How to Visualize Borehole Logs Easily with DrillHoleMS Borehole logging is a critical step in geology, mining, and civil engineering. Transforming raw drilling data into clear visual columns usually requires expensive software or complex programming. DrillHoleMS offers a budget-friendly, straightforward alternative. This application functions as an extension for Microsoft Excel, allowing you to generate professional stratigraphy plots, lithology logs, and well construction diagrams directly from your spreadsheets.
Here is a step-by-step guide to effortlessly visualizing your subsurface data using DrillHoleMS. 1. Prepare Your Data Structure
The secret to smooth visualization lies in how you organize your Excel spreadsheets. DrillHoleMS relies on specific columns to parse your data accurately. You need to create separate tables or tabs for different datasets.
Collar Table: This is your master list. It must include unique Hole IDs, X coordinates (Easting), Y coordinates (Northing), Elevation (Z), and Total Depth.
Lithology Table: This table tracks rock and soil types. It requires the Hole ID, From (start depth), To (end depth), and a lithology code or description.
Assay/Interval Table: If you are tracking chemical samples or geotechnical data like RQD, create a table with Hole ID, From, To, and the numerical values. 2. Define Your Color and Pattern Libraries
Before generating a chart, you must tell DrillHoleMS how to display each rock or soil layer.
Open the Dictionary Editor: Navigate to the DrillHoleMS menu in Excel to open the built-in dictionary manager.
Map Your Codes: Enter the exact lithology codes used in your data sheet (e.g., “SST” for sandstone, “SH” for shale).
Assign Visuals: Select standard USGS geological patterns or custom colors for each code. When the software reads “SST,” it will automatically fill that interval with a yellow sandstone pattern. 3. Generate a Single Borehole Log
To inspect an individual well or prepare a report for a specific drilling site, you can plot a 1D vertical log.
Select the Hole ID: Click the single log generation tool and select the specific borehole from your dropdown list.
Choose Your Columns: Tick the boxes for the data you want to display, such as lithology textures, text descriptions, and well construction details.
Plot the Log: Click generate. The software will instantly construct a scaled vertical column with a depth ruler, color-coded layers, and engineering annotations. 4. Build 2D Cross-Sections
Visualizing how layers connect between multiple boreholes is essential for geological modeling. DrillHoleMS handles profiles and cross-sections seamlessly.
Select Your Borehole Lineup: Choose the series of holes that form your cross-section line.
Set the Distance Scales: Define your horizontal scale and vertical exaggeration. Vertical exaggeration is highly useful for emphasizing thin, flat-lying sedimentary layers.
Correlate Layers: Use the auto-connect feature or export the plot to a CAD format to draw correlation lines between identical soil and rock units across different holes. 5. Export and Format for Reports
Once your logs look accurate, you need to share them with clients or include them in technical engineering reports.
Adjust Page Layouts: Use the software options to add titles, scales, north arrows, and a dynamic legend that matches your dictionary codes.
Export Formats: Save your final visual outputs directly as PDFs for easy sharing, or export them as DXF files to perform advanced editing in AutoCAD, ArcGIS, or QGIS.
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