ESG Solutions Successfully Completes Intensive Microseismic Fracture Mapping Program for Nexen Energy ULC in the Horn River Basin

HOUSTON, Sept. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ESG Solutions, an industry leader and pioneer in microseismic technology and services is pleased to announce the successful completion of an intensive microseismic fracture mapping program in the Horn River Basin for Nexen Energy ULC.  The program represents the largest microseismic program undertaken by the company to date, comprising 136 monitored stages over 10 wells.  Data for over 100,000 microseismic events were recorded over the three-week program simultaneously on time synchronized multiple downhole arrays and a near-surface seismic array.

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The monitoring program successfully combined and integrated downhole and near-surface acquisition using ESG's Hybrid sensor array configuration.  "The opportunity to simultaneously record and integrate surface and downhole microseismic data ensures that we are accurately capturing the full spectrum of seismic signals," says Dr. Ted Urbancic, Executive Vice President of Energy Services at ESG Solutions.  "Accurately measuring the source characteristics of seismic events using the right equipment is critical to gaining meaningful interpretation of microseismic results."

In addition to standard real-time microseismic deliverables such as fracture geometry, additional near real-time analysis was also provided following each stage that enabled the clients to track the effectiveness of the stimulation in various lithological units and interpret any influences on under- and over-lying formations.  "Operators want more in-depth microseismic information in real-time than just event locations," says Sheri Bowman, Manager of Analytics and Technical Sales at ESG.  "ESG routinely works with clients to provide custom reporting to ensure that they receive the maximum value from their monitoring program."  ESG plans to perform advanced microseismic analysis on the data to help Nexen Energy ULC gain further understanding of the stimulation effectiveness, proppant placement and drainage volume using its proprietary SMTI Production Suite™.

This is the fourth consecutive year that ESG has been involved with microseismic monitoring during the summer fracturing program for Nexen Energy ULC in the Horn River Basin.  Knowledge gained by geoscientists at Nexen Energy ULC during the previous monitoring programs played a considerable role in the design of the 2013 stimulation program.  

ESG is exhibiting at the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) annual conference in Houston, Texas, September 22-25. 

About ESG Solutions:
Founded in 1993, ESG Solutions (Engineering Seismology Group or ESG) is a pioneer and the 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.  2013 marks ESG's 20^th Anniversary.

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

SOURCE ESG Solutions