ESG Solutions Improves Understanding of Hydraulic Fracture Effectiveness using Integrated Surface and Downhole Seismic Monitoring

HOUSTON, Jan. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- ESG Solutions, an industry leader in microseismic technology and services, successfully conducted multiple hydraulic fracture monitoring projects within North America using its patented Hybrid™ Seismic Sensor Network.  The innovative approach integrates traditional downhole microseismic with surface and near-surface based induced seismicity (IS) arrays to accurately evaluate large and small-scale seismicity in one comprehensive system.  Operators benefit from improved insight into fracture development with minimal added cost to the microseismic program.

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Microseismic monitoring effectively measures small-scale micro-earthquakes during hydraulic fracturing; however typical microseismic geophones are not optimal for detecting larger magnitude induced seismicity.  ESG's Hybrid™ solution deploys low frequency sensors in near-surface arrays to accurately capture large magnitude events, and integrates the results with time-synchronized downhole microseismic data.  This unique approach builds on ESG's capabilities in advanced microseismic analysis and provides operators with new information about fault activation and fracture effectiveness.

Correctly measuring seismic events using the right equipment is critical to gaining meaningful interpretation of seismicity, particularly for operators who rely on microseismic data to design future stimulation programs.  "Accurate measurement of larger events allows clients to correctly assess the role of faults when interpreting fracture behaviour and reservoir deformation," says Dr. Ted Urbancic, Executive Vice President of Energy Services at ESG Solutions.  "Larger events release more energy into the reservoir.  In multiple cases, we have seen a handful of these larger events representing as much as 70% of the total seismic energy released over the stimulation program.  This has a profound effect on the way operators evaluate their treatments and presents a unique view of hydraulic fracture stimulations not previously considered."

Demand for Hybrid™ solutions is growing rapidly as operators recognize the benefits of deploying a combination of seismic sensors in their fracture monitoring operations.  "It is now standard practice for ESG to offer an integrated solution to our clients to ensure that they receive the maximum value from their monitoring program," says Urbancic.   ESG has deployed multiple Hybrid™ Seismic Networks throughout North America and the Middle East to monitor applications such as hydraulic fracturing, steam injection, hydrocarbon storage and waterflooding and forecasts increasing demand for these configurations over the coming year. 

About ESG Solutions:
Founded in 1993, ESG Solutions (Engineering Seismology Group or ESG) is a pioneer and leading provider of innovative microseismic solutions for the oil and gas, mining and geotechnical industries.  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, Muscat and Beijing and sales offices in Dubai, Dallas and Amsterdam. 

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

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE ESG Solutions