mfs

SB/TSE CS
TST
Sequence Stratigraphy Model

Roger M. Slatt Ductile

University of Oklahoma
and
Younane Abousleiman Brittle
University of. Oklahoma

Strain

Merging sequence stratigraphy and

geomechanics for unconventional gas (and
oil) shales
None of the unconventional gas/oil shales are vertically
homogenous. All are stratified at a variety of scales with rocks
with different properties.Most of the time, the variations are
systematic rather than random and are thus predictable.
This is important to drilling and completions!!!!
Core
description

100 ft.
TSE NO!!!
TSE YES!!!
 Singh, 2008

30m; 100ft.
TSE

SB/TSE
Pollestro et al, 2007

Typical Well Log Patterns of Barnett Shale

 Longmaxi Shale, China
Gamma Ray (API) Gamma-ray

Gamma Ray (API)

200ft.

100 ft.
100ft.

SB/TSE

Caney Shale

SB/TSE

SB/TSE
Fayetteville Shale
 Gamma-ray Gamma-ray Gamma Ray

Austin Ch.
0 2000

100ft.;33m.
50 ft.

Buda Ls.
SB/TSE

SB/TSE

Onondaga Ls. SB/TSE

Woodford Shale Eagle Ford Shale

Marcellus Shale
Sequence Stratigraphy is based upon the premise that through geologic time, the oceans have risen and
fallen in a cyclic manner (i.e. rise and fall of sea level). Because of this, strata are deposited in a cyclical,
predictable manner.

Interval of Geologic time

Turnaround

Slatt, 2006
Shoreline moves seaward: shelf
becomes exposed and eroded.
Falling sea level

―Lowstand
systems tract‖

Erosion Surface (sequence boundary-SB)

Shoreline moves landward Rising sea level

―Transgressive
Transgressive systems tract‖
Surface of erosion (TSE)
Progradation Shoreline moves seaward
(regression) Rising sea level

SB/TSE
―Regressive/Highstand
systems tract‖
Sequence Stratigraphy is based upon the premise that through geologic time, the oceans have risen and
fallen in a cyclic manner (i.e. rise and fall of sea level). Because of this, strata are deposited in a cyclical,
predictable manner.

Interval of Geologic time

Progradational RST/HST
(more clastic)
TST (CS) (clay/organics)
mfs
mfs Sharp erosive base (SB/TSE)
CS

Turnaround
TST (CS)/HST

More biogenic (qtz/calcite)

Slatt, 2006
Sharp base (SB)
SB=sequence boundary
TSE=transgressive surface of erosion
TST=transgressive systems tract
CS=condensed section
mfs=maximum flooding surface
HST=highstand systems tract
RST=regressive systems tract mfs
CS
SW Barnett Shale NE

SC

GRP-14

GRP-13

GRP-12

GRP-11
GRP-10

Forestbrg
Forestbrg GRP-9
GRP-8
GRP-7
GRP-6

GRP-5

GRP-4
GRP-3

GRP-2
Condensed Section SB/TSE
GRP-1
300 ft
.

TSE
Ellenburger/Viola Viola

st sc jp
Approximately 65 mi. Modified from
Singh(2008)
Woodford Shale

1000ft. J. May, 2010

New Albany Shale

Bohacs and Lazar, 2010

Approximately 65mi.
Barnett Shale U. Barnett Sh,
Forestburg
Limestone

L. Barnett Sh.
mfs
TST/CS TSE Ellenburger/Viola Ls.
 mfs
CS
SB/TSE
TST

SB=sequence boundary
TSE=transgressive surface of erosion
TST=transgressive systems tract
CS=condensed section Progradational RST/HST
mfs=maximum flooding surface (more clastic)
HST=highstand systems tract TST (CS) (clay/organics)
RST=regressive systems tract Sharp erosive base (SB/TSE)

General Sequence Stratigraphic

Model

mfs
CS
Sequence Stratigraphy is based upon the premise that through geologic time, the
oceans have risen and fallen in a cyclic manner (i.e. rise and fall of sea level).
Because of this, strata are deposited in a cyclical, predictable manner.
Interval of Geologic time

3rd

Turnaround

2rd
Slatt, 2006

Global (eustatic) cycle: Intervals of

geologic time
– 2nd order—10 -25 Ma
– 3rd order-- - 1- 3 Ma
 Typical Well Log Patterns of Barnett Shale
Singh, 2008

22/15 = 1.5my= 3nd order

3rd order sequences
sequence
2nd order

3rd

TSE

3rd

2nd

SB/TSE
Pollestro et al, 2007

22my (2nd order)

Barnett Shale: Brittle-Ductile Couplets
Log

Core

Scale 2: sequence/parasequence
GRP-14
Ductile

Scale 1:sequence set

GRP-13

GRP-12

GRP-11 Brittle
GRP-10

Forestburg
GRP-9
GRP-8
GRP-7 Strain
GRP-6

GRP-5

GRP-4
GRP-3
Biogenic silica-/calcite-rich (brittle)
GRP-2 Clay-/organic -rich (ductile)
GRP-1

TSE
Viola
Organic-poor, more Organic-rich, more
brittle rocks ductile rocks
Core Borehole Thin section/Electron
description Image Log Core microprobe
7731.8 A
5 mm

7732
100 ft.

7732.2

100 μm

Scale 3. Bedset/laminae set

 Geomechanics of Shale Laminations
12.6MPaTensile
strength to breakage

7.1MPa tensile strength

to breakage

Sierra et al., 2010

Figure modified from Sierra et al.,

Barnett Shale: Brittle-Ductile Couplets

Log

Core

2. Sequence/parasequence Scale
GRP-14

GRP-13

1. Sequence Set Scale

GRP-12 200nm
GRP-11
GRP-10 Laboratory-induced tensile micro-fractures
Forestburg 4. Crystal structure scale
GRP-9
GRP-8
GRP-7
GRP-6
3. Bedset/Laminae set scale
GRP-5
GRP-4
GRP-3

GRP-2

GRP-1

TSE
Viola

Organic-poor, more Organic-rich, more

brittle rocks ductile rocks
 Mineralogic affect on rock fracturability (brittleness)

BI = (Q + Dol)/ (Q + Dol + Lm + Cl + TOC Ductile

Stress
Where BI = brittleness index Brittle
Q = quartz (detrital, diagenetic, biogenic?)
C l = clay
Dol = dolomite Strain
Lm = limestone (calcite)
FTIR Qtz (y) vs XRD Qtz
TOC = Total organic carbon
(x)
(Wang and Gale, 2009) 60.00

FTIR Qtz (wt%)

50.00
40.00
30.00
Two common methods of mineral analysis of shales:
-XRD (x-ray diffraction 20.00
-FTIR (infra-red spectrometry 10.00
0.00
0.00 20.00 40.00 60.00
How good are the data???? XRD Qtz (wt%)
 Organic –richness varies with lithofacies
(and gamma-ray log response)
Barnett Example

Lithofacies Well #1 Well #2 Well #3 Well #4

Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg.

TOC Std. D. TOC Std. D. TOC Std. D. TOC Std. D.
Phosphatic deposit 6.2 2 6.08 0.9 6.8 1.6 6 0.7
Siliceous non-calcareous
mudstone 6.4 - 5 0.8 5.6 1.3 4.5 0.7
Siliceous calcareous mudstone - - 3.7 0.9 4.2 1.3 3.5 0.7
Calcareous laminae 3.7 - - - 4.2 1.1 3.5 0.5
Reworked shelly deposit 3.1 0.5 3.9 0.3 2.9 0.9 2.6 0.7
Micritic/Limy mudstone - - 1.3 0.1 1.5 0.3 1.2 0.5
Silty-shaly (wavy) interlaminated - - - - 1.8 0.5 - -
Concretion - - 0.7 - 3.9 0.3 - -
Lithofacies Characteristics
Dolomitic mudstone - - - - 2.3 1.2 1.9 -
In situ Phosphatic deposit
Siliceous, non calcareous mudstone
Siliceous, calcareous mudstone Decrease in
Increase in
Calcareous laminae (bottom current organic bottom water
reworked) deposit oxygen
richness
After Singh,
Micritic/ Limy mudstone
2008
Reworked shelly deposit

Silty shaly (wavy) interlaminated deposit

 XRD CORE MINERALOGY GAMMA LOG CORE DESCRIPTION STATIC IMAGE DYNAMIC IMAGE
ECS LOG
0 100 200
300

(7490)

(7495)

(7500)

(7505)

(7510)

(7515)

(7520)

0.00 Quartz 100.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
Clay
Calcite
Dolomite
100.00
100.00
100.00
Using mineralogy alone for
0.00
0.00
0.00
Tot Feldspar
Fluorapatite
Kerogen
100.00
100.00
100.00
‘Fracability’ omits effect of laminations.
0.00 Others 100.00
 Longmexi (China) Eagle Ford Woodford

Oil drop emerging from

microfracture
Organo-porosity Floccules

Eagle Ford Eagle Ford

Woodford

Oil drops emerging

From shale matrix
3rd
Barnett 10u
m

Coccolith (biogenic) Coccolith (biogenic)

Several types of pores occur in

shale; some are connected.
Pellet
A
 Porosity: 2.08%

Histogram
300 100%
250 80%
Frequency

200
60%
150
40%
100 Frequency
50 20%
Cumulative %
0 0%
0.139

0.205
0.005
0.039
0.072
0.105

0.172

0.239
0.272
0.305
0.339

Quantifying porosity and

Area (µm²)
Pore size (area) distribution
 mfs
SB/TSE CS
TST
Sequence Stratigraphy Model

Ductile

Brittle

Strain

A few examples of possible effects of the variety of scales

He knew sequence
stratigraphy, of course!!
Relative length of hydraulic fracture Relative length of hydraulic fracture
for sequence set brittle-ductile couplet for smaller brittle-ductile couplets
Bed/laminae/
crystal structure
lengths
B
r
i
t
t Scale 1. Length
Scales 3/4
l
e

Scale 2:
D Length
u Scale 2.
c Length
t Scale 1.Length
i
l
e

Complexity of artificial fracture lengths

Slatt and Abousleiman, 2011
Post-hydraulic fracture 3D seismic survey, Barnett Shale (after Kui, 2010).

Azimuth, ψ
N

W E

6000 ft N

(b)
(a)

Anisotropy
High

(c) (d) Low

Phantom horizon slices 10 ms above the Ordovician unconformity of the azimuth of anisotropy, ψ, computed from (a) acoustic
impedance and (b) AVAz. Phantom horizons at the same level through the intensity of anisotropy, ε, computed from (c)
acoustic impedance and (d) AVAz. Overall, the results are similar. The drilling program consisted of horizontal wells oriented
NW-SE to better generate fractures parallel to the maximum horizontal stress oriented NE-SW. This image refutes this
widely-accepted hydraulic fracture model and shows the fractures have widely variable orientations, though these
orientations remain consistent in what we interpret to be ”fracture compartments”.
 Fracture gradient derived
Frac barriers at the from ECS, density, sonic
logs.
3rd order scale??? If so, they can be
mapped or correlated both Brittle-Ductile
regionally to locally using sequence Couplets
stratigraphic principles

Quarry well
Subsurface well Quarry well

Sierra, 2011
 Upscaling the couplet concept through micro-seismic analysis
Sp GR RHOB/ THPH PEFZ Monitoring
Injection
-200 100 0 200 2.1/0 2.9/0.4 2 6 Well
Well
Top Barnett

Upper Barnett

Forestburg Limestone (Fracture Barrier)

Fault repeat?
Cored well for calibration
GRP9?
GRP8
GRP7
GRP6
GRP5
GRP4
Key
GRP3 Siliceous Non-
Calcareous mudstone
GRP 1
Siliceous Calcareous
mudstone with low calcite
Key
Siliceous Calcareous
GRP2 mudstone with high calcite
Quartz-rich; aver. bed thick isKey Siliceous Non-
Micritic/Limy mudstone Calcareous mudstone
GRP 1
7695.5’
Phosphatic deposit 0.2ft.=Fracturable
Key(breakable)Siliceous Non-
Calcareous mudstone
Siliceous Calcareous
mudstone with low calcite
7710’
Dolomitic mudstone GRP 1 GR (cpm) Siliceous Calcareous
Siliceous Calcareous
7722’
Concretion

GRP1 Clay-organic500 rich; 1000 aver.

Siliceous Non-
Calcareous 1500 bed mudstone
mudstone
thickwithislow calcite mudstone with high calcite

GRP 1 Key
Fossiliferous deposit
GR (cpm) Siliceous Calcareous Micritic/Limy mudstone
Different Fossil Assemblage 0.4ft=Ductile
7690 Siliceous Calcareous
mudstone with low calcite
7695.5’
mudstone with high calcite
Phosphatic deposit
500 1000Non- 1500
Alternating silty shaly Siliceous
Micritic/Limy mudstone
GR (cpm)
GRP 1 Key7752.2’
(wavy) bed deposit
7690 Calcareous mudstone Siliceous Calcareous
7695.5’ 7710’
Dolomitic mudstone
7710 mudstone with high calcite
Top ViolaLimestone
500 1000 1500
Siliceous Calcareous
mudstone with low calcite
Phosphatic deposit
7722’
Concretion

Micritic/Limy mudstone Dolomitic mudstone Fossiliferous deposit

7690 Siliceous Non- 7710 7695.5’
Siliceous Calcareous 7730 7710’
Calcareous mudstone mudstone with high calcite Phosphatic deposit Concretion
Different Fossil Assemblage

1500 Siliceous Calcareous 7722’ Alternating silty shaly Calcareous laminae

mudstone with low calcite Micritic/Limy mudstone Dolomitic mudstone Fossiliferous deposit (wavy) bed deposit
7710 7695.5’
Siliceous Calcareous
7730
Phosphatic deposit
7710’ 7750
Concretion
7752.2’
Different Fossil Assemblage Ca
mudstone with high calcite 7722’
 More Ductile
(low velocity)

More Brittle (high Velocity)

Seismic Map of velocities from Upper Woodford

 TOC Map
TOC & Fracture Gradient
Well Placement Analysis
% In the Lower Woodford

The BLACK circles show the

Highest TOC in the Lower
Woodford.

FG Map More clay-organics corresponds to

Higher fracture gradient (red).
psi/ft

FRACTURE PROPAGATION
The fractures will propagate in the
direction NE-SW axis (BLACK
arrows).
Well drilling
direction
Apply natural fracture distribution to hydraulic fracturing??

Woodford chert (brittle)-shale (ductile) stratification

-Hydraulic fracturing generates fractures

-Proppant goes into both brittle chert and ductile clay

-After fracturing, the fractures in chert remain open

-But the ductile beds encase proppant and close??

 Brittle Rock

Ductile Shale

Proppant

Ductile Shale
Modified from Terracina et al., 2010

Badra, 2011
None of the unconventional gas/oil shales are vertically
homogenous. All are stratified at a variety of scales with rocks
with different properties.Most of the time, the variations are
systematic rather than random and are thus predictable.
This is important to drilling and completions!!!!
Core
description

100 ft.
TSE NO!!!
TSE YES!!!