DGeophS Luncheon - Unconventional Geophysics: Unique Approaches for Unique Problems

Thursday 19-Jan-12 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM CST

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Ellison Miles Geotechnology Institute Brookhaven College

3939 Valley View Lane
Farmers Branch Texas 75244
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Phone: (972) 860-4630

Speaker Jamie Rich

Position: Geophysicist
Company: Devon Energy

Event Description

Unconventional Geophysics: Unique Approaches for Unique Problems

Devon Energy

Jamie Rich - Geophysicist

The world of unconventional geophysics relies on the unique application of classical exploration tools as well as some tools not traditionally associated with exploration geophysics. In conventional plays a geophysicist is largely concerned with identifying the location and extent of reservoirs, traps and migration pathways. In unconventional plays these are no longer unknown quantities and the role of the geophysicist becomes one of predicting the response of the reservoir to hydraulic fracturing and characterizing the variability in prospectivity. Due to this fundamental difference, classical exploration tools such as anisotropy used to mean ‘VTI’ anisotropy with the primary concern being improved imaging and migration. In unconventional plays, azimuthal anisotropy is used to characterize the reservoir with respect to the stress state and pre-existing fractures. With regard to the ‘VTI’ anisotropy we are more likely to be asking questions like ‘What is the level of anisotropy telling me about clay or kerogen content?’ and ‘What is the effect of VTI anisotropy on simultaneous inversion results?’. Attributes such as curvature are now used to characterize broad structural changes as opposed to isolated features such as faults or channels. When the unconventional geophysicist thinks of AVO he is thinking of simultaneous inversion and ‘fracability’ as opposed to a direct hydrocarbon indicator. Additionally, due to an increased reliance on microseismic data, the unconventional geophysicist must be well versed in earthquake seismology, not just active source exploration. The physics of unconventional geophysics remain the same but since the questions to be answered are different a unique approach is required by the unconventional geophysicist.

Figure 1: Prediction of pre-existing fracture network in a shale (background color and arrows) based on seismic attributes along with observed micro-seismic events (from Rich and Ammerman, 2010).

Attachments


Event Contact	Event Coordinator
Al Berroteran	Craig Walter
(972) 818-2550	(214) 601-2511

DGeophS Luncheon - Unconventional Geophysics: Unique Approaches for Unique Problems

Thursday 19-Jan-12 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM CST

Speaker Jamie Rich

Position: Geophysicist
Company: Devon Energy

Biography

Jamie Rich is a geophysicist for Devon Energy in Oklahoma City. He currently works the Granite Wash in the Texas Panhandle but has previously worked in both their technical services group and in the Barnett Shale. In addition to his position at Devon Energy he has enjoyed teaching Seismic Interpretation at Oklahoma State University since 2007 and is presently teaching Seismic Exploration at the University of Oklahoma. He earned his MS and PhD degrees in Geophysics from the University of Oklahoma and his B.S. degree in both Applied Physics and Anthropology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. While he spends most of his spare time with his wife and two boys he does find the occasional opportunity to participate in running events and triathlons.