Unconventional resources with commercial interest in the world mainly include heavy oils, shales, coalbed methane, and tight gas sands. The production and development of these resources has changed the global energy supply pattern. Quantitative interpretation of geophysical data in the exploration, well-logging, and engineering development of unconventional resources requires a comprehensive understanding of physical properties of rocks and their relationships. The research of rock physics provides an interdisciplinary treatment of physical properties, whether related to geological, geophysical, or geomechanical methodologies. The development of new rock physics methods is essential when integrating core, well-log, seismic data to improve the accuracy of formation evaluation and reservoir characterization. The composition, internal structure, and thermodynamic environment of reservoir rocks are complex and vary with different regions. This becomes particularly evident for unconventional reservoirs with strong macro- and micro-scopic heterogeneities. The diversity of exploration targets and complexity of reservoir characteristics pose great challenges to the applicability of existing rock physics experiments and theories. There are potential risks in directly using existing empirical relations and physical models to guide geophysical interpretation since spurious results may occur. Therefore, it is imperative to explore more applicable rock physics methods according to the petrophysical nature of actual reservoirs.

Exploration and characterization of conventional and unconventional reservoirs using seismic technologies are among the main activities of upstream technology groups and business units of oil and gas operators. However, these activities frequently encounter difficulties in quantitative seismic interpretation due to remaining confusion and new challenges in the fast developing field of seismic petrophysics. Seismic Petrophysics in Quantitative Interpretation shows how seismic interpretation can be made simple and robust by integration of the rock physics principles with seismic and petrophysical attributes bearing on the properties of both conventional (thickness, net/gross, lithology, porosity, permeability, and saturation) and unconventional (thickness, lithology, organic richness, thermal maturity) reservoirs. Practical solutions to existing interpretation problems in rock physics-based amplitude versus offset (AVO) analysis and inversion are addressed in the book to streamline the workflows in subsurface characterization. Although the book is aimed at oil and gas industry professionals and academics concerned with utilization of seismic data in petroleum exploration and production, it could also prove helpful for geotechnical and completion engineers and drillers seeking to better understand how seismic and sonic data can be more thoroughly utilized.

The need for energy is increasing and but the production from conventional reservoirs is declining quickly. This requires an economically and technically feasible source of energy for the coming years. Among some alternative future energy solutions, the most reasonable source is from unconventional reservoirs. As the name “unconventional” implies, different and challenging approaches are required to characterize and develop these resources. This Special Issue covers some of the technical challenges for developing unconventional energy sources from shale gas/oil, tight gas sand, and coalbed methane.

A comprehensive overview of the key geologic, geomechanical and engineering principles that govern the development of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs. Covering hydrocarbon-bearing formations, horizontal drilling, reservoir seismology and environmental impacts, this is an invaluable resource for geologists, geophysicists and reservoir engineers.

A significantly expanded new edition of this practical guide to rock physics and geophysical interpretation for reservoir geophysicists and engineers.

Brings together widely scattered theoretical and laboratory rock physics relations critical for modelling and interpretation of geophysical data.