3D Seismic Applications in the Marcellus Shale Play

James R. Morris
Range Resources MSD, Canonsburg,Pa15108 [email protected]

Across the Marcellus Shale Basin in western and northcentral Pennsylvania, Range Resources Marcellus Shale Division has acquired several 3D seismic surveys for multiple uses in high grading their drilling locations. Besides the obvious use for structural mapping and fault detection, high resolution, high signal to noise, data has been used to subdivide the Marcellus into stratigraphic sequences related to rock properties and production data. Curvature mapping along with coherence/semblance processing has delineated fissures and fairways of potential fracturing. Fast velocity direction from 3D azimuthal imaging has been useful in determining stress directions and correlates well with FMI results. The recording of a 3D, VSP, during a conventional 3D surface seismic survey, resulted in even higher resolution seismic data than obtainable by surface receivers. As a result, microseismic events correlated much better with the VSP than the conventional surface seismic. Finally, Range is investigating the use of prestack seismic inversion to extract reservoir properties such as lithology, porosity, and gas saturation.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90095©2009 AAPG Eastern Section Meeting, Evansville, Indiana, September 20-22, 2009