Checkshot + markers
The Checkshot + markers method blends absolute depth-time calibration from checkshot surveys with intermediate depth picks supplied by well markers. Markers anchor velocity where checkshot sampling is sparse; checkshot calibrates absolute times. A kriging-based interpolator combines both sets of constraints into a single interval velocity cube.
Required inputs
- Checkshot data — one or more wells with depth-time tables.
- Markers — picks available on the same or on neighbouring wells.
- Constant Velocity — fallback value applied where neither checkshot nor markers constrain the grid.
Parameters
- Datum, Max Depth, Depth Step — output cube extent and sampling.
- Topography type — Internal or External topography.
- Min / Max Velocity — hard bounds clamping the output cube to physical values.
- Mapping parameters: control the well-tie interpolation.
- Max marker deviation from well — search radius used to associate markers with wells (default 50 m).
- Well Tie Interpolation type — Voronoi / ABOS / Triangulation / Kriging (default Kriging).
- Trend smooth — spatial smoothing radius applied to the trend (default 1000 m).
- Kriging Covariance — Spherical / Gaussian / Exponential, plus Kriging Range (correlation distance).
- Marker type interpolation — Linear or Regression; the regression mode adds a polynomial trend with user-supplied Regression coefficient.
- Extrapolate Checkshot and Extrapolate Checkshot to 0 — extend checkshot-derived velocity below the last layer and up to the surface.
- Max distance to layer — wells further than this distance from the current layer are excluded.
Workflow
- Select Checkshot + markers in the wizard.
- Configure Datum, Max Depth, Depth Step, Constant Velocity, Topography, Min/Max Velocity.
- Open the Mapping parameters section and choose an interpolation type and kriging settings.
- Enable checkshot extrapolation options if the model must extend beyond the checkshot sampling.
- Run the model. Interval velocities are computed from checkshot, corrected by markers, and interpolated into the grid.
Output
Interval and average velocity cubes, depth/time maps, per-well tie-quality metrics and mismatch logs at every marker used in the calculation.
When to use
- Wells carrying both checkshot and marker data.
- Areas where markers give lateral control that pure checkshot extrapolation cannot reach.
- When depth-time calibration and structural constraint need to be honoured in the same model.
If time horizons are available as additional constraints, prefer Checkshot + markers + horizons — it uses all three data types together.
See Also