Structure Contour Maps

• Show contours connecting points of equal elevation

on a geologic surface…

– Fault
– Contact
– Bed
– Etc.

• Show elevation of the top of some geologic feature.

 Structure Contour Maps
• Drawn with a specific contour interval

• Trend of structure at any point is parallel to the

contour at that point
– Strike is tangent to contour
– Dip is perpendicular to contour

• Rules of thumb for spacing of contours is same as

for topography.

• Cross sections drawn using structure contours

show shape and depth (elevation) of layer
 isopachs,
• A contour that connects points of equal
thickness. Commonly, the isopachs, or
contours that make up an isopach map,
display the stratigraphic thickness of a
rock unit as opposed to the true vertical
thickness. Isopachs are true stratigraphic
thicknesses; i.e., perpendicular to bedding
surfaces.
• 1. Contour the data
shown
• 2. Interpolate between
nearby points. Avoid
extremely long-distance
interpolations.
• 3. Sometimes it pays to
treat the data as a series
of three-point problems.
• 4. Once you have a
clear mental picture of
the structure, construct
smooth contours to fit
the data.
 Some Rules for Construction

• Structure contours must still be parallel to the strike of a

structure at every point.
• Keep the contours as simple as possible consistent with the
data.
• Keep the contours smooth. Do not show abrupt changes in
curvature or spacing unless you have sound geologic reasons
to do so.
• Interpolate only between nearby points
• If the structure is only gently curved, you may find it useful to
approximate the structure as a series of plane segments at first.
For each group of three data points, construct structure
contours using the three-point method. Make sure the triangles
are as nearly equilateral as possible. Once the contours are
constructed, draw the final contours as smoothly as possible
using the construction as a guide.
• The diagram below
shows the three shale
dome groups.
•
 Traps Associated with Shale
Domes
• The Encino
field of San
Patricio and
Refugio
counties,
Texas has
small gas and
oil production
in rollover rim
traps. The
cross section
below shows
this feature.
Pinchout and truncation example
Upturned and trucation traps
• . Find the strike and dip of
the sandstone layer from
the map at left. Outcrops
are in brown.
• 2. For pairs of points at the
same elevation we can draw
structure contours directly.
The more points on a line,
the better.
• 3. In other areas we can use
the three-point method to
find structure contours.
• 4. Find dip by drawing a
cross-section or by
trigonometry.
Fold type, axial plane trace and sections
• This concept of contour lines
also works under ground. Just
like rocks above ground can
be seen to be bent, forming
anticlines (domes) or synclines
(saddles), these structures
extend beneath ground.
Therefore, if the geologist
understands what the structure
of the layers of rock
underground look like (either
by well data or geophysical
evidence such as seismic
reflections), he or she can
draw a contour map which
represents this structure
 Structure Contour Maps

• Drawn with a specific contour interval

• Trend of structure at any point is parallel to the

contour at that point
– Strike is tangent to contour
– Dip is perpendicular to contour

• Rules of thumb for spacing of contours is same as

for topography.

• Cross sections drawn using structure contours

show shape and depth (elevation) of layer
Structure Contour Maps
Structure Contour Maps
Structure Contour Maps
Structure Contour Maps
• A contour that
connects points of
equal thickness.
Commonly, the
isopachs, or
contours that make
up an isopach map,
display the
stratigraphic
thickness of a rock
unit as opposed to
the true vertical
thickness. Isopachs
are true
stratigraphic
thicknesses; i.e.,
perpendicular to
bedding surfaces.
• The rainbow
contours
correspond to
thickness of
overburden
sediment on the
ocean floor and the
increasingly pink
colors represent
greater sediment
thickness. For a
larger map of the
isopach contours
showing data points
and core locations,
click
 How to Contour A Map
• Geologists make all
kinds of contour
maps. Contouring is not
hard, but it takes lots of
practice and patience to
make a nice-looking map.
You start by "spotting", or
drawing, all the wells on
a map. In a large part of
the United States, the
Township and Range
System is used to spot
wells.
• Next, you look at the electric
logs for each well. We are
going to make an "isopach"
(eye-so-pak) map. An isopach
map is a map that shows the
thickness of something. In this
case, it is the thickness of a
sandstone formation.
• Count the number of feet of
sand in the zone you are
interested in. Then, put the
number of feet of sand below
each well spot.
• Start contouring with the highest
values. Use a "contour interval" that is
slightly less than the biggest
values. In this case, the first line
drawn is the 40-foot contour.
• As you draw your line, look carefully
when you pass between two
wells. Try to use your eye like a
"ruler", and position the line at the
proper distance between the two
wells. Notice the well with a footage of
"38". Since 38 is very close to 40 (the
contour we are drawing, you should
"pull" the 40-foot contour over close to
the 38-foot line, like I did here.
• If there is a "40" on the map (there is
on this one), you will draw the 40-foot
line right through that well
• Now draw the 30-foot
contour. "Eyeball"
the map and be sure
to leave the proper
amount of room for
the remaining contour
lines. Use a pencil,
because you have to
erase a lot!!
• Finish the map by
drawing the 20-foot,
10-foot, and zero
contour lines. Label
the "contour interval"
you used at the
bottom of the map. In
this case, the contour
interval is 10 feet.