MicroSeismic, Inc. announced that it has been awarded a contract by Cuadrilla Resources Ltd. (Cuadrilla) for microseismic mapping and monitoring of their hydraulic fracturing operations in the western Bowland Shale Basin in the United Kingdom. This area has a remarkable amount of shale gas; estimated gas in place is up to 200 trillion cubic feet. The contract includes detailed mapping of hydraulic fracture growth and seismicity monitoring of the Becconsall well in Lancashire, UK and has the capacity to monitor multiple potential wells for optimized field development.

Commenting on the solution, Peter Duncan, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of MicroSeismic, Inc., stated, "Although we think of ourselves as sitting on a passive surface, we are actually on a surface of continual, but undetectable natural seismicity. The earth is in a constant and natural state of shifting. We are pleased to be working with Cuadrilla to assist them with microseismic mapping of their operations, as well as detecting the potential instance of small, less than 0.5 M(L) events."

"We look forward to working with MicroSeismic. Their experience and technology will allow us to properly monitor the seismic activity and bring economic growth to Lancashire," said Mark Miller, CEO of Cuadrilla Resources, Ltd. "Our work will bring a clean and local energy source to the area, offer employment opportunities with well-paying jobs while having a low surface impact."

According to the Induced Seismicity Mitigation Report created for the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC), this area is historically known for coal mining related induced seismicity at magnitudes of ~3.0 M(L), but has caused no material impact. Cuadrilla has hired MicroSeismic to provide real-time monitoring of subsurface seismic activity during fracing operations which are at levels not detectable at the surface.