Geovariances: Where no one has gone before

 Isatis 2012 improves productivity

• Automatic Variogram Fitting
  
  Variogram Fitting now enables the automatic fitting of elaborate experimental variograms. This feature is unique in the world of geostatistics software as it is the only one that handles complex variography and allows quick and high-quality fitting of multivariate, multi-directional and multi-structure variograms. This innovative feature is particularly of interest when updating resource models with new data. Combined with Isatis batch procedures, it allows the set up of efficient automatic estimation workflows using models adjusted at best.
  
  The algorithm has been developed by the Geostatistics Group from Mines ParisTech Geosciences Department and is based on quadratic optimization methods. The procedure is able to identify anisotropies and to optimize variogram ranges, sills, and other involved parameters for each basic structure, each simple or cross-variogram, in all directions of the space simultaneously. If a basic structure is not necessary in the model, the program is also able to discard it. It also handles non-stationarity.

 Isatis 2012 models complex geological environment with ease

• Modeling alluvial deposits
  
  The new Meandering Channel Simulations (Flumy) offers an advanced way of modeling sedimentary deposits thanks to the combination of process-based and stochastic approaches.
  
  The model is based on the evolution in time of the channel by migration, cut-off and avulsion, and on the deposition of sedimentary bodies such as sandy point bars, mud plug, crevasse splays, overbank alluvium and organic matter.
  
  It involves a reduced number of geological parameters that can be inferred from logs and environmental deposit knowledge, which makes it easy to implement.
  
  This new model, which results from the Flumy research consortium from the Geostatistics Group from Mines ParisTech Geosciences Department, offers a meaningful input for optimum oil recovery, water supply or CO2 storage studies.

• Modeling local heterogeneities
  
  Isatis Quick Interpolation, Kriging and SGS let you now interpolate angular information, including directions or anisotropy systems.
  
  Isatis stores this new data type into points, grid or lines files as the gradient components or the azimuth and the dip of a vector, or as three rotation angles defining an anisotropy system. The 3D Viewer also enables the quick display of such data.
  
  These interpolated angles are meaningful input to Local Geostatistics, allowing setting local anisotropy directions for more an accurate estimation.
  
  New functions to compute gradients have also been added in the Calculator and the Grid Operator.

• Modeling complex geology
  
  The Impala-based Multiple-point Simulations benefits from performance improvements of the Impala library new version.

 Isatis 2012 enriches resource evaluation

• Computing grade tonnage curves
  
  The new Grade Simulation Post-processing lets you compute grade tonnage curves from block simulations computed on Selective Mining Units or on panel grids.
  
  The existing Grade Tonnage Curves - which allows computing grade tonnage curves from Ordinary Kriging, Disjunctive Kriging, Uniform Conditioning or Multiple Indicator Kriging - now handles 2D block models with a given thickness (where grades along the vertical direction are considered as constant like in stratiform deposits) and irregular block models. The user can also compute curves from simulations.

 Isatis 2012 refines estimations

• Adjusting the neighborhood
  
  The moving neighborhood can now be split into upper and lower sectors to have a better spread of the selected samples.
  
  Also, too large or too small values can now be ignored or replaced by a given value in the estimation process.
  
  
  
  

 Isatis 2012 delivers new variables

• Computing new attributes
  
  1D, 2D, 3D Fast Fourier Transform and inverse transforms have been added in the Grid Operator generating two attributes, the real part and the imaginary part of a variable which can be used to perform seismic filtering in the frequency space.

• Computing new statistics
  
  New Copy Points Statistics to Polygon lets you calculate statistics over polygons of a Polygon File. In the same way, Copy Grid Statistics to Grid now allows compute statistics between grids of identical or different dimensions (2D/3D).

 Isatis 2012 facilitates data manipulation

• Reading new file format
  
  Isatis increases its powerful integrative capacities even more by adding new import and export interfaces with NetCDF files (Network Common Data Form).
  
  The software allows loading wireframes exported through the Gocad® Isatis plug-in.

• Defining new orientation angles
  
  In order to be more in line with other software applications, a new way of defining rotation systems, Reference Plane Definition, has been added to Isatis. The feature has been complemented with two new rotation conventions: Geologist Direction (defined by an azimuth and a dip) and Geologist Plane (defined by an azimuth, a dip and a pitch).

 Isatis 2012 eases software usage

• Improving interface
  
  The Model Definition interface has been redesigned for the user to access the parameters to be defined more quickly.
  
  The graphic representations which summarize the results of the Cross-validation process have been improved in order to better visualize the locations of the outliers.
  
  Isatis also allows extracting a new grid from an existing one, coarsening or refining its meshes.

• Improving parameter definition
  
  The facies categories can now be defined straight from integer values.
  
  The cutoff values can be derived from the Cumulative Density Function.
  
  Isatis ability to transform a variogram model of a gaussian variable into a discretized variogram of the corresponding raw variable has been extended to multivariate variograms.

 Isatis 2012 distributes licenses with more flexibility

Isatis now makes use of the commercial license management software RLM from Reprise Software for a safer and more flexible management of licenses on Windows and Linux operating systems. RLM also allows easier network license borrowing without the need for a dongle device.