Shale Gas Exploitation Technology Evaluation

Bob Gardes
Gardes Energy Services, Inc, Lafayette, LA

Technology and change are the objective words in the development of Shale Gas both in the U.S. and around the world. As advances continue across a wide band of disciplines (i.e. Horizontal/Multi-Lateral Drilling; Telemetry; and Formation Evaluation and Fracturing) these technologies will continue to stream forward. The question in Shale Gas development remains, “What are the Technologies of the Future?” The presentation will explore the confluence of three recent developments - maximum reservoir contact through the use of multi-lateral drilling and fracturing; geosteering; and managed pressure drilling to increase formation exposure in depressured shale formations. A common thread in these examples is the large subsurface footprint coupled with more effective well placement by the use of geosteering. Validated results show remarkable productivities in addition to reduced unit development costs across a broad spectrum.

AAPG Search and Discover Article #90078©2008 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas