www.impacttectonics.org
G.C. Herman, PhD March 22, 2026

BoreholeSectionPro_v35.exe (50.5 MB) User Guide

Please email me at gcherman56@yahoo.com if you're interested in obtaining the program.

1. INTRODUCTION

The Borehole Section Engine (v.35) is a specialized structural geology tool designed to project 3D borehole televiewer (BTV) data onto a 2D cross-section. This is a MS Windows executable version of a python script that can help visualize a site's hydrogeological or structural framework by reading comma-delimited files that specify borehole features and well-log responses, and automatically createa two-a two- or three-slide PowerPoint presentation of the results.

The program reads data files for all boreholes in a directory, plots the primary and secondary structures at their specific positions and apparent dips in the cross section of specific azimuth, generates structural rose diagrams (histograms) of each feature type, optionally handles borehole drift using vector displacement logic, and optionally generates geophysical-log plots if those files are in the folder. If the 'Drifted' borehole option is chosen, the the geophysical logs are plot along the drifted borehole trace.

BTVVfeature logsfeature logs specify the primary and secondary geological structures that are generated and placed directly into a 1:1 scale cross section in MS PowerPoint along with an abstracted topographic profile, depth scale (Altitude - m), and feature lege.d. The program has three user-input prompts for specifying the borehole directory, and two menus to set the borehole trace mode (vertical or drifted) and specify the line scales of represented structural planes. It uses set line colors for primary bedding or layering/foliation (green), fractures (red), faults (black), and cleavage (gray), but random, dark colors for any other type of features specified in the BTV table under the 'Type' field. Line weights for planar features are set to 1.0 pt. weight. Geophysical logs are plotted using a medium-gray, continuous line (0.5 pt. weight) that can be copied or moved as a group. Conductive planes when noted are prioritized in the symbol hierarchy; that is, if a plane is noted as 'Kind' 'Conductive', it is scaled and colored as 'Conductive' despite being of Types 'Bedding' or 'Fracture'.

Tabular input files

Example comma-separated-value (csv) files are shown below.

Well data (Wells.csv):

Well,Latitude,Longitude,Altitude (m)
SB1,40.358869,-74.767685,57
SB3,40.358963,-74.766593,53
SB6,40.359119,-74.767697,57

BTV data (SB1.csv):

Id,Altitude (m),Azimuth,Dip,Type,Kind,Sense,BHAzm,BHTilt
1,47.46,43,188,Fracture,,Mineralized,214,3
2,46.24,34,25,Bedding,,,208,3
3,45.94,62,198,Fracture,,Mineralized,211,3
4,45.02,15,19,Bedding,,,219,3
5,42.89,27,185,Fracture,,Mineralized,220,3
6,41.98,34,14,Bedding,,,216,4
7,41.67,61,198,Fracture,,Mineralized,220,3

Gamma-ray log (SB1Log.csv):

Altitude (m),Response
43.39,82.0313
43.29,76.2031
43.19,95.6094
43.09,76.8164
42.99,97.5859
42.89,99.9023 

Four water wells in fractured dolomite

Slide 1  

    

Eight water wells in fractured mud rock, 2 with gamma logs.

Slide 1

Slide 2

Slide 3

1. Wells.csv: A master file containing the geographic locations of all borehole collars.
2. Individual Well Files: Separate BTV CSV files for each borehole containing the structural readings and drift measurements.
   The well-file names must be the same as those used in the Wells.csv file.
   For example, for the Wells.csv shown above, the corresponding BTV file names are TW.csv, OW1.csv, etc.
3. WellLogs: The program also prompts to plot well logs along any borehole that has a [Wellname]Log.csv name.  It's up to you to remember the type of log that you plot and annotate the log slide accordingly.

• Well: Borehole ID (e.g., Well1).
• Longitude: Decimal degrees.
• Latitude: Decimal degrees.
• Altitude (m): Elevation of the well collar in meters above sea level.

• Altitude (m): Elevation of the specific reading.
• Dip: True dip angle (0-90°).
• Azimuth: Dip direction (0-360°).
• Type: Structural category (Bedding, Layering, Foliation, Fault, Cleavage, Fracture).
• Kind: Used specifically to identify "Conductive" planes.
• Optional Drift Columns:
   
  • BHAzm: Incremental borehole azimuth (0-360°).
  • BHTilt: Incremental borehole tilt/inclination from vertical (0-90°).

. HOW TO RUN THE TOOL. HOW TO RUN THE TOOL

1. Launch: Run or double click on the compiled BoreholeSectionPro_v33.exe. The program can take up to a minute to load with nothing happening on the screen. Be patient until you see the 'Select Project Data Folder' menu appear.2.
   
   
2. Select Folder: A Windows folder browser will appear. Select the project folder containing your Wells.csv. Once Selected press [Select Folder].

5. INPUT PARAMETERS

1. Next, slecttTthe Borehole Trace Style:
   
    
   
   Please note that the [Drifted] option requires BHAZM and BHTILT values in the BTV tables. Otherwise, breholes are treated as straight vertical lines.. The [Drifted] option uses the borehole offset method described by Herman and others, 2015).
2. The next prompt sets the cross-section azimuth, scale, and line scale for the gamma-log traces and various types of planar features. After setting each variable, press the [Generate Presentation] button.

Upon successful execution the following window appears:

• Borehole Traces (Black): 
  • In Vertical mode, these are solid black lines.
  • In Drifted mode, the actual path is a solid black line, while a dashed vertical line (0.5 pt.) is provided as a spatial reference to emphasize the drift.
• Structural Symbols (Default Color Key): 
  • Green: Primary structures (Bedding, Layering, or Foliation).
  • Blue: Conductive planes.
  • Red: Fractures.
  • Black (1.5 pt.): Faults.
  • Medium Gray: Cleavage.
• Histograms: Separate rose diagrams for each type with an Orange vector representing the statistical mean trend.
• Scale Bar: A 50m scale bar with a center-justified label.

• Gamma-log trace use medium-gray lines of 0.5 pt. weight generated as a continuous line. The same cross-section elements and positions are used for the gamma plot as for the BTV-feature plot. Logs are plotted along the drifted borehole if that program option is chosen.
• Map black dots: Represent well collar locations.
• Map black Trace: Shows the orientation of the cross-section relative to the wells.

. TECHNICAL NOTES & TROUBLESHOOTINGG

• nductive variables take precedent. So if a plane is marked primarily as bedding and then conductive, it will be plotted as a conductive plane using the same symbology as for conductive fractures, faults, etc.Conductive variables take precedent. So if a plane is marked primarily as bedding and then conductive, it will be plotted as a conductive plane using the same symbology as for conductive fractures, faults, etc.
• Drift Logic: Drift is calculated incrementally from the collar downward. If BHAZM or BHTILT data is missing for a specific depth, that segment is treated as vertical.
• Scale Integrity: The section maintains a 1:1 aspect ratio, ensuring apparent dips are visually accurate without vertical exaggeration.
• File Access: Ensure the PowerPoint file is closed before running the tool, or a "Permission Error" will occur.

 8. REFERENCE