Abstract
Traditionally, modeling complex coal deposits in the Canadian Rockies has been a time consuming and inflexible process. Geologists often spent months manually interpreting geologic sections before using these to code a 3D Block Model. Working sections were defined in drillhole compositing and could not be changed downstream. Resulting seam surfaces were often jagged and not easily used by engineers in design.
Over the past two decades, use of radial basis function (RBF) modeling has revolutionized how geologists build structural models. For complex coal deposits, adoption of this technology has come slowly. SRK has recently developed techniques that successfully use RBF modeling to produce accurate complex coal structural models. Using results from RBF processes, SRK has also developed techniques for quickly building working sections and producing a reserve model that fits seamlessly into existing processes used by engineers in the Canadian Rockies.
The result is a more robust resource and reserve model produced in less time. Seam footwalls are less jagged and easily used in design. Working sections are produced after structural modeling, allowing engineers to control this process.