Petrel 2008, 2009: How to import fault from a file of

points and convert it in a fault model.

It is not able to import the Fault Sticks from a file of points (XYZ) with an unknown format
directly into Petrel due to there is no predefined format in Petrel to import Fault from this
kind of file.

Fig1. Fault Point files (XYZ)

When we import this file directly as lines, there are no flag values in the file which indicate
where begin and finish each stick; therefore, Petrel doesn’t connect the points as separated
fault sticks. As well it is very laborious to edit this file to split each segments in independent
fault stick due to the huge amount of points that this file has.

A workflow is proposed to generate fault model, fault sticks and fault interpretation from
any file of points (XYZ) without a predefined format.

STEP BY STEP WORKFLOW:

1. Load the fault as Points using General Points/lines (ASCII) format:

From Main menu select Insert >New folder. RMB on the created folder and select
Import (on selection) > select the fault asc. file. Specify the correct file format (File of
type: General Points/lines (ASCII)).
In the Import lines/points dialog window select Read as line and define Number of
header line and X, Y, Z position.

In the next Input data dialog window select many points as Line type.
 Fig 2. Fault load as Points.

2. Convert points to surface using Make/Edit surface process:

a. Open the Make/Edit Surface process (double-click in the Processes

pane>Utilities).
b. Enter the fault points as the main Input; this is done by highlighting the
object in the Input pane and then using the Blue arrow to drop it in the
dialog window.
c. Name the output Fault surface.
d. Click on the Suggest settings from input button and in the drop-down menu
select Well Tops/Points (high density). Petrel automatically suggests
Convergent Interpolation method.
e. In the Geometry tab, press “Get limits from selected” (Note that the points
file has to be highlighting in the Input pane) and toggle on Make boundary
from main input and extend it with “0”nodes to avoid surface interpolation
beyond the data.
f. There is an option in the Post proc tab in the Make/edit surface process
which allows smoothing the existed surface (Pre-clipping smoothing
iteration). It can be used to get smother result.
 Fig 3. Fault surface from points.

3. Convert the created surface to fault model:

a. Open the Define Model (double-click in the Processes pane>Structural

Modeling). Create a new model.
b. Select Fault Modeling in the Processes pane under Structural Modeling.
c. From drop down menu for the created surface select Convert to fault in fault
model. Previously select the vertical, linear, listric or curved Pillar depending
on the type of fault you are modeling.
d. There is an option to change increment for pillars in the Setting tab for Fault
modeling process (Double click on modeling process - Setting tab –
Increment).
 Fig 4. Key Pillars generated for the fault in the model.

4. Convert the key pillar fault to fault sticks:

Right-click directly on the fault in the Model pane and select Convert to fault stick.
 5. Convert the Fault stick to Fault Interpretation:

Right-click directly on the fault sick in the Input pane and select Convert to fault
Interpretation.

Using this procedure we can even obtain a fault interpretation from an unknown fault file
format which has only (XYZ) values.
Fig 5. Fault interpretation from fault sticks.