A computer-implemented method of stratigraphic modeling of one or more faults, the method comprising: (a) generating a stratigraphic grid volume representing a plurality of subterranean layers, the stratigraphic grid volume being defined by a global coordinate system and comprising a fault; (b) dividing the stratigraphic grid volume into a plurality of grid sub-volumes, wherein: each sub-volume is defined by a lower reference surface and an upper reference surface, a local coordinate system is defined on each reference surface, the local coordinate system of each reference surface has an origin which is defined within the global coordinate system, each grid sub-volume comprises a plurality of cells, and each cell is spatially defined by coordinates relative only to the upper or lower reference surface of the grid sub-volume concerned which is defined by its own local coordinate system so that the cells do not contain any global spatial information; (c) separating each of the upper and lower reference surfaces of each grid sub-volume into a foot wall surface section surface and a hanging wall surface section surface; (d) extending each reference surface from each grid sub-volume to follow the fault; (e) grouping the reference surfaces from the foot wall section together to form a foot wall surface set, and the reference surfaces from the hanging wall section together to form a hanging wall surface set; and (f) shifting the foot wall surface set and the hanging wall surface set along the fault to model movement along the fault, and wherein at least one of (a) through (f) is performed on a computer. (a) generating a stratigraphic grid volume representing a plurality of subterranean layers, the stratigraphic grid volume being defined by a global coordinate system and comprising a fault; (b) dividing the stratigraphic grid volume into a plurality of grid sub-volumes, wherein: each sub-volume is defined by a lower reference surface and an upper reference surface, a local coordinate system is defined on each reference surface, the local coordinate system of each reference surface has an origin which is defined within the global coordinate system, each grid sub-volume comprises a plurality of cells, and each cell is spatially defined by coordinates relative only to the upper or lower reference surface of the grid sub-volume concerned which is defined by its own local coordinate system so that the cells do not contain any global spatial information; each sub-volume is defined by a lower reference surface and an upper reference surface, a local coordinate system is defined on each reference surface, the local coordinate system of each reference surface has an origin which is defined within the global coordinate system, each grid sub-volume comprises a plurality of cells, and each cell is spatially defined by coordinates relative only to the upper or lower reference surface of the grid sub-volume concerned which is defined by its own local coordinate system so that the cells do not contain any global spatial information; (c) separating each of the upper and lower reference surfaces of each grid sub-volume into a foot wall surface section surface and a hanging wall surface section surface; (d) extending each reference surface from each grid sub-volume to follow the fault; (e) grouping the reference surfaces from the foot wall section together to form a foot wall surface set, and the reference surfaces from the hanging wall section together to form a hanging wall surface set; and (f) shifting the foot wall surface set and the hanging wall surface set along the fault to model movement along the fault, and wherein at least one of (a) through (f) is performed on a computer. <EOS>