Construction of coherent 3D geological blocks

This paper presents a new approach and efficient methods to build directly coherent geological models honoring the most reliable data set and the assumed local deformation mode. A first set of methods, based on the simple shear model, allows one to build geological structures such as similar folds, rollovers and listric faults. A second set of methods, based on the flexural slip deformation mode, enables one to build structures such as concentric folds and ramp anticlines. The principle of the proposed methods is to construct new horizons and faults coherent with the better known ones. Thanks to these methods, it is straightforward to build quickly coherent 3D blocks based on the most reliable data (well, 2D or 3D seismic image, surface data). Horizons poorly imaged on seismic data can be completed simply. Eroded parts of the upper horizons can be easily extrapolated as well, Finally this provides a useful methodology to check the coherency between the fault and the horizon geometry. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.