Multivariate S-wave velocity prediction in the assessment of elastic parameters in shale formations

Exploration and development of the hydrocarbons reservoir in unconventional rock formation is a huge challenge. Due to their specific nature, which is manifested by limited filtration properties, they require an appropriate approach and the use of specific solutions. They include, among others, the determination of zones with higher hydrocarbon potential – so called sweet spots, application of horizontal drilling technology, or designing as well as performing rock stimulation treatments of rocks usually with low or almost zero permeability with the use of hydraulic fracturing. The analysis of the right combination of parameters in this case can be essential and provide extremely important information about the reservoir in an unconventional rock formation. As one of the most important parameters allowing, among others, to characterize the reservoir in terms of rock susceptibility to hydraulic fracturing, elastic properties require the availability of shear wave Vs, which in contrast to compressional wave Vp in the Polish standard is measured rarely. Therefore, in this paper, a multivariate prediction of shear wave velocity was developed with the use of theoretical models known from the literature and modified, based on which we estimate the elastic parameters. Using the obtained results, the elastic parameters were calculated on the basis of which, in the next stage, interdisciplinary characterization of reservoir formation is possible, e.g. in the aspect of assessing the reservoir formation susceptibility to hydraulic fracturing and thus creating technological fractures constituting the migration path for reservoir fluids. Based on different solutions, 5 variants of shear wave velocity were developed in the borehole scale, the results of which were then used to calculate the elastic modules: the Young modulus and the Poisson ratio. Because of the availability of the measured shear wave in each analyzed wellbores, it was possible to verify the results of the estimated variants. Subsequently, for the purpose of spatial characterization of the reservoir, calculated variants of the Young modulus were integrated with the seismic data. The analysis was conducted in Ordovician – Silurian shale formations in the Baltic Basin, at intervals enriched with organic matter.