Abstract:
Following the Shale Gas/Oil revolution in the US over the past few years, the rest of the world is rushing to evaluate and develop its own shale resources. Shale is the most common sedimentary rock type in the world and massive shale deposits can be found on every continent. A lithologic unit is classified as shale if it is made up of fine-grained sediments. For particular shale to be viable as an unconventional hydrocarbon play various geologic factors must be understood about those sediments. The mineralogy must have certain characteristics that will allow them to be fractured. The shale must also contain a sufficient quantity of organic material that has been matured (cooked) such that hydrocarbons have been generated. The composition of the organic material is also important as that determines the type of hydrocarbon that will be generated.
The “shale revolution” also required the development of innovative drilling and completion technologies to transform shales that act as an impermeable seal or barrier for conventional hydrocarbon traps into producible reservoirs.
This presentation outlines the key geologic factors required to have a successful shale gas play. It also highlights the fact that all shales are different and understanding those differences is key to successful shale exploration.
Biography:
David Waldo is a senior consultant with Gaffney, Cline, and Associates. During the past seven years, he has been involved in the evaluation of shale plays in Canada, the United States, and Southeast Asia. He has more than thirty years of experience in petroleum exploration and development, with a focus on the creation, evaluation, and valuation of international oil and gas opportunities. He is an honours graduate in geology from Texas A&M University.
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