Indicator kriging for unit vectors: rock joint orientations

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Math. Geol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00896916· OSTI ID:5377845

Young, D S

Indicator kriging (IK) is extended to analyze three-dimensional random unit vectors and evaluate the local probability distribution of rock joint orientations in geological formations. The pole vector representing joint orientations is regionalized and projected on a plane normal to the mean attitude of the joint family and centered at the mean. A two-dimensional cutoff system is developed to define the indicator variable, and corresponding indicator variograms and indicator kriging. The cutoff system defines probability regions similar to those of a bivariate distribution, concentric rings sliced into radial sectors. A case study made on an open pit mine proved positively the efficiency of IK and encourages its applications to localized probabilistic structural modeling for geotechnical or geohydrological analysis and oil and gas reservoir analysis.

• Research Organization: Michigan Technological Univ., Houghton (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5377845
• Journal Information: Math. Geol.; (United States), Journal Name: Math. Geol.; (United States) Vol. 19:6; ISSN MATGE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580203* -- Geophysics-- Geophysical Survey Methods-- (1980-1989)
580300 -- Mineralogy
Petrology
& Rock Mechanics-- (-1989)
DISTRIBUTION
ENGINEERING
EXPLORATION
FAILURES
FRACTURE MECHANICS
FRACTURED RESERVOIRS
FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
HYDROLOGY
KRIGING
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICS
MECHANICS
ORIENTATION
PROBABILITY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESERVOIR ROCK
ROCK MECHANICS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
STATISTICAL MODELS
STATISTICS
SURVEYS
TENSORS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VECTORS