Survey Import Problems
Fix directional survey import issues in PetroBench. Resolve files that won't upload, parse failures, wrong column mapping, unit mismatches, and out-of-order survey points.
Your directional survey won't upload, or the data looks wrong after it imports. A directional survey defines the 3D path of your wellbore (measured depth, inclination, azimuth), and PetroBench uses it to compute the geometry behind every rod pump simulation. If the survey is off, your results will be too. Here's how to diagnose and fix the common problems.
Supported Formats
You import spreadsheet surveys through the Directional Surveys tab (Well Details > Directional Surveys > Import Survey), not the legacy well importer.
| Format | Extension | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CSV | .csv | Comma delimited, UTF-8 encoding |
| Excel | .xlsx, .xls | First sheet used (prefers a sheet named "Survey" or "Directional") |
| Text | .txt | Space or tab delimited |
PetroBench expects depths in feet and angles in degrees.
RodStar (.rsdx, .rsvx) and SRod (.inp6e, .inp7) files carry their own survey and go through the well importer instead. See Importing Wells.
Column Mapping
During import, PetroBench reads your header row and matches columns automatically. It recognizes several common names for each field:
| Column | Recognized Headers |
|---|---|
| Measured Depth | MD, Measured Depth, Depth, M.D. |
| Inclination | Inc, Incl, Inclination, Angle |
| Azimuth | Az, Azim, Azimuth, Direction |
If a column isn't recognized, rename its header to one of the standard names above and re-save the file. Review the preview before you confirm the import to make sure each column landed where you expect.
File Won't Upload
"Invalid File Format" Error
- Confirm the file has a supported extension (
.csv,.xlsx,.xls,.txt). - If you exported from another survey tool, re-save it as CSV and try again.
"Failed to Parse" Error
The file uploaded but PetroBench couldn't read it. Common causes:
- Blank rows at the top. The header row must be the first row. Delete any empty rows or title banners above it.
- Special characters in headers. Symbols, merged cells, or stray characters in the header row can break detection. Keep headers to plain text like
MD,Inclination,Azimuth. - Text in numeric columns. Units in the cell (for example
1500 ft), comments, or footer notes mixed into a number column will fail. Keep depth and angle columns purely numeric.
When in doubt, open the file in Excel, clean up the header row, delete anything above or below the data, and re-save as CSV (UTF-8). This resolves most parse failures.
Data Looks Wrong After Import
Depths Are Off
- Unit mismatch. PetroBench reads depths as feet. If your file is in meters, the values will be roughly three times too shallow. Convert to feet before importing.
- Wrong columns mapped. If depths look scrambled, the wrong column may have been picked up during import. Re-check the preview and confirm MD, inclination, and azimuth mapped to the right columns.
Survey Is Upside Down
PetroBench expects the shallowest MD first, with measured depth increasing down the file. Some survey exports list the deepest point first.
- Sort your file by MD in ascending order before importing.
- If you see a "MD values must be increasing" message, this is the cause.
Missing Data Points
- Rows with a blank MD, inclination, or azimuth are skipped during import.
- If your imported survey has fewer points than the source file, look for empty cells and fill or remove those rows.
- Inclination should fall between 0 and 90 degrees, and azimuth between 0 and 360 degrees (measured clockwise from North). Values outside these ranges usually mean a mapping or data-entry error.
Required vs. Optional Columns
| Required | Optional |
|---|---|
| Measured Depth (MD) | True Vertical Depth (TVD) |
| Inclination | North/South |
| Azimuth | East/West |
PetroBench auto-calculates TVD, dogleg severity, Northing, and Easting from MD, inclination, and azimuth, so the optional columns aren't needed. If you include them, they're used as-is where provided.
If your survey doesn't extend all the way to pump depth, PetroBench extrapolates the trajectory beyond the last point. The extrapolated section may not match your actual wellbore geometry. For accurate results, import a survey that reaches at least the pump setting depth.
Verify After Import
After importing, open Well Details > Directional Surveys and confirm:
- Point count. The number of survey points matches your source file (no rows silently skipped).
- Depth range. The deepest MD reaches at least your pump setting depth.
- Start and end. The survey starts near surface (shallowest MD) and increases downward.
- 3D Wellbore. The 3D visualization matches the shape you expect. Rotate and zoom to inspect the path. A vertical well should show a straight line down; a deviated well should curve as it does in real life.
- Primary survey. If this well had a survey before, set the new one as primary. Only one survey can be active per well.
When to Contact Support
Reach out to support@petrobench.com if:
- The file parses cleanly in Excel but PetroBench still won't import it.
- The imported survey looks wrong even after checking units, column mapping, and sort order.
- Column headers aren't detected despite using the standard names.
Include:
- The well name.
- The survey file you're importing (or a screenshot of the first several rows, including headers).
- The exact error message or a screenshot of what looks wrong.