CASCADE - UK Carboniferous Shale Resource Assessment, Characterization and Development Evaluation.

CASCADE是一个应用研究和合作计划，重点是英国石炭纪页岩系统及其资源潜力。它将由曼彻斯特大学主办和领导，涉及大学研究人员和工业界。该计划将建立在曼彻斯特关于英国石炭纪石油系统和相关页岩资源的地质和特征的卓越研究和专业知识的深厚历史和跟踪记录的基础上。NERC赞助一直是大学研究计划的核心部分。这个知识平台构成了一个新的、有重点的合作、学习和研究计划的基础，该计划有可能在评估英国石炭纪页岩资源潜力和开发方面的知识和能力上向前迈进一步。英国地质调查局（BGS）最近的政府资助报告表明，英国石炭纪，特别是英格兰北方的Bowland和Hodder页岩，有相当大的页岩气资源潜力。评估的依据是对遗留岩心和数据以及数量有限的近期岩心和地球化学数据的分析。没有生产数据来模拟和预测这些潜在资源的可能回收。关键的地下不确定性涉及对可开采页岩气资源的理解以及对开发低风险区域分布的控制。在新井交付中也需要重要的学习，以实现安全钻井和完井规划和执行。 CASCADE的目的是在曼彻斯特大学的研究人员与从事英国页岩作业及相关勘探和开发的行业之间建立更深层次的联系。在曼彻斯特大学，NERC资助的关于页岩石油系统和潜在页岩储层的重要研究已经进行。这在很大程度上直接关系到英国的石炭系非常规资源和储层特征，其生产和环境影响以及对全球非常规天然气和石油开采的潜在更广泛影响。

CASCADE is a programme of applied research and collaboration focussed upon UK Carboniferous shale systems and their resource potential. It will be hosted and lead by the University of Manchester involving university researchers and industry. The programme will build on the deep history and track record of research excellence and expertise at Manchester on the geology and characterisation of UK Carboniferous petroleum systems and associated shale resources. NERC sponsorship has been a core part of the research programmes at the University. This platform of knowledge forms the basis for a new and focussed programme of collaboration, learning and research that has the potential to enable a step forward in knowledge and capability in the assessment of resource potential and development of UK Carboniferous shale resources. The recent government sponsored report from BGS suggests that there is potential for considerable shale gas resources in the UK Carboniferous, specifically in the Bowland and Hodder Shales of northern England. The assessment was based upon the analysis of legacy cores and data together with a limited number of recent core and geochemical data. There is no production data to model and predict likely recoveries of these potential resources. Critical subsurface uncertainties relate to the understanding of what might be considered recoverable shale gas resource and the controls on the distribution of lower risk areas for development. There is also important learning required in new well delivery to enable safe drilling and completion planning and execution. The aim of CASCADE is to develop deeper links between University of Manchester researchers and industry working on UK shale operations and related exploration and development. Significant NERC-funded research on shale petroleum systems and potential shale reservoirs has been undertaken at the University of Manchester. Much of this has direct bearing on the UK's Carboniferous unconventional resource and reservoir characterisation, its production and environmental impact as well as potentially wider impact on global unconventional gas and oil exploitation.