Geophysics and Shale Gas: Examples from Western Canada and Beyond

Summary Lockstep with increased North American and global shale gas activity over the last decade have been advances in technology and operational efficiency, primarily in completion and stimulation engineering. More recently there have also been advances in geological and geophysical characterization of these 'resource plays'. Currently, there is much interest in integrated geological, petrophysical, geomechanical and geophysical workflows for shale gas characterization, with different degrees of scientific sophistication evident amongst different operating and service companies. In this paper we present a case study from an active shale gas play in the Triassic age Montney Formation, Western Canada, which integrates surface seismic amplitude and elastic property volumes with petrophysical data and micro-seismic monitoring results. We also look at edge detection volumes as possible indicators of fracture intensity from the Montney Formation and within other basins from North America. The integration of reflection seismic data and appropriate attributes brings more geophysical rigor to a traditionally engineering dominated play type.