Surface based microseismic monitoring of a hydraulic fracture well stimulation in the Barnett shale

Abstract

Microseismic monitoring of well stimulation by hydraulic fracturing is now an accepted technology. Most such monitoring is achieved with a downhole array of geophones located at or near the reservoir level in a nearby observation well. The need for an available observation well and the limited view such a well provides are impediments to the potential usefulness of the technology. The ability to monitor hydraulic fracture growth from the surface allows for larger array apertures and increases subsurface coverage with while maintaining reasonable resolution and detection limits. Stacking over a large number of stations effectively cancels the surface noise and enables seismic signal detection at levels that are comparable to downhole techniques. More importantly, the surface array is able to detect these comparable signals over a larger subsurface area and shed more light on the extent of the reservoir volume being stimulated.