ESG Solutions Announces Successful Expansion of Surface-based Regional Monitoring System for Induced Seismicity

CALGARY, Alberta, May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ESG Solutions, an industry leader in microseismic technology and services, is pleased to announce the successful expansion of a near-surface seismic monitoring system in Western Canada.  Initially installed in 2012 to monitor any potential larger magnitude induced seismicity during hydraulic fracturing operations, the system was recently expanded to provide greater monitoring range spanning multiple well pads. 

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In response to increased concern surrounding subsurface injections and induced seismicity, many operators are taking the initiative to better understand the response of unconventional reservoirs to hydraulic fracture stimulations, especially in the presence of nearby geological structures.  ESG's near-surface regional seismic solution encompasses an array of ESG manufactured surface-based sensors optimized for seismic detection between M0 and M+4.  "Operators are looking for a reliable, cost-effective solution to help them understand the triggering mechanisms of seismicity detected near injection operations," says Dr. Ted Urbancic, EVP of Global Energy Services at ESG.  "ESG has been collecting and analyzing induced seismic data for 20 years.  This experience gives us the knowledge to integrate site-specific seismic data with existing regional networks and decode the trigger mechanisms associated with that seismicity."

Continuous passive seismic data from the near-surface array is collected using ESG's 32-bit, high resolution, low noise Paladin™ digital seismic recorder and the data is integrated seamlessly with ESG's Hyperion Seismic Software Suite for accurate processing and analysis.  "ESG manufactures equipment and develops software in-house.  Depending on the customer's needs, we can utilize third party components for less cost to the client, or custom design and build seismic systems for each site so that operators have access to the accurate and timely information required to make operational decisions," says Urbancic.

Prior to its recent expansion, the regional seismic array deployed to monitor operations in a Canadian shale play had detected hundreds of events above magnitude 0.  By extending the monitoring range to cover additional regions of the field, operators hope to further understand the way in which the reservoir is responding to stimulation activities, and ultimately maximize production from the field.   Surface-based regional seismic arrays can complement downhole microseismic monitoring, integrate with established regional seismic networks or be used independently to establish a baseline for local seismicity, to better characterize nearby faults or provide a means of alerting operators to abnormal induced seismicity.

A number of similar ESG near-surface arrays are currently in operation throughout the world for applications as diverse as natural gas storage, waste injection, reservoir impoundment, carbon sequestration, coal-bed methane and mining operations.  ESG designs and manufactures its own permanent microseismic instrumentation for longer-term reservoir stimulations and surface-based regional seismic networks in addition to providing wireline data acquisition, processing and advanced analytics for hydraulic fracturing. 

For more information, please visit our website: www.esgsolutions.com.

About ESG Solutions:
Founded in 1993, ESG Solutions (Engineering Seismology Group or ESG) is the leading provider of innovative microseismic solutions for the oil and gas, mining and geotechnical industries.  As the pioneer in monitoring passive seismicity using downhole and near-surface arrays, ESG helps operators improve safety, optimize production, reduce costs and mitigate risk associated with hydraulic fracturing, thermal enhanced oil recovery, waste-water injections, underground and open-pit mining, natural gas storage, carbon sequestration and geotechnical applications.  ESG is headquartered in Kingston (Canada), with operations in Calgary, Houston and Changsha, China and sales in Dubai, Denver, Amsterdam and Beijing.  This year, ESG is celebrating its 20^th Anniversary.

SOURCE ESG Solutions