Shalerich

Shalerich is a term occasionally encountered in English-language energy industry discourse to describe shale formations with comparatively high organic richness or production potential. It is not a formal geological classification and is not widely standardized or recognized in peer-reviewed literature. The term is typically used informally in exploration notes, marketing materials by service or operator companies, and some industry blogs to convey the idea of a shale play offering elevated hydrocarbon yield relative to nearby formations.

Origin and usage: Shalerich appears to be a portmanteau of shale and rich. Its earliest attested uses are informal and not tied to a single organization, with precise dating often unclear. Because it lacks formal definition, different writers may set their own thresholds for what constitutes “shalerich” shale, such as total organic carbon levels, kerogen quality, or producibility, rather than a fixed metric.

Relation to established terms: The concept overlaps with established ideas of rich or highly productive shale plays and with oil shale, which refers to a different resource category. Shalerich should not be confused with oil shale as used in pyrolysis-based resource definitions.

Current status: Because it is informal, the term’s usage varies by region and company, and it does not appear in standard classification schemes. Readers should treat it as a colloquial descriptor rather than a technical category.

See also: Shale oil, Shale gas, Oil shale, Resource play, Unconventional oil.