Quantitative analysis of seismic response to total organic content and thermal maturity in shale gas plays

Abstract

Although shales constitute about 75% of most sedimentary basins, the studies dealing with their elastic properties and seismic response are relatively few, in particular, for organic-rich shales. Shales with the right combination of shale type, organic content, maturity, permeability, porosity, gas saturation and natural fracturing are being considered as production targets. Mapping the distribution of shale gas sweet spots and identifying their thermal maturity, organic carbon richness and natural fracture network are critically important for unconventional gas field exploration and development. This study analyses the sensitivity of acoustic and elastic parameters of shales to the variations in thermal maturity and total-organic-content.