wellbores and point set data on a single pane cross section, i.e. a plane section.

   Tips for visualizing wellbores and point set data on cross sections

   • For single wellbore display, use a wellbore section which follows the wellbore like a curtain. This mitigates the risk of distortion due to projection. To create a wellbore section, you can use the wellbore's context menu Create > Create Wellbore Section or use the Wellbore Section form on the plan strip, see Creating a wellbore section.
   • For multi wellbore or point set cloud display, keep the cross-section pane as close as possible to the wellbore trajectory or point set cloud, and apply a shorter projection distance. You can create the cross section pane graphically using the cross section tool ( ) in the 3D View. For wellbores you can also create such a connected wellbore section using the cross-section form, see Cross sections form, or multiselect the wellbores in the JewelExplorer and select Create Vertical Section from the context menu. You also need to select the desired wellbore section connection method.
   • Use a combination of the 3D View and Cross Section/Seicmic View to be aware of possible projection artifacts.

   Data points projection distance defines the half-width of a ‘corridor’ around planar and vertical cross sections. Nodes of point sets that are located inside the corridor, will be projected on the cross section view (see image below).

   Create cross section in time domain Check this if you want to generate a section in time domain.

   Create Generate the specified section.

   

   

   Point set of fault projected on cross section (right)    click to enlarge

2. Cross sections Select the section that must be updated.

   

   

   Select the section you want to update    click to enlarge

   Snapping is only available for vertical sections.

   You can update a cross section by specifying a new Projection distance.

   

   

        click to enlarge

   When you select a vertical cross section, you can also select Use snapping.

   Snapping updates the cross section and snaps it to selected positions on the well trajectories of the original well and additional wells.

   Snapping distance defines the half-width of a corridor around an existing cross section. For wells to be included in the snapping process, they must be located in the corridor.

   Extension distance is the distance by which well-specific panels will be extended.

   Use deviated wells as Choose from various methods of defining how deviated wells are included in the resulting cross section:

   Tie-in point Cross section is snapped to tie-in points of wells within snapping distance.

   Mid borehole Cross section is snapped to the mid-point of well trajectories within snapping distance.

   Fixed TVD Cross section is snapped to a user-specified depth value along the boreholes within snapping distance.

   Marker Cross section is snapped to the selected marker in wells within snapping distance.

   Entire borehole Cross section will follow the trajectories of wells within snapping distance.

   Wellbore projection distance defines the corridor for planar and vertical sections. You can also change this parameter in the Inspector; when edited it becomes immediately effective in the selected cross section.

   Data points projection distance This defines the corridor for planar and vertical sections. You can also change this parameter in the Inspector; when edited it becomes immediately effective in the selected cross section.

   Update Click to update the selected section.

3. Show cross section view.

   Cross section list Select the cross section for which a dedicated 2D view must be generated. Only planar sections and vertical sections can be selected.

   Show Click to create the corresponding cross section view.