Analysis of different gridding

methods using “Surfer7”

Michigan
Technological
University
presentation by
Fehmi Kamcili
February 10, 2001

Fig.: Shaded Relief and Contour map

 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Table of content
• Introduction
• Grid Files
• Grid Methods
1. Inverse Distance to a Power; 2. Kriging;
3. Minimum Curvature; 4. Modified Shepard’s Method;
5. Natural Neighbor; 6. Nearest Neighbor;
7. Polynomial Regression; 8. Radial Basis Function;
9. Triangulation w/ linear Interpolation
• Best Results
• Conclusion
 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Introduction

• Surfer 7; Feb. 2000

Surface mapping system
Golden Software, Inc.
• Differences in created
grid-files visualized by
overlaying wireframe
Fig.: Wireframe and Contour Map and contour maps
• Vernon/Rosebuch oilfields in Isabella county, Michigan
with 245 well Data-Points (Lat-Long of Top Dundee)
 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Grid Files

Fig.: Contour and Post Map
• gridding by specifing
source file
-Spreadsheets (Excel)
-manually in Surfer
(Worksheet)
• gridding method
• accuracy of grid
• faults and breaklines
• creates “file.grd”
 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Grid Methods
• Inv. Distance to power
• Kriging
• Minimum curvature
• Modified shepard’s
• Natural neighbor
• Nearest neighbor
• Polynomial regression
• Radial basis function
Fig.: Wireframe Map
• Triangulation w/ linear
interpolation
 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Fig.: Power:
0.00001
-2905.1933
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Inverse Distance to a
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Power
• weighting average
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interpolator
• Power parameter
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between 1E-38 & 38
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-2880 “0” = planar surface;

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great weighting power
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= less effect on points
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-2950 far from the grid node

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during interpolation
Fig.: Power: 2
 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Fig.:
Power: 8
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Inverse Distance to a
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Power
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• exact or smoothing
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interpolator
• generate "bull's-eyes”
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-smoothing reduce
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this effect
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• very fast method for

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gridding
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-till 500 Datapoints
Fig.: with -2960
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smoothing: 0.01
 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Kriging
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• express trends
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suggested in your data
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-2940 • Point or Block

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-Block is using
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average values-
Fig.: Point Kriging smoother; not perfect
• by entering path & file • specify & add as
name production estimated many variogram-
standard deviation grid components as wished
 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Minimum Curvature

• smooth but not exact

• recalculation of grid
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node values until

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-3000
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reached less of max.
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Residual value, or
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max. Iteration
• Set Internal and
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Fig.: default Boundary Tension

• Relaxiation Factor
 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Fig.: 1 -2800 Modified Shepard’s
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Method
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• Like IDP Method
• exact or smoothing
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• Weighting and
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Quadratic Neighbors
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-3000
parameters specifies
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size (number) of local
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neighborhood
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• Fig.1: Q13/W19;
Fig.: 2
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Fig.2: Q40/W60
 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Natural Neighbor

• Natural Neighbor
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interpolation
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algorithm uses a
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-2910 weighted average of

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neighboring
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observations, where
the weights are
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proportional to new
Fig.: default
added polygons
 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Nearest Neighbor

• assigns value of the

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nearest point to each
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grid node
• useful when data are
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spaced
• this method is
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Fig.: default effective for filling

missing values
 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Polynomial
Fig.: 1 -2875

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Regression
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-2900 • used to define large-

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scale trends &
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• not real interpolator

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unknown Z values)
• Fig.1: Simple planar
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linear saddle
Fig.: 2 -2960
 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Radial Basis
Function
1. Inverse Multiquadric
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2. Multilog
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3. Multiquadric
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4. Natural Cubic Spline
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-3000
-3010
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5. Thin plate Spline
• 1.; 2.; 4.- error
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Fig.: 5. Thin plate spline • 5.- good; 3.- best

 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Radial Basis
Function
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• all exact
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interpolators
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+ smoothing factor
• = variogram in K.
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(mathematically
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specifies spatial
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variability of data set

Fig.: 3. Multiquadric & resulting grid file
 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Triangulation w/
linear Interpolation
• creates triangles by
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drawing lines
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between data points
• exact interpolator
-2910

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• for evenly distributed

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data over grid area
-sparse areas result in
Fig.: default distinct triangular
facets on map
 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Best Results

Kriging is exact, has many options & modifications,

but needs knowledge -2860

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Fig.: Point Kriging -2980

 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Best Results

Radial Basis Function is exact, shows nice views

& is uncomplicated
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Fig.: Radial Basic -2960

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Function; Multiquadric -2970

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 Analysis of different gridding
methods using “Surfer7”
Conclusion

• I did not consider all aspects & details

• Surfer is very powerful for the 3D-Visualization
• Surfer 7 works:
-fast & without consuming much disk space
-uncomplicated with Object manager
• All processes (gridding, mapping) can be automated
with writing programs in Visual Basic
• Help content is very useful & describes also background
information