Case Studies

West of Shetland Rock Physics Study Phase 1

lyellott@ikonscience.com (Liza Yellott) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:31:36 GMT

Introduction

Roknowledge West of Shetland is a rock physics interpretation study and database designed to provide a visual look-up reference of rock physics relationships and the seismic behaviour of rocks. A powerful tool which provides a regional perspective of the rock and fluid properties, explaining in situ trends and expected seismic responses at reservoir level.

Oil and gas has been found in clastic reservoirs of Eocene, Palaeocene, Cretaceous and Jurassic age and in fractured basement of Devonian/Carboniferous age in the West of Shetland area. However, Palaeocene sandstones (and hence shales) remain of primary focus in the Faroe-Shetland basin. The exploration process has relied heavily on amplitude and AVO technology; however exploration success rates have been low compared to other analogous plays in the UKCS.

Roknowledge West of Shetland provides the regional context in which geological mechanisms are at play and their implications for amplitude based exploration in the West of Shetland.

Benefits and Deliverables

Newfoundland and Labrador Rock Physics Study

lyellott@ikonscience.com (Liza Yellott) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:27:17 GMT

Introduction

Nalcor Energy Oil and Gas in partnership with Ikon Science, initiated a regional rock physics study in 2014 to better understand lithologic properties and corresponding seismic amplitude (AVO) anomalies within the Orphan Basin, Flemish Pass and along the Labrador Margin.

The Newfoundland and Labrador regional rock physics study provides an analysis centred on creating predictive rock-physics models. Prospecting geoscientists can understand the possible subsurface lithofacies and fluids from measured pre stack seismic responses, seismic stratigraphy and predicted geopressure data.

The study establishes regional rock physics relationships and depth trends for use in pre-stack data analysis and provides the tools required to do meaningful AVO screening and analysis of leads and prospects in an area of limited well control. It also details the data, conditioning and process used for the regional study, moves through derivations of models and trends, and subsequently applies the trends to three leads within the study area.

The lead analysis section uses the established trends to quantify expected reservoir conditions and end member cases. It is important to note that this report provides the tools required to delve into more detailed analysis of prospects by investigating alternative scenarios. When making use of the report, consideration must be given to local deviations from the established regional trends to ensure that the models capture local geological complexities that honor the data.

Canada East Coast investment

Since 2009, the Provincial Government has invested $17.3 million in offshore, through the Offshore Geoscience Data Program. In the 2014 budget, the Provincial Government invested a further $1 million in offshore and onshore geoscience programs to facilitate more exploration in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Newfoundland and Labrador Pressure Study

lyellott@ikonscience.com (Liza Yellott) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:22:11 GMT

Introduction

This pressure study was funded by the Provincial Government’s Offshore Geoscience Data Program, and technically managed by Nalcor Energy.

This study is a comprehensive evaluation of the subsurface pressure systems in Newfoundland and Labrador’s eastern frontier slope and deepwater basins. The study region spans an offshore area from northern Labrador to the Flemish Pass in the south, including the newly discovered Chidley, Henley and Holten basins in the Labrador Sea. The analysis integrated well data and new regional seismic data that was compared to global analogues.

Canada East Coast investment
Since 2009, the Provincial Government has invested $17.3 million in offshore, through the Offshore Geoscience Data Program. In the 2014 budget, the Provincial Government invested a further $1 million in offshore and onshore geoscience programs to facilitate more exploration in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Ikon Science’s related papers for offshore Newfoundland and Labrador:

Producing Pore Pressure Profiles Based on Theoretical Models in Un-drilled Deep-Water Frontier Basins
Understanding potential pressure regimes in undrilled Labrador deep water by use of global analogues
The shelf to deep-water transition using analogues to understand the pressure regime in un-drilled Labrador basins

Red Tank with Fairfield Geotechnologies

lyellott@ikonscience.com (Liza Yellott) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:36:36 GMT

Introduction

Red Tank Ji-Fi is a regional seismic characterization study in the northeastern portion of the Delaware Basin. The study brings together Fairfield Geotechnology’s high fold, full azimuth, point-to-point (source-receiver) seismic acquisition and Ikon Science’s pioneering reservoir characterization technology Ji-Fi. The objective is to characterize the spatial heterogeneity of the Bone Spring and Wolfcamp Formations for resource exploitation.

The Red Tank survey offers;

– High resolution imaging of complex geology
– Well planning – get in the zone, stay in the zone
– Rock property prediction for reservoir management and maximum return on investment.

Benefits and Deliverables

North Sea Central Graben Pressure Study Phase 2

lyellott@ikonscience.com (Liza Yellott) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:27:27 GMT

Introduction

Phase 2 of this study was completed in 2011, and it enhances the North Sea Central Graben Pressure Study Phase 1 by integrating full 3D seismic coverage to supply:

Better definition of pressure compartments
Evidence for fluid escape in and around breached traps
Structural definition relative to well position and the location of seal failure

The maps in this study are based on data released up to 2009, and include:

An effective stress map to show areas of potential seal breach
New definition of Jurassic/Triassic pressure compartments

Phase 2 is a complementary study and does not replicate the five case studies of Phase 1.

Benefits and Deliverables

Central North Sea Salinity Database

lyellott@ikonscience.com (Liza Yellott) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:26:28 GMT

Introduction

– EXA salinity catalogue based on analysis of water gradients in the UK, Norwegian and Danish North Sea, for stratigraphic horizons from Eocene to Permian. A valuable resource for petrophysicists and others for calculating Rw in all main hydrocarbon reservoirs.

The database comprises the most extensive set of salinity data for Central North Sea ever published.

Benefits and Deliverables

Central North Sea Rock Physics with Pressure Study

lyellott@ikonscience.com (Liza Yellott) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:21:50 GMT

Introduction

Roknowledge CNS is an integrated rock physics with geopressure study designed to identify and unlock hidden potential within the Eocene, Palaeocene, Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic intervals.

This unique study includes 35 wells from across a broad area of the Central North Sea (CNS). Our expert rock physics and geopressure teams generated a fresh and up to date interpretation of the key pressure and rock physics mechanisms in the CNS which control or contribute to the seismic behaviour of key reservoir intervals.

Curate Delivery

The study is delivered through Curate as an interactive atlas enabling:

Instant access through a web browser to interactively view all information and knowledge captured within the study, with access to download of all primary study deliverables
Collaboration by creating ‘projects’ for specific groupings of people to work on exploration and appraisal projects, creating well views, AVO scenarios, maps, cross correlation panels etc
Ability to make trend maps from well attributes such as markers (depth) and logs
Ability to rapidly create AVO scenario models across all study wells and intervals – model fluid, lithology, porosity variations
Streamlined workflows for all stakeholders with applications from geophysical interpretation (seismic modelling) through to engineering (rapid access to petrophysical sums/averages for reservoir property modelling)

Benefits and Deliverables

Niger Delta Pressure Study Phase 2: Shallow Water and Continental Shelf

lyellott@ikonscience.com (Liza Yellott) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:41:48 GMT

Introduction

This is the first authoritative study of subsurface pressures in the Niger Delta deep water and ultra deep water areas, based on 94% of exploration and appraisal wells drilled.

The Niger Delta pressure study delivers an understanding of the effect of overpressure on hydrocarbon trapping in the Niger Delta, and discusses the implications for exploration in the region. The high capture of well data contributes to the building of predictive relationships critical to the planning of safe deep water wells.

This study investigates:

Distribution and control of overpressures including variations in top of overpressure and vertical/lateral seals.
Evidence for lateral transfer (leading to higher than expected pressures when drilling).
Trap integrity assessment – seal breach risking and top seal failure.
Lateral drainage and implications for migration, hydrodynamic flow and tilted OWCs.

Benefits and Deliverables

West of Shetland Pressure Study

lyellott@ikonscience.com (Liza Yellott) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 09:11:30 GMT

Introduction

A fresh regional pressure study, integrating data from 223 wells, including an updated assessment of exhumation in the region.

All of the available data relating to subsurface pressure have been used to generate a series of reservoir overpressure distribution maps.

As part of the study, apatite fission track data, together with vitrinite reflectance and sonic velocity analysis, have been incorporated into a new assessment of exhumation and palaeo pressure in the region.

Study completed in 2011.

Benefits and Deliverables

UK Onshore Carboniferous Shale Study

lyellott@ikonscience.com (Liza Yellott) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 09:07:57 GMT

Introduction

The Carboniferous shales of the UK onshore area have become a major interest recently due to their potential to hold exploitable natural gas.

A key consideration in the exploitability of these natural gas assets is the current pore pressure regime within the shale. Knowledge of pore pressure is important in the process of hydraulically fracturing the shale to enhance permeability, and then to drive and enhance production of gas in place. However, traditional methods of pore pressure prediction within shales do not tend to work where effects of major uplift, diagenesis and hydrocarbon generation have eliminated usual porosity/effective stress relationships conventionally used to predict overpressure.