HOUSTON, April 13, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Geophysical Services Inc., (NYSE:GGS) Global Geophysical Services and ARKeX announced today an agreement to promote ShaleQube, an innovative combination of proven geophysical techniques for application in the Marcellus Shale.
ShaleQube, developed by ARKeX, combines ARKeX's proprietary BlueQube™ acquisition technology with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to generate a 3D volume to highlight areas of structural complexity within the Marcellus. ARKeX and Global Geophysical are jointly acquiring a non-exclusive ShaleQube survey summer 2011, open to industry participation. ShaleQube's proven application was initially developed and tested over the Montney Shale in British Columbia.
"We are pleased to be working with Global on this project," said Phill Houghton, ARKeX VP New Ventures. "The application of ShaleQube in the Marcellus is a natural fit with Global's Basin InSight™ offering to provide exceptional understanding of the Marcellus."
Chris Usher, Global Geophysical Chief Technology Officer, commented, "The integration of ARKeX gradiometry technology with Global's 3D seismic data sets will enhance our Basin InSight offering and provide unrivalled understanding of the Marcellus Shale's structural complexity at a regional scale."
"This is the first time this combination of technologies has been applied in unconventional resource exploration at such a scale," Usher said.
The survey will be flown using BlueQube technology, which comprises of high resolution gravity gradiometry, gravity and magnetic data acquired simultaneously using the same airborne platform. The data will be used to generate a high resolution 3D structural model over the study area, and the structural model is then used as input into the FEA work. Following the calibration of the stress and strain fields present in the geologic model, FEA is used to calculate zones where there is a high probability of structural complexity. The output is a 3D ShaleQube volume that can be used to optimize exploration programs and plan future data acquisition through improved knowledge of the subsurface fracture distribution.
ShaleQube is a totally passive airborne technique and the proposed survey has no environmental ground impact. Phase one of a planned multi-phase program to cover the entire Marcellus play will cover approximately 4,000 square miles in Pennsylvania, with all data to be acquired and processed in 2011.
About ARKeX
ARKeX provides geophysical surveys for the oil, gas and mineral exploration industry, using BlueQube™ technology. BlueQube is a cutting-edge technology that gives explorationists an accurate picture of subsurface geology. The key technology in BlueQube is gravity gradiometry. It measures minute variations in the earth's gravitational field to help image--from an airplane or ship-- oil, gas and mineral bearing structures deep underground. ARKeX, based in Cambridge, UK, has offices in Sherington, UK, and Houston, USA, and has global operational capabilities. To learn more about ARKeX, visit www.arkex.com.
About Global Geophysical Services, Inc.
Global Geophysical, headquartered in Houston, TX, provides an integrated suite of seismic data solutions to the global oil and gas industry including high resolution RG-3D Reservoir Grade™ seismic data acquisition, microseismic monitoring, seismic data processing and interpretation services, and Multi Client data products. Global Geophysical Services combines experience, innovation, operational safety and environmental responsibility with leading edge technology to facilitate the success of its clients. To learn more about Global Geophysical, visit www.GlobalGeophysical.com.
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