Technical Note: Estima vs.

Advanced Estimation – Parameter Files

Reference: TN00252

Created: 14th April 2017

Last modified: 14th April 2017

1. INTRODUCTION

This document identifies the differences between estimation files for Advanced Estimation (AE) and the
older estimation processes available in the previous version of StudioRM (RM). Excel file
Compare_Parameter_Files.xlsx gives a summary of the fields for each file type and should be viewed when
reading this document.

2. EXPERIMENTAL VARIOGRAM FILE

AE and RM both use the VGRAM process to calculate experimental variograms. AE has separate runs for
directional and downhole variograms and then appends the two output files. It adds a new field,
DOWNHOLE, to the combined file to distinguish between downhole variograms (1) and directional (0).

3. VARIOGRAM MODEL PARAMETER FILE

AE creates the same set of variogram model parameter fields as RM and adds five extra fields:

• GRADE;a8 first input grade field

• GRADE2;a8 second input grade field. Same as first field for univariate variogram
• VSETNUM;n variogram set number. Models are in the same set if created as multivariate
• GOODFITP;n goodness of fit parameter
• FITCONV;n another fitting parameter!

The AE model can be exported (Variography | Fit Models | Save Models | Export) and used directly as
input to ESTIMA, etc.

The fields GRADE, GRADE2 and VSETNUM must be added to the RM model file in order to import it
to AE. As Studio RM cannot create multivariate models each VREFNUM number should be assigned
a unique VSETNUM – setting VSETNUM=VREFNUM would be ok.

Import RM model into AE

The fields GRADE, GRADE2 and VSETNUM must be added to the RM variogram model file in order
to import it to AE. It is not necessary to add fields GOODFITP and FITCONV. As RM cannot create
multivariate models each VREFNUM number should be assigned a unique VSETNUM – setting
VSETNUM=VREFNUM would be ok

4. SEARCH VOLUME PARAMETER FILE

ESTIMA requires all the standard 25 Search Volume fields, with the exception of SDESC. These
fields are created when selecting the Search Volume Standard option from the Insert | Definition
menu in the Table Editor.

It can be seen from the Compare_Parameter_Files spreadsheet that AE creates 19 of the required 24
fields. The missing five fields are:

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 Field Default Description
SMETHOD 2 Search volume shape (1 = 3D rectangular, 2 = ellipsoid)
OCTMETH 0 Octant definition method (0 = do not use, 1 = use octants)
MINOCT 2 Minimum number of octants to be filled
MINPEROC 1 Minimum number of samples in an octant
MAXPEROC 4 Maximum number of samples in an octant

Note that there are differences in the definition of MAXIMUMi between AE and RM:

• AE MAXNUMi parameters are optimum rather than maximum whereas the RM MAXNUMi
parameters are true maximums. Refer to section 2.2.3 in
Tech_Note_Adv_Est_Compare_Estimates.docx for details.
• AE MAXNUMi parameters are per sector whereas the RM MAXNUMi are in total. If
sectors/octants are not selected then the two are the same.

Converting AE to RM

Converting the search volume parameter file from AE to RM is only possible under two sets of
conditions:

Condition set 1 (sectors not used):

• NSECTORS =0
• SPLITSEC =0
• Three or less dynamic search volumes are defined (SVOLFACi = 0, i=4,10)

If all the above conditions are met then the RM values can be calculated as:

• SMETHOD =2
• OCTMETH =0
• MINOCT, MINPEROC and MAXPEROC are not used so their values are irrelevant.

Condition set 2 (sectors equivalent to octants):

• NSECTORS =4
• SPLITSEC =1
• Three or less dynamic search volumes are defined (SVOLFACi = 0, i=4,10)
• SVOLFAC2 = 0 or (SVOLFAC2 > 0 and MAXNUM2 = MAXNUM1)
• SVOLFAC3 = 0 or (SVOLFAC3 > 0 and MAXNUM3 = MAXNUM1)

If all the above conditions are met then the RM values are calculated as:

• SMETHOD =2
• OCTMETH =1
• MINOCT = 8 - MAXEMPSC
• MINPEROC =1
• MAXPEROC = MAXNUM1
• MAXNUMi = MAXNUMi * 8, i=1,3

Converting RM to AE

If OCTMETH=0 and MAXKEY=0 then the AE values are calculated as:

• NSECTORS =0

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 • SPLITSEC =0
• MVSEARCH =0
• OPTKEY =0

If OCTMETH≠0 or MAXKEY≠0 then the criteria for converting RM to AE become too complex for any
automatic conversion.

5. ESTIMATION PARAMETER FILE

The fields in the estimation parameter files for RM and AE are shown in the Compare_Parameter_Files
spreadsheet. For AE the fields are split between an estimation parameter file and a fields parameter
file. It is not worthwhile considering any automatic conversion from one to another.

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