Characterization of fine-grained clay-rich shale requires establishing a connection between its petrophysical and elastic properties. Such clay-rich sediments exhibit intrinsic anisotropy and have bi-connected matrix and fluid phases for a large range of porosity. This anisotropy must be properly accounted for to avoid misinterpreting seismic data. Therefore, it is challenging to accurately explain shale's transversely isotropic elastic property resulting from the preferred dispositional orientation of clay layers and the volumetric content, type, and dispersal of organic matter within the rock.