Sonic QP/QS ratio as diagnostic tool for shale gas saturation

Geophysics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. MR97-MR103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaomu Qi ◽  
Tobias M. Müller ◽  
Marina Pervukhina
Keyword(s):  
Quality Factor ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Diagnostic Tool ◽  
Wave Attenuation ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Dominant Factor ◽  
Depth Interval ◽  
Gas Saturation ◽  
Attenuation Profiles ◽  
Gas Potential

Sonic [Formula: see text] ratio obtained from full-waveform acoustic logs in conventional sandstone reservoirs is known to be sensitive to the presence of gas, and it is regarded as a potential diagnostic tool for saturation discrimination. However, it is not known if such a saturation diagnostic tool will be applicable in unconventional reservoirs, such as in gas-saturated shales. We have analyzed the monopole and dipole waveform logs acquired from a shale gas exploration well in the Cooper Basin, South Australia. The depth interval of interest is 300 m thick, and it intersects three shale units in which the two underlying formations contain gas saturation of more than 30% and are identified as the primary exploration targets. We use the statistical average method to extract the [Formula: see text]- and the [Formula: see text]-wave attenuation profiles and obtain an average [Formula: see text]-wave quality factor of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]-wave quality factor of [Formula: see text]. The gas saturation of the lithological layers having [Formula: see text] is appreciably larger than the gas saturation of the others having [Formula: see text]. The net difference indicates that the saturation is a dominant factor in controlling the [Formula: see text] ratio in these shale formations. Based on the criterion [Formula: see text], we identify the intervals with high gas potential. This result is in good agreement with the prediction from an independently obtained saturation log based on petrophysical analysis. Furthermore, we found that the [Formula: see text] ratio can be jointly interpreted with the [Formula: see text] ratio to differentiate between the saturation and the lithology effects for a shale reservoir interbedded with sandstone layers. Our results underpin the concept of using the [Formula: see text] ratio as a hydrocarbon saturation indicator and provide insights into application of this technique for shale gas detection.

Shale gas prospectivity in South Australia

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 718
Author(s):  
Anthony Hill ◽  
Sandra Menpes ◽  
Guillaume Backè ◽  
Hani Khair ◽  
Arezoo Siasitorbaty
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Gas Generation ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Gas Potential ◽  
Gas Bearing ◽  
Excellent Source ◽  
Cooper Basin

Potential shale gas bearing basins in SA are primarily dominated by thermogenic play types and span the Neoproterozoic to Cretaceous. Whilst companies have only recently commenced exploring for shale gas in the Permian Cooper Basin, strong gas shows have been routinely observed and recorded since exploration commenced in the basin in 1959. The regionally extensive Roseneath and Murteree shales represent the primary exploration focus and reach maximum thicknesses of 103 m and 86 m respectively with TOC values up to 9%. These shales are in the gas window in large parts of the basin, particularly in the Patchawarra and Nappamerri troughs. Outside the Cooper Basin, thick shale sequences in the Crayfish Subgroup of the Otway Basin, in particular the Upper and Lower Sawpit shales and to a lesser extent the Laira Formation, have good shale gas potential in the deeper portions of the basin. TOC averages up to 3% are recorded in these shales in the Penola Trough; maturities in the range of 1.3–1.5% have been modelled. Thick Permian marine shales of the Arckaringa Basin have excellent source rock characteristics, with TOC’s ranging 4.1–7.4% and averaging 5.2% over an interval exceeding 150 m in the Phillipson Trough; however, these Type II source rocks are not sufficiently mature for gas generation anywhere in the Arckaringa Basin. Shale gas has the potential to rival CSM in eastern Australia; its potential is now being explored in SA.

scholarly journals Application of Dipole Array Acoustic Logging in the Evaluation of Shale Gas Reservoirs

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 3882
Author(s):  
Wenrui Shi ◽  
Xingzhi Wang ◽  
Yuanhui Shi ◽  
Aiguo Feng ◽  
Yu Zou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
P Wave ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Gas Reservoirs ◽  
Acoustic Logging ◽  
Gas Saturation ◽  
Shale Gas Reservoirs ◽  
Gas Potential ◽  
The Relationship

In order to effectively evaluate shale gas reservoirs with low porosity, extra-low permeability, and no natural productivity, dipole array acoustic logging, which can provide various types of information including P-wave slowness (DTC) and S-wave slowness (DTS), is widely used. As the dipole array acoustic logging tool has a larger investigation depth and is suitable for complex borehole environments, such as those with a high wellbore temperature, high drilling fluid column pressure, or irregular borehole wall, it has been mainly applied to the evaluation of lithology, gas potential, fractures, and stimulation potential in shale gas reservoirs. The findings from a case study of the Sichuan Basin in China reveal that the acoustic slowness, S-P wave slowness ratio (RMSC), and S-wave anisotropy of the dipole array acoustic logging can be used to qualitatively identify reservoir lithology, gas potential, and fractures. Using the relationship between DTC and the total porosity of shale gas reservoirs, and combined with the compensated neutron (CNL) and shale content (Vsh) of the reservoir, a mathematical model for accurately calculating the total porosity of the shale gas reservoir can be established. By using the relationship between the RMSC and gas saturation in shale gas reservoirs and tied with density log (DEN), a mathematical model of gas saturation can be established, and the determination of gas saturation by the non-resistivity method can be achieved, delivering a solution to the issue that the electric model is not applicable under low resistivity conditions. The DTS, DTC, and DEN of shale can be used to calculate rock mechanic parameters such as the Poisson’s ratio (POIS) and Young’s modulus (YMOD), which can be used to evaluate the shale stimulation potential.

P- and S-wave attenuation logs from monopole sonic data

Geophysics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 755-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinhua Sun ◽  
Xiaoming Tang ◽  
C. H. (Arthur) Cheng ◽  
L. Neil Frazer
Keyword(s):  
Wave Attenuation ◽  
Fluid Velocity ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Reservoir Rock ◽  
Rock Properties ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Intrinsic Attenuation ◽  
Modified Method ◽  
Receiver Array ◽  
Attenuation Profiles

In this paper, a modification of an existing method for estimating relative P-wave attenuation is proposed. By generating synthetic waveforms without attenuation, the variation of geometrical spreading related to changes in formation properties with depth can be accounted for. With the modified method, reliable P- and S-wave attenuation logs can be extracted from monopole array acoustic waveform log data. Synthetic tests show that the P- and S-wave attenuation values estimated from synthetic waveforms agree well with their respective model values. In‐situ P- and S-wave attenuation profiles provide valuable information about reservoir rock properties. Field data processing results show that this method gives robust estimates of intrinsic attenuation. The attenuation profiles calculated independently from each waveform of an eight‐receiver array are consistent with one another. In fast formations where S-wave velocity exceeds the borehole fluid velocity, both P-wave attenuation ([Formula: see text]) and S-wave attenuation ([Formula: see text]) profiles can be obtained. P- and S-wave attenuation profiles and their comparisons are presented for three reservoirs. Their correlations with formation lithology, permeability, and fractures are also presented.

Lithofacies, Depositional Environment and Diagenetic Evolution of the Paleocene Patala Formation, Potwar Basin, Pakistan: Implication for Shale Gas Potential

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasar Khan ◽  
Rudy Swennen ◽  
Gert Jan Weltje ◽  
Irfan Ullah Jan
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Gas Reservoirs ◽  
Shallow Marine ◽  
Anoxic Conditions ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Potwar Basin ◽  
Diagenetic Evolution ◽  
Reservoir Assessment ◽  
Gas Potential

<p><span><strong>Abstract:</strong> Reservoir assessment of unconventional reservoirs poses numerous exploration challenges. These challenges relate to their fine-grained and heterogeneous nature, which are ultimately controlled by depositional and diagenetic processes. To illustrate such constraints on shale gas reservoirs, this study focuses on lithofacies analysis, paleo-depositional and diagenetic evolution of the Paleocene Patala Formation at Potwar Basin of Pakistan. Integrated sedimentologic, petrographic, X-ray diffraction and TOC (total organic carbon) analyses showed that the formation contained mostly fine-grained carbonaceous, siliceous, calcareous and argilaceous siliciclastic-lithofacies, whereas carbonate microfacies included mudstone, wackestone and packstone. The silicious and carbonaceous lithofacies are considered a potential shale-gas system. The clastic lithofacies are dominated by detrital and calcareous assemblage including quartz, feldspar, calcite, organic matter and clay minerals with auxiliary pyrites and siderites. Fluctuations in depositional and diagenetic conditions caused  lateral and vertical variability in lithofacies. Superimposed on the depositional heterogeneity are spatially variable diagenetic modifications such as dissolution, compaction, cementation and stylolitization. The δ</span><sup>13</sup><span>C and δ</span><sup>15</sup><span>N stable isotopes elucidated that the formation has been deposited under anoxic conditions, which relatively enhanced the preservation of mixed marine and terrigenous organic matter. Overall, the Patala Formation exemplifies deposition in a shallow marine (shelfal) environment with episodic anoxic conditions.</span></p><p><strong>Keywords</strong><strong>:</strong> Lithofacies, Organic Matter, Paleocene, Potwar Basin, Shale Gas, Shallow Marine.</p>

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