Multicomponent seismic data analysis for interval rock properties in the Marcellus Shale

Bobby J. Gunning, Donald C. Lawton

The Devonian Appalachian Basin in the Northeast United States holds vast reserves of hydrocarbons. The Marcellus Formation is a black shale that contains one of the world’s largest unconventional tight gas plays. In this paper, a three-component 3D seismic dataset acquired in Northeast Pennsylvania, near the New York border, is used to assess Vp/Vs in the Marcellus Formation. A general seismic interpretation and a more specific interval rock property analysis is performed. The mildly dipping, East-West trending thrust fault structure in the Marcellus and surrounding formations is explained. Interval Vp/Vs ratios are found for several of the important intervals in the Appalachian Basin, and potential sweet spots for hydrocarbon generation are speculated. A correlation between anisotropy and high Vp/Vs ratio was found.