By Will Soutter

MicroSeismic recently declared that it has been achieved contract from Cuadrilla Resources for microseismic monitoring as well as mapping of their hydraulic fracturing operations in the U.K.-based western Bowland Shale Basin.

There exists large volume of shale gas within this area with estimated gas up to 200 Tcf. The contract requires seismicity monitoring of the Lancashire-based Becconsall well as well as comprehensive mapping of its hydraulic fracture growth.

With around 2,000 km² of established BuriedArray service operation across the United States and Canada, MicroSeismic has now been presented with this contract. As part of this contract, the company will uniquely install a near surface monitoring system in Europe. Following the recognition of MicroSeismic's outstanding potential to ensure long-term monitoring around the Becconsall well, this contract was presented to it.

MicroSeismic is capable of analyzing fracture geometry while fracturing and also offers consistent information that will avoid surface detectible induced seismicity. The company’s BuriedArray service has proven to be effective in the regions of North America and various other areas for monitoring multiple wells over extensive geographical areas following only a single installation. Based on full-field monitoring, operators can eventually track variability. The field development plans as well as completion parameters can be ultimately modified to result in optimum production over the field’s life.

Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC)-based Induced Seismicity Mitigation Report states that this area has been renowned for coal mining related induced seismicity at ~3.0 ML magnitudes, without posing any material impact. MicroSeismic has been contracted by Cuadrilla to deliver real-time monitoring of subsurface seismic activity while fracing.