Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Evaluating Hydrocarbon Source Rock For Unconventional Shale Oil Play From Seismic And Well Log Data; Kingak Shale, North Slope, Alaska, Sarah Elisabeth Leedberg

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

It has been proposed that Acoustic impedance (AI) responses can be used to estimate total organic carbon (TOC) within thick, clay rich shale. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the effectiveness of the AI inversion technique, and establish a methodology that can be applied to other basins. The Kingak Formation (lower Jurassic to early Cretaceous), located on the North Slope of Alaska, has been extensively evaluated for its unconventional potential. The Kingak is shale and is known to have greater than 30 percent clay. Because clay has ductile properties it makes it difficult to stimulate a well through …