Abstract: Interactive Modeling of Potential Fields in Three Dimensions

Hengren Xia, Richard Hansen, Norman Harthill, Peter Traynin

As computer work stations have developed in the past decade, interactive modeling of potential fields in 2 and 2.5 dimensions has become popular, but modeling in three dimension remains a problem. The goal of our research is to develop a full space, real-time, interactive modeling technique for potential fields in three dimensions. The modeling of potential fields in three dimensions includes three aspects: gravity field computation, physical properties, and model geometry construction.

Different algorithms for potential field computations have been analyzed. A combination of Parker's and Pohanka's algorithms appears to be the best for borehole fields.

Our new technique to construct the model geometry splits their geologic structure into layers and isolated polydehra and constructs each of these separately. An approach has been developed to plug the polyhedra into the layers and form a uniform numerical geologic structure in three dimensions.

All faces of the model are triangulated, which makes possible interactive editing of any part of the geometric model. The field recomputation for the edited model requires only evaluation of the field of a few triangles, which are connected with the edited vertex, so real-time response can be achieved.

Finally, the paper indicates how such a uniform numerical geologic structure in three dimensions can benefit other geophysical and geologic modeling.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90982©1994 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 21-24, 1994