Integrated Workflow and the Application of a Fully Coupled Geomechanical Flow Simulator for Shales

Studies dealing with the elastic properties and seismic response of shale reservoirs are relatively few. Mapping the distribution of sweet spots and identifying their thermal maturity, organic carbon richness and natural fracture network using seismic data are considered to be of importance for the exploration and development of shales. These studies can be developed to include the analysis of fracture information from seismic data and VSP data all of which form inputs to a fully coupled geomechanical flow simulator which can be used to forward model fluid flow and accurate displacements and stresses at any location and time. Combining these with the microseismic data both forward modeling and measurement and analysis allows for the generation of a calibrated coupled geomechanical flow simulator to predict to predict drainage areas, production rates and ultimate recovery.