The Dipmeter Advisor program is an application of Artificial Intelligence and Expert System techniques to the problem of dipmeter interpretation. Development of the rule-based program, which attempts to emulate human dipmeter analysis performance, began in 1978 and has now progressed to the field-test stage.

The program currently contains 90 rules which were obtained from a knowledge engineer's observation of one expert over a period of eighteen months. The program, which is designed to interact with the user and the geologist, divides the process of dipmeter interpretation into 11 successive phases. The sequence progresses from initial examination through validity checks, structural dip determination, structural dip deletion, missing-section analysis, depositional environment analysis, and stratigraphic analysis.

During the interpretation process the program asks the user for information about missing sections and depositional environments. If requested inputs are not available, the program then utilizes structural dip changes as missing-section indicators, and dip scatter plus shale resistivity (in some areas) as environmental indicators. After locating any structural dip changes, the program searches above the point of change for a mega-red dip pattern. If such a pattern is found, the vertical extent and azimuth of the pattern are used to determine the type of fault (growth, late) and the fault-plane orientation.

Stratigraphic interpretations are performed by comparing, with the rule base, the lithology, dip patterns, and menu of depositional features found within any given environment.

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