Energy-focused technical development company WellDog Pty Ltd. said on Oct. 7 that it collaborated with Shell International Exploration & Production Inc. to develop a new technical service for shale formations. The companies have worked for eighteen months, WellDog added.

The new service identifies locations where natural gas and NGL occur, and reduces drilling costs, optimizes production and reduces the number of hydraulic fracturing stages and associated water usage, the company said.

A laboratory and field development program was recently completed, and it used Welldog’s downhole Raman spectroscopy technology and Shell's geochemical and petrophysical evaluation, the company added. The technical service is being developed from the program. Shell is leading beta trials of the new service, the company noted.

WellDog Pty Ltd. is based in Laramie, Wyo.