Why You Shouldn’t Be Using ‘Conventional’ Methods for Unconventional Drilling

 

On this episode of the Sciences Podcast, host Tyler Kern dug deep, so to speak, on the topic of using big data for conventional and unconventional reservoirs with two geoscientists from Ikon Science. Today’s guests are Gabi D’Aubeterre], Americas support team manager, and Yoryenys Del Moro, regional product champion for wells.

Del Moro said current methods are just scratching the surface of what kind of production is possible.

“To get more production, … we need to use more data, including seismic and well information,” she said.

Ikon Science develops pioneering GeoPrediction software technology and solutions to help customers have better hit rates and faster production with reduced cost and cycle time. The quantitative interpretation of seismic and well data has been widely successful for conventional operations around the world but lags in unconventional reservoirs, D’Aubeterre and Del Moro said.

“When it comes to unconventional reservoirs, we need to change our mindset from what we’ve done traditionally,” D’Aubeterre said.

Unconventional reservoirs pose a unique challenge for geoscientists. While the rocks in conventional reservoirs effectively traps oil and gas until it’s drilled, this same trapping mechanism is not present in more difficult unconventional plays. In a conventional reservoir, the type of rock (usually a sandstone) traps the hydrocarbon effectively within its porous space, but this is not the case for unconventional reservoirs.

“In an unconventional reservoir, the hydrocarbons do not flow naturally and are trapped within the rock, within low permeability and low porosity units” D’Aubeterre said. Fracturing the rock and shale to extract that oil and gas makes a challenge for geoscientists and engineers.
Del Moro agreed, saying complications exist when geoscientists and engineers look to fracture the right area of rock for the right natural resource to produce hydrocarbons.

“So you need to apply the techniques that allow you to define and detect what you’re looking for in the shales, fractures, and natural fracture zones,” Del Moro said, explaining seismic data allows you to do that.

D’Aubeterre and Del Moro shared specific examples of quantitative interpretation of seismic and well data in unique settings and how the machine learning and integration.

Read more on the Ikon Science Website.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – twitter.com/ScienceMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

data center construction
Data Center Construction Demands Are Surging But Power, Permitting, and Planning Are Holding It Back
April 1, 2025

Explosive demand for artificial intelligence, cloud services, and low-latency connectivity is reshaping the landscape for data center construction in the U.S. With hyperscalers and enterprises alike racing to deploy infrastructure closer to end users, new builds are increasingly challenged by the need for high-capacity power, complex permitting, and skilled labor. According to CBRE, U.S….

Read More
intelligent audio systems
Redefining Security: The Critical Role of Voice in Intelligent Audio Systems
April 1, 2025

In the world of security technology, vision has long taken precedence—cameras, analytics, and access control have dominated the conversation. But what if we’ve been underestimating our oldest, most human sense of communication: voice? The rise of intelligent audio in security systems marks a turning point in how we protect spaces and people, shifting from passive…

Read More
How PSA is Empowering Integrators to Navigate AI, Mobile Credentials, and Modern Business Challenges?
April 1, 2025

As the security integration industry contends with rapid technological advancement and increasing business complexity, many integrators are looking for the tools, training, and guidance to keep pace. At the center of this evolution is AI—transforming not just the products integrators deploy but also the way they operate their businesses. Meanwhile, the shift to mobile credentials…

Read More
biometric face authentication
Biometric Face Authentication Moves from High-Security to High-Convenience
April 1, 2025

Facial recognition technology has long hovered on the fringe of mainstream adoption, promising futuristic solutions but often shackled by high costs, limited applications, and public skepticism. In 2024, however, a pivotal shift is underway. Thanks to advances in edge devices, reduced price points, and changing attitudes toward digital identity, biometric face authentication is now…

Read More