Transforming Uncertainty into Opportunity
Unconventional reservoirs—like shale, tight sands, and coalbed methane—require a specialized approach to understand their complex geomechanics, flow behavior, and production decline. GEI’s integrated evaluations help you determine the true potential of your unconventional assets and develop cost-efficient development strategies.
Our Expertise
Our approach to geological screening integrates core, well log, seismic, and geochemical data to build a comprehensive understanding of the subsurface. We identify sweet spots and evaluate heterogeneity in reservoir quality, organic content, thermal maturity, and mineralogy. This allows us to assess the viability of unconventional plays early in the process and reduces uncertainty in resource estimates and development planning.
We develop robust geomechanical models to inform hydraulic fracturing strategies and ensure wellbore integrity. By characterizing in-situ stress regimes, mechanical properties, and natural fracture networks, we support optimal frac design and minimize risks related to wellbore instability or frac hits. These models are also critical in predicting how the reservoir will respond to stimulation over time.
To forecast production in unconventional reservoirs, we use a probabilistic framework that combines type curve analysis, analog field data, and machine learning algorithms. This allows us to quantify uncertainties in production outcomes and generate reliable forecasts across a range of scenarios. Our methods help clients understand not just likely outcomes, but also the range of possible returns under varying geological and operational conditions.
We use Diagnostic Fracture Injection Tests (DFITs) and pressure transient analysis to characterize reservoir pressure, permeability, and closure stress. These analyses provide critical insights into fracture effectiveness and reservoir connectivity, enabling more accurate modeling of stimulation results. Our interpretation techniques help refine completion designs and inform geomechanical and reservoir models.
Our multidisciplinary approach to landing zone selection incorporates geological, geomechanical, and reservoir data to ensure lateral placement in the most productive and mechanically favorable intervals. We also evaluate parent-child well interactions and pressure depletion patterns to design optimal well spacing strategies that balance recovery with cost efficiency and long-term asset performance.
We perform detailed cash flow modeling that accounts for fluctuating commodity prices, operational costs, and production variability. By simulating multiple development scenarios, we help clients make informed investment decisions, evaluate break-even points, and assess project economics under a range of market and subsurface conditions. Our models support capital allocation, risk mitigation, and portfolio optimization.