In order to wholly understand mudstone heterogeneity, we have run a suite of experimental geomechanics and geochemical tests on mudstone samples of a range of textures, compositions, chemistries, and saturation levels and developed a comprehensive "mudstone heterogeneity index" or MHI. The MHI statistically compares a variety of quantitative and qualitative features within mudstone. The utility of the MHI is in it's application as a predictive tool to determine fracture behavior of mudstone during induced fracturing.

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Development of the MHI is sponsored by a variety of petroleum geology companies (ConocoPhillips, Chevron, and EOG) and by a USTAR-Energy Research Triangle scholars' grant from the state of Utah. The MHI was presented via a poster presentation at AAPG in Calgary, CA in 2016, as well as in an oral presentation for a general audience at the Utah Governor's Energy Conference in 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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