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Collaborating Authors
Geokinetics Integrated Reservoir Geosciences
Risk Reduction for Prospecting in the Unconventional Niobrara Play
Rebec, Tony (Geokinetics Integrated Reservoir Geosciences) | Pareja, Marino (Geokinetics Integrated Reservoir Geosciences)
Introduction The seismic characterization of the Niobrara presented here is based on recently acquired wide-azimuth 3D seismic data in Weld County, N.E Colorado (Figure 1), and publically available well data for calibration within the area. The presentation starts with the location and geologic setting of the Niobrara and its vertical reference to the seismic response (Figure 2). An association is made using geometric attributes relating the complex subtle faulting to the Laramide Orogeny, which occurred in a series of pulses with intervening quiescent phases, possibly influencing hydrocarbon production. This sets the local structural framework for using fracture anisotropy and related rock properties for locating possible areas of significant interest. The Niobrara Formation lies in a thermally mature fairway which today is the Denver-Julesburg Basin. These sediments were deposited in an ancient Cretaceous seaway (Western Interior Seaway) running in a north-south direction through the mid-western United States, with ends open to the ocean. The Niobrara is carbonate rich on the east side, where the study area is located producing oil, and clay rich on the west side of the Basin. The Smoky Hill Chalk Member is 300โ400 ft thick and composed of three key limestones (chalk) benches A, B and C which are each approximately 30โ40 ft. thick (Figure 2). They are named from their resistive nature as seen along cliff exposures, and are intercalated with organic rich marls, the source rock. URTeC 1576924
- Geology > Rock Type (1.00)
- Geology > Geological Subdiscipline > Geomechanics (1.00)
- Geophysics > Seismic Surveying > Seismic Processing (1.00)
- Geophysics > Seismic Surveying > Surface Seismic Acquisition (0.70)
- Geophysics > Seismic Surveying > Seismic Interpretation > Seismic Reservoir Characterization (0.49)
- Geophysics > Seismic Surveying > Seismic Modeling > Velocity Modeling > Seismic Inversion (0.31)
- North America > United States > Wyoming > Niobrara Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Wyoming > Laramie Basin > Niobrara Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Wyoming > DJ (Denver-Julesburg) Basin > Niobrara Formation (0.99)
- (11 more...)
Complementary Role of Multi-Component and Conventional 3D Seismic for Risk Reduction in Unconventional Resource Plays - A Marcellus Shale Example
Rebec, Tony (Geokinetics Integrated Reservoir Geosciences) | Zhao, Zhiyong (Geokinetics Integrated Reservoir Geosciences)
Abstract A common question asked by Geologist, Engineers and Geophysicists involved in unconventional resource plays is " can multi-component 3D seismic help in my onshore exploration effort". The question has been answered in offshore exploration with numerous examples of reservoir improvements associated with gas clouds and low P-wave impedance contrasts. This paper answers this question for onshore unconventional plays using the Marcellus Shale as an example. It shows that using shear-wave measurements recorded from multi-component 3D seismic, provides better characterization enabling improved vertical resolution and lateral continuity of the Marcellus formation members, superior determination of geomechanical properties such as brittleness, and, good differentiation of density and Total Organic Content (TOC). This example uses a recent proprietary multi-component 3D recorded simultaneously with a large conventional 3D covering the thickest and highest TOC area in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, where Marcellus drilling activity is highest.The paper shows a comparison of the results obtained from a conventional elastic inversion for two cases, one using the conventional P-wave data, where the shear component is estimated, and the second using the multi-component shear data, where it is measured. It is observed that the second case using the measured shear provides improved vertical resolution and lateral continuity of the Marcellus formation members providing potential new insights for Marcellus exploration. Geometric attributes are shown which detail the complex structural framework which can be used to assist in any structural association relating to the attributes derived from elastic inversion. The inversion results are used to calculate geomechanical and rock properties of the Marcellus interval. Comparisons are shown for the two inversion cases for the Upper and Lower Marcellus Intervals. Crossplots of Young's Modulus and Poisson's Ratio (Brittleness based on Rickman et al - SPE paper) are compared showing that in general the Lower Marcellus exhibits a lower brittleness than the Upper Marcellus which is better defined in case 2. The depositional presence of high TOC content in the Lower Marcellus shown on gamma ray logs is reflected in low values on density logs. This indicates that it is possible to find these high TOC sweet-spots on seismic data under the right conditions. Crossplots of rock properties show that these sweet-spots can be detected, where case 2, with improved density estimates, is interpreted as showing better differentiation. URTeC 1576906
- North America > United States > West Virginia (1.00)
- North America > United States > Virginia (1.00)
- North America > United States > Ohio (1.00)
- (3 more...)
- Geology > Geological Subdiscipline > Geomechanics (1.00)
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Rock > Mudrock > Shale (0.90)
- Geology > Petroleum Play Type > Unconventional Play > Shale Play > Shale Gas Play (0.64)
- North America > United States > West Virginia > Appalachian Basin > Marcellus Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Virginia > Appalachian Basin > Marcellus Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > South Dakota > Williston Basin > Bakken Shale Formation (0.99)
- (12 more...)