Extracting and Unfolding a Stratigraphic Unit to Update Property Population

With the wide usage of geo-modelling tools, users could have the need to enhance their previous geostatiscal population without rebuilding an entire stratigraphic model In this paper we explain how we can extract non explicit information from a stratigraphic model (reference iso-chronological surfaces, faults used to constraint the model), and then, use this information to realise 3D flattening on iso-chronological surfaces prior to geostatiscal population. Three methods were presented here: traditional by topological correspondence, vertical shear and an original isometric unfolding process based on the minimization of the elastic tensor deformation. These methods could be applied for every type of deposit: Horizontal, Parallel to Top, parallel to Bottom, Proportional. Then, we compare the application of these methods on several case studies and develop the advantages to reengineer a stratigraphic model and repopulate it after flattening Even if the “traditional” and vertical shear methods could be applied on certain situations, following multiple test bed as the ones presented in this paper, we are thinking that the isometric unfolding presented here is much reliable. As a consequence, we will exploit more and more this isometric unfolding method in the next future and process each lithostratigraphic unit independently than the others.