The Niobrara shale play with its rugged terrain, environmental sensitivities, structurally complex geology and fractured shale reservoir exemplifies the unique operational and imaging challenges often found in unconventional reservoirs. For one E&P operator looking to optimize the location of horizontal wells and their associated hydraulic fracturing designs, ION conducted a new wide azimuth 3D seismic survey that combined ION's expert survey design and planning, data acquisition using the FireFly® cableless recording system and VectorSeis® sensors, and data processing using GX Technology's AZIM™/OVT PreSTM technology. As a result, the client was able to quickly and efficiently locate and complete three new horizontal wells that resulted in a 5-10x increase in productivity relative to previous wells in the area.
Gather data necessary to determine optimal well placement, despite narrow data acquisition time window caused by wildlife restrictions.
Survey design, planning, and acquisition managed by ION's GeoVentures™ group; seismic data acquisition using FireFly cableless land recording system and VectorSeis digital sensors; advanced data processing and interpretation by ION's GX Technology group.