Managing and Using Dipmeter Data

Managing and Using Dipmeter Data

This workshop will describe how to import, manage, and display both drillhole and 3D
point dipmeter data using a MineSight® drillhole assay file for the drillhole data and a
MineSight composite file for the 3D point data. A total of three different examples will be
described including continuous downhole dipmeter data from Log ASCII Standard (LAS)
files, downhole dipmeter data at seam/bed intersections only, and 3D surface point data.

Continuous Downhole Data

One of the data sources for dipmeter data is LAS files. These files contain data for one
drillhole per file. The files have a number of header records describing the contents of
the file, followed by the actual data (see Figure 1 for an example). The curve information
section lists the items and the log data section has the actual values in the order matching
the curve information section, one interval per line. The depths can be in top down or
bottom up order.

Figure 1. Sample LAS file.

Mintec, Inc.
Global The general methodology for processing this type of data is to setup a separate MineSight
Compass™ (MSCompass) project with a drillhole assay and survey file. This will avoid
Mining
any potential conflicts with the main PCF. The LAS files are then processed using
Software MSCompass procedure LASCNV to create an assay format file (i.e., one interval per line
Solutions with the dhid, from, to, and dipmeter items). This file can then be loaded directly to
Since MineSight Drillhole (MSDH), or it can be run through CONCSA and P20101 to load to a
1970 regular MineSight drillhole file. The appropriate drillhole views can then be setup. The
workshop will illustrate the loading to the regular MineSight drillhole file.
NOTE: This methodology is the same for processing any LAS files including geophysical
log data. The only difference is in the strip display type. For log data, just use the wiggle
trace option from a regular color strip.

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Managing and Using Dipmeter Data

The LAS data is first processed through LASCNV (see Figures 2a, 2b, 2c for LASCNV panels).
The LAS files to be processed can be specified in one of three ways: a file spec like in Figure
2a, from an external file that has the list of all the filenames, or by building the list on a
panel within LASCNV. The recommended method is to put all the LAS files into a new
folder. All the files can then be easily processed in one run using the file spec.
Since the LAS standard is not always followed by all logging companies, LASCNV attempts
to handle as many variations as possible. Over a dozen clients sent Mintec samples of their
data and LASCNV was setup to handle them all. If you have any problems with your data,
contact technical support at support@mintec.com or by telephone at 520.795.3891 and send
them a sample.
The drillhole ID can be picked up from the UWI or WELL lines. There is also a special
case for a split ID that spans two lines. To our knowledge, this case has only occurred for
one client, so it is quite infrequent. LASCNV also has the ability to shorten a drillhole if
greater than 10 characters. The dashes and slashes are removed and the remaining user
specified characters are kept. For example, 1AA/01-09-096-11W4/00 would be shortened to
A010909611 using characters 3 to 12.

Figures 2a. LASCNV panel

for specifying files to use and
drillhole ID options.

The curves/dipmeter items to extract can be specified using up to three full names or three
keywords. LAS files from different drill programs may not have the exact same name for
each curve so the keywords ad/or aliases can be used to ensure that all appropriate data for
each curve is converted.
Mintec, Inc.
Global
Mining
Software
Solutions
Since
1970

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 Managing and Using Dipmeter Data

Figures 2b. LASCNV panel for

specifying LAS items/curves to extract.

LASCNV has an option for thinning/averaging the downhole data. Often the data is on a
really small interval which can make for a very large dataset. If using the averaging option,
then contiguous intervals having ALL the selected curve values within their tolerance will
be combined and each curve averaged. As soon as one curve is outside the tolerance or the
total maximum length is reached, then a record is output to the assay data file.

Figures 2c. LASCNV panel for thinning/averaging similar intervals.

After LASCNV has been run, the output file is in assay data file format (see Figure 3 for
example).
Mintec, Inc.
Global
Mining
Software
Solutions
Since
1970

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Managing and Using Dipmeter Data

Figure 3. Sample of assay data file format with dhid,

from, to, dip, and dip direction.

This file can be loaded directly to MSDH, or it can be merged with the collar and optional
downhole survey data using CONCSA. If the collar and downhole survey data isn’t already
available in ASCII format, it can be exported from the main MineSight drillhole file using
P20701. The output file from CONCSA can then be loaded to the MineSight drillhole files
using P20101. Any extra calculations can also be done. For example, if the dip coefficient
isn’t a curve item from the LAS files, it can be set to 1.0 for MS3D versions before MS3D
v.4.50. This item is no longer needed in MS3D v.4.50. If you are unfamiliar with CONCSA and
P20101, contact support@mintec.com.
As usual, all the steps can be combined into a multi-run (see Figure 4 for an example).

Figure 4. Example of multi-run to merge and load dipmeter data.

Geology data can also be added to the MineSight drillhole file by extracting it from the main
drillhole file using P20701 and appending it to the dipmeter intervals using P20201. If
the dipmeter data was loaded to MSDH, the geology data will automatically be available Mintec, Inc.
through the geology tables and a drillhole view. Global
The data is now ready for viewing in MS3D with a drillhole view. In addition to the regular Mining
color and histogram strips, the dipmeter data can be displayed using stick and tadpole/rose Software
diagram plots in 2D, and disks, rose diagrams, and geotech symbols in 3D. The first tabs of Solutions
the drillhole view are setup in the usual way. The Geotech tab is then used to setup all the Since
3D viewing options and part of the 2D viewing options (see Figure 5). 1970

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 Managing and Using Dipmeter Data

Figure 5. Geotech tab of drillhole

view for setting up 3D view options.

The dip direction and dip items are specified, along with the optional coefficient item. The
dip direction is the direction towards which the dip decreases. For example, a dip direction
of 90 means the bedding is dipping from west to east. When the original data has a strike
value rather than a dip direction, a P20801 user calculation is needed to adjust it by either
+90 or -90 depending upon whether the data uses a left or right hand rule (see the next
section “Downhole Dipmeter Data at Seam/Bed Intersections Only” for an example).
The coefficient is optional and is only used in the tadpole plots as an indication of
confidence in the dipmeter reading. The tadpole does not appear if the dipmeter reading is
below the min. coefficient, has an empty circle when it is between the min. and mid., and is
filled-in when it is above the mid.
Mintec, Inc.
If the Disks | Visible tick box is checked, then disks angled using the dip direction and dip
Global
and colored by the Color Item will be shown in 3D (see Figure 6a for an example). The disks
Mining can be placed at every interval or filtered using a count (i.e., in this case, every 10 intervals)
Software and/or they can be filtered based upon other items using our drillhole/model view
Solutions Python™ format, e.g., $(SEAM)=80 and $(COEFF)>0.3.
Since
1970

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Managing and Using Dipmeter Data

Figure 6a. Example of 3D disks.

Figure 6b. Sample of rose diagram.

Figure 6c. Sample of geotech symbol.

If the Collar/Rose/Geotech Dip Diagram | Visible and Rose Diagram tick boxes are
checked, then a rose diagram is shown at the collar of each drillhole (see Figure 6b for an
example). The rose diagram is a histogram of dip directions. It does not give any indication
of dip magnitude.
Mintec, Inc.
If the Collar/Rose/Geotech Dip Diagram | Visible and Geotech Dip Diagram tick boxes
are checked, then a geotech symbol is shown at the collar of each drillhole (see Figure 6c for Global
an example). The geotech symbol gives a feel for both the downhole dip directions and the Mining
magnitude of the dips. The dip directions are presented as a histogram by quadrant so it is Software
not as detailed as the rose diagram. The frequency distribution of the dip angles is displayed Solutions
as a histogram in each quadrant split out by the cutoffs from the dip item. The percentages Since
in all directions are normalized to 100 percent overall. This gives an indication of the 1970
distribution of the dip directions down the hole, along with the magnitude of the dip angles
in each quadrant. The example in Figure 6c shows the majority of the dip directions are in

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 Managing and Using Dipmeter Data

the NW and NE quadrants. Note that it doesn’t give the level of detail of the rose diagram
which shows a more accurate reading of between 320 and 10 degrees. The geotech symbol
also shows that most of the dip angles are less than 10 degrees.
The 2D viewing of the dipmeter data uses the dip direction, dip, and coefficient items
from the Geotech tab and the tadpole and/or stick strips from the Strips tab as shown in
Figure 7a. The only input for the stick strip is its width. The inputs for the tadpole display
are shown in Figure 7b. The tadpoles are displayed along the graph based upon their
magnitude. The coefficient is optional and is explained above. A downhole rose diagram
can also be drawn at certain depths or based upon the filtering of other items.

Figure 7a. Example of tadpole and stick strips. Figure 7b. Example of tadpole setup.

Figure 8 shows an example of a drillhole using the setup from above. One crucial
consideration when using MS3D v.4.50-00 is that the stick plots are drawn positioned like
a regular strip. This means that they are offset from the actual location of the drillhole. This
problem has been fixed and will be incorporated in the next versions of MS3D v.4.6. There
will be a new option to allow a strip to straddle the drillhole which will then position the
stick exactly where it needs to be.

Mintec, Inc.
Global
Mining
Software
Solutions
Since
1970

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Managing and Using Dipmeter Data

Figure 8. Example of 2D view with stick plot on left

and tadpole plot on right.

Downhole Dipmeter Data at Seam/Bed Intersections Only

The first example showed continuous downhole dipmeter data using LAS files. There are
also cases where the there are a limited number of dipmeter readings, often just at the main
seams/beds. In some of the cases, the readings can just be loaded to the main drillhole file.
In other cases, the CONCSA/P20101 method (as described in the previous section) needs to
be used. This example assumes that there are a limited number of downhole readings in an
ASCII assay data file format (see Figure 9 for a display of part of the file).

Mintec, Inc.
Global
Mining
Software
Solutions
Since
1970

Figure 9. Part of downhole dip/strike data file.

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 Managing and Using Dipmeter Data

The file contains the from and to depths, the seam code, and the dip and strike in left hand
rule format (i.e., hold left hand out, index finger is strike, middle finger is down dip). The
strike will have to be converted to a dip direction by adding 90 and then ensuring that it
isn’t greater than 360 by subtracting 360 when it is between 360 and 450. To handle the
adjustment, the dip direction item should have a range of 0 to 450. The multi-run in Figure
10 does all the necessary steps to load the MineSight drillhole file.

Figure 10. Multi-run to load and setup drillhole with dip and strike in ASCII assay file format.
The drillhole view for the stick plots is then setup in the same way as the previous drillhole
view example (see Figure 5 for the Geotech tab setup and Figure 7a for the stick plot
setup). A sample of this view is shown in Figure 11. Note the main drillhole file can also
displayed at the same time. Once again, the stick plot is offset from the drillhole in MS3D
v.4.50 but will be fixed in the next versions so that it can optionally straddle the drillhole
for its proper location.

Mintec, Inc.
Global
Mining
Software
Solutions
Since
1970

Figure 11. Sample of stick plot at seam/bed intersections only.

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Managing and Using Dipmeter Data

3D Surface Point Data

The third example is for dealing with 3D surface point data. This data typically has a point
ID, a 3D location, a optional geology code, and a dip and strike (see Figure 12 for part of a
sample file).

Figure 12. Sample of 3D surface points file with ptid, x,y,z,

seam, strike, and dip.

This type of data can be imported directly into a MineSight composite file using P50001.
Figure 13 shows an example of a multi-run to load and setup the composite file. This
example just uses a composite file 9 without a collar file 12. Extra items have been setup to
keep the DHID (i.e., DHID1,2 with range 0,0 and precision 1. Note: do not use -1 precision
as the DHID is a special alpha case) and for the top and bottom of the composite for better
MS3D viewing (ZTOP, ZBOT).

Figure 13. Multi-run to load 3D points and setup for MS3D viewing.

Since the example doesn’t have a collar file 12, the key prompts in P50001 are to load file 9
only and store the DHID into DHID1,2. The strike needs to be converted to a dip direction
using the same method described in the previous example. The ZTOP is set to ELEV, ZBOT
is set to ZTOP – 1, and LNGTH is set to 1. All composite runs must have the Use File 9
Only tick box checked.
Once the data is loaded and setup, the drillhole view is setup for the composite file only
without a collar file (see Figures 14a and 14b for dialog setup information).
Mintec, Inc.
Global
Mining
Software
Solutions
Since
1970

Figure 14a. DH view to composite file only. Figure 14b. Composite 3D location info.

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 Managing and Using Dipmeter Data

The display looks the same as the previous example even though the data is point data (see
Figure 15). The strip offset as mentioned in the previous two examples is also applicable
to this case. The main strip is on the left with a width of 5m. A second strip was added to
the right with a width of 0.1m which results in a small tick very close to the actual 3D point
location. This is a good method for now to properly locate the interpretation. Note usage of
the downhole dipmeter data from the previous example for assisting with the interpretation.

Figure 15. Sample of

interpretation using
3D surface point and
downhole dipmeter
data.

Conclusion
MineSight can be used to load, manage, and display downhole dipmeter and geophysical
log data, as well as 3D point data. The displays can be in both 2D and 3D and are very
useful for assisting with the geologic interpretation and geotechnical analysis.

Mintec, Inc.
Global
Mining
Software
Solutions
Since
1970

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