Importing Well Data

Voxler 3's WellRender module is a powerful tool for displaying well paths and logs. Well data may be imported from LAS files or from spreadsheets containing well information. Let's go over some tips and guidelines to import your well data from spreadsheets and create stunning models of your wells in no time!

Units of Measure

Voxler looks at units in the X, Y, and Z direction in a 1:1:1 ratio. This means no matter if your data is in latitude, longitude, feet, or meters, Voxler treats each unit as it if were the same. If your data uses a mix of units, this could result in an undesirable display. To create meaningful models, I recommend converting all your data to one unit of measure. For example, if your well depths are measured in feet, but your well collars are measured in latitude and longitude, I recommend converting your latitude and longitude values to feet by converting to the State Plane coordinate system. If your depths are in meters, I recommend using UTM meters for your well collars data. You can quickly and easily convert your latitude and longitude values to the coordinate system of your choice using Surfer.

Data Organization

To display your wells and sample data with the WellRender module, you will import a combination of collars information (X, Y, Z location of the well tops), log data, and trajectory information. Voxler uses measured depth values to plot the wells, and you can either import your data as a single sheet with pre-computed down-the-hole X, Y, and Z values or as multiple sheets containing collars, trajectory, and sample data. Let’s take a closer look at both ways the data may be organized.

Multiple table approach with directions survey information

The first way that the trajectory information may be organized is using a collars table, directions survey table, and samples table. With this approach, each table is on its own sheet in a workbook or in separate files. To use this approach, the following data is necessary: 

The three sheets contained in the SampleWellData.xlsx file (located by default at C:\Program Files\Golden Software\Voxler 3\Samples) are an example of data organized in this way. I used a subset of that data for the following example. Your worksheets may look similar to the snippets below:

Above: Collars table

 Above: Trajectory information

Above: Samples data

Single table approach with X, Y, and Z values down-the-hole

The other way your well data may be organized is with pre-computed X, Y, and Z values down-the-hole. Each well must have at least three XYZ points in order for Voxler to compute the well path. When using the single sheet approach, the following columns are required in your data file:

If desired, you may also include azimuth and dip or inclination information. Your worksheet may look like the snippet below:

Data for single sheet approach

Import Process

Now, let’s take a look at the process to import the well data with each method. I have uploaded all the data files and project files used in the following examples. They can be downloaded here.

Multiple table approach with directions survey information

1. Click the File | Import command.
2. Select MultipleTables.xlsx.
3. Click Open.
4. In the XLSX Import Options dialog, select Collars.
5. Click OK.
6. In the Select Data Columns dialog,
   1. Select Import as Wells.
   2. Check the Use header row box.
   3. From the Mark fields for dropdown list, select Collars. Each necessary data column now has an asterisk beside it. Your dialog should look like the one below. Do note that Well Name (ID) is not visible, but is listed above Top X (Collar Easting) and is assigned to Column A.

       

      

    Select Data Columns dialog for the collars table

7. Click OK.
8. Click the File | Import command.
9. Select MultipleTables.xlsx.
10. Click Open.
11. In the XLSX Import Options dialog, select Trajectories.
12. Click OK.
13. In the Select Data Columns dialog,
    1. Select Import as Wells.
    2. Check the Use header row box.
    3. From the Mark fields for dropdown list, select Dir. Survey. Each necessary data column now has an asterisk beside it.
    4. Check the Add to existing WellData module box if it is not checked. Your dialog should look like the one below.

        

       
       

        Select Data Columns dialog for the trajectory information

14. Click OK.
15. Click the File | Import command.
16. Select MultipleTables.xlsx.
17. Click Open.
18. In the XLSX Import Options dialog, select Samples.
19. Click OK.
20. In the Select Data Columns dialog,
    1. Select Import as Wells.
    2. Check the Use header row box.
    3. From the Mark fields for dropdown list, select From/To Logs. (If your data contained measured depth instead of intervals, you would select Logs/Curves.) Each necessary data column now has an asterisk beside it.
    4. Click the Add Row button, and the Wells section is updated to contain the log data. If you have additional logs,
       1. Click the Add Row button.
       2. Set Type to Log.
       3. Select the appropriate Column.
       4. If necessary, enter the Log Name.
       5. Repeat for each log.
    5. Check the Add to existing WellData module box if it is not checked. Your dialog should look like the one below:

        

       
       

        Select Data Columns dialog for the samples data

21. Click OK.
22. Click the Network | Graphics Output | WellRender command, and the wells are displayed. However, the paths have not yet been computed.
23. In the Network Manager, select the WellData module.
24. In the Property Manager, click the Well Paths tab.
25. Click the Compute Paths button.

Single table approach with pre-computed X, Y, and Z values down-the-hole

1. Click the File | Import command.
2. Select XYZ_DownTheHole.xlsx.
3. Click Open.
4. In the Select Data Columns dialog,
   1. Select Import as Wells.
   2. Check the Use header row box.
   3. From the Mark fields for dropdown list, select XYZ Path. Each necessary data column now has an asterisk beside it.
   4. Click Top X (Collar Easting), and select X (Easting).
   5. Click Top Y (Collar Northing), and select Y (Northing).
   6. Click Top Z (Collar Elevation), and select Z (Elevation).
   7. Click the Add Row button, and the Wells section is updated to contain the log data. If you have additional logs,
      
      1. Click the Add Row button.
      2. Set Type to Log.
      3. Select the appropriate Column.
      4. If necessary, enter the Log Name.
      5. Repeat for each log.
   8. If you have azimuth, dip, or inclination data to include,
      1. Click the Add Row button.
      2. Set Type to your data type: Azimuth (Direction), Dip, or Inclination (Deviation).
      3. Select the appropriate Column. Your dialog should look like the one below; it may contain additional information in the Wells section.

          

         
         

         Select Data Columns dialog for single sheet approach 

5. Click OK.
6. Click the Network | Graphics Output | WellRender command, and the wells are displayed.
7. If you included trajectory information such as azimuth, dip, or inclination, the paths still need to be calculated. In the Network Manager, select the WellData module.
8. In the Property Manager, click the Well Paths tab.
9. Click the Compute Paths button.

Wells from the single table approach with additional modules

Once you have used one of the methods above to import and display your wells, you can use the Property Manager to enhance your display by modifying the WellRender properties, such as size and color. As demonstrated in the image above, you can also extract the points from the WellData module, grid the data and add more graphics output modules to create spectacular displays! For additional information on importing and displaying well data, please see the webinar recording, An In Depth Look at the WellRender and the Loading and Visualizing Well Data Voxler training video.