MicroSeismic awarded monitoring contract in Argentina's Neuquén basin

HOUSTON -- MicroSeismic, Inc., has announced plans to install the first permanent BuriedArray for a major operator in Argentina. The BuriedArray will be utilized for microseismic monitoring for four lateral wells within the Neuquén basin.

The BuriedArray system consists of near-surface stations that will initially be used to monitor two pads, and is scheduled to install in early 2016 by UGA SEISMIC. UGA also will provide the microseismic data acquisition system, while MicroSeismic will deliver both hydrofracturing visualization and analysis of the wells’ completions and life-of-field imaging of the reservoir from the BuriedArray. When calibrated by the 3D seismic, the BuriedArray will become a life-of-field asset for 4D reservoir monitoring and refracture imaging.

“Microseismic monitoring will help enhance completions and field development, and the BuriedArray is the most effective solution for monitoring multiple wells and full-field development of shale reservoirs from a cost and operational standpoint. Analysis provided by the BuriedArray system will be used to evaluate fracture geometry, map each well’s reservoir drainage pattern, evaluate stimulation plans to enhance development and reservoir modeling throughout the life of the field and provide essential information on the economics of each well,” said Dave Pratt, chairman of The PanAmerican Geophysical Group.

To date, MicroSeismic has installed over 50 BuriedArray systems, monitoring more than 15,000 stages for 230 wells on three continents. When used to monitor multiple wells and pads, the BuriedArray reduces the cost of microseismic monitoring to just a few thousand dollars per stage, realizing an excellent return on investment over the life of the asset.