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

CASCADE是一个应用研究和合作计划，专注于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，大学研究人员和产业界参与其中。该计划将建立在曼彻斯特在英国石炭系石油系统和相关页岩资源的地质和特征方面的深厚历史和卓越研究与专业知识的基础上。国家研究中心的赞助一直是该大学研究方案的核心部分。这一知识平台构成了一个新的重点合作、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的资源潜力和开发方面的知识和能力方面向前迈进一步。英国地质勘探局最近发布的一份由政府赞助的报告显示，英国石炭系蕴藏着可观的页岩气资源，尤其是在英格兰北部的鲍兰德和霍德页岩地区。评估的依据是对遗留岩心和数据的分析，以及数量有限的最新岩心和地球化学数据。没有生产数据来模拟和预测这些潜在资源的可能采矿量。关键的地下不确定性涉及对什么可被认为是可采页岩气资源的理解，以及对低风险开发地区分布的控制。在新井交付中也需要重要的学习，以实现安全的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和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。由NERC资助的关于页岩油气系统和潜在页岩储集层的大量研究已经在曼彻斯特大学进行。这在很大程度上直接关系到英国石炭系的非常规资源和储集层特征、其生产和环境影响，以及可能对全球非常规油气开采的更广泛影响。

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.