Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology
Faculty of Geology & Petroleum Engineering
Subject: GeoMechanics
The Tectonic Stress Field
Basic Principle
Dr. Nguyen Huynh Thong
1
Outline
Geomechnanics Characterization
HW
Andersons Stress Classification System
Stress Magnitude at Depth
HW
Seismotectonics
Fault slip induced Stress Perturbations in Well
2
TARGETS
Identify the three stress regimes and the
relative magnitudes of the principal stresses
in each stress regime
Identify at least two sources of stress
perturbation in the crust
3
GEOMECHANICS
CHARACTERIZATION
4
Geomechanics Through the Life of a Field
5
Complex Stress State Surrounding Salt Domes
6
Salt Bodies in the Gulf of Mexico
3 7
2
Schematic Stress Contours
Vertical stress (green), Horizontal stress (orange)
Stress state along well trajectory
affected by salt overhang
Salt
Salt
Top view 8
Near salt bodies the vertical stress IS NOT a principal stress.
Prediction of stress near salt is very difficult. (requires 6
instead of 4 independent parameters)
Components of a Geomechanical Model
9
Elements of a Geomechanical Model
Parameter Data
Vertical stress ( ) = . .
Least principal Shmin LOT, XLOT, minifrac
stress
Max. Horizontal SHmax magnitude modeling
Stress
Stress SHmax azi borehole failure
Orientation
Pore pressure Pp direct, DST, sonic, seismic,
10
Rock strength UCS lab measurements, logs
Instruction
Homework
Calculating Overburden Stresses
Request
Deadline = next lecture must submit, on time
Complete on sheet answer with A4
Find on E-learning
Quiz - HW 11
HW02 - Instruction
Porosity = =
Pore pressure = = + . .( )
Overburden stress = = + . .( )
surface Pressure (Mpa or psi)
A
Formation boundary
B
Formation boundary
12
Z (depth, m or ft)
Be careful about Unit Conversion!
ANDERSONS STRESS
CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEM
13
E.M. Anderson Stress Classification System
S1 = Sv
Tectonic regimes are
S2 = SHmax
S3 = Shmin
defined in terms of the
Relationship between
the vertical stress (Sv)
and
S1 = SHmax
two mutually
S2 = Sv perpendicular
S3 = Shmin horizontal stresses
(SHmax and Shmin)
S1 = SHmax 14
S2 = Shmin
S3 = Sv
Relating Relative Stress Magnitudes to Faulting Regimes
Regime/Stress S1 S2 S3
Normal Sv SHmax Shmin
Strike-Slip SHmax Sv Shmin
Reverse SHmax Shmin Sv
In general:
S1 Maximum principal stress [MPa]
S2 Intermediate principal stress [MPa]
S3 Minimum principal stress [MPa]
In the earth:
SHmax Maximum horizontal stress (can be S1 or S2) [MPa]
15
Shmin Minimum horizontal stress (can be S2 or S3) [MPa]
Sv Vertical stress (can be S1, S2, or S3) [MPa]
Normal Fault Regime
sv = s1 The normal fault regime is also
called the extensional regime. It is
characteristic of shallow rocks in
all non-tectonic sedimentary
shmin basins without large erosion.
sHMAX = s3
= s2
Horst-graben structure
The San Joaquin Valley in horst
graben
California, the Rhine Valley
between France and Germany,
the Gulf of Thailand are all extension
normal fault grabens based on
observed structure.
M Dusseault
16
Strike Slip Regime or Wrench Fault
Block diagram sv = s2
shmin = s3
sHMAX
acute = s1
angle
~vertical
fault plane
shmin
sHMAX
Surface
view
17
Thrust (Reserve) Fault Regime and Structures
The shale bed in zone A has gone through one hinge
point, through two in zone B, and through three
hinge bends in zone C.
sv = s3
sHMAX = s1
1
hinge points
overthrust sheet highly fractured zone
strong
lateral B
thrust C
A
largely unfractured shale
high-p static basal sheet
shale
compression 18
M Dusseault
Anderson 1 Faulting Styles
Geologic Structures Reflect Either
Past or Current Stress Fields (or Both)
but
In This Class We are Almost Always
Going to be Interested in the Current Stress State
19
Anderson 1 Faulting Styles
20
Video
Elements of a Geomechanical Model
21
Variations of Regional Stress Magnitudes
22
Anderson 2 Classification of Relative Stress
23
STRESS MAGNITUDE
at DEPTH
24
Range of Stress Magnitudes at Depth
Hydrostatic Pp
With hydrostatic pore pressures, large differences in 25
stress magnitudes exist.
Range of Stress Magnitudes at Depth
Overpressure at Depth
With high pore pressures the horizontal
stresses approach the overburden. 26
The three principal stresses are almost
identical.
Stress Magnitudes in Normal/SS Faulting Stress
State - Timor Sea
27
Stress Magnitudes in Strike-Slip Stress
State - Another Part in the Timor Sea
0
Similar observations can
500 provide detailed stress and
Timor Sea (11 wells)
pore pressure profiles for
1000 entire fields.
1500
Overburden from density
2000
2500 Shmin from LOT
HDT FMS SHmax
3000 Sv
Pore pressure from well tests
3500
Shmin and velocity analysis in shales
STAR P
p
4000
Image Data SHmax from analysis of
Analyzed
4500
breakouts and tensile failures 28
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
in image data
Stress (MPa)
Stress Magnitudes in Strike-Slip/Reverse
The XYZ Field area
is in a transitional
strike-slip/reverse
stress regime with
Shmin approximately Well-27
(HDT)
Reverse/Strike Slip
SHmax>>Shmin~Sv
equal to Sv or
slightly greater Well-
30
(HDT)
than Sv.
Well-54
(FMS)
29
Calculating the Vertical Stress, Sv
30
Visund Field, Northern North Sea
31
Anderson Classification of Relative Stress Magnitudes
Hydraulic Fractures
Always Propagate
Perpendicular to the
Least Principal
Stress, S3
In 1948, HF
Orientations Were
Hotly Debated, Were
They Horizontal,
Vertical, Radial?
32
Anderson Classification of Relative Stress Magnitudes
Hydraulic Fractures
Always Propagate
Perpendicular to the
Least Principal
Stress, S3
What Happens when
Shmin~ Sv?
(SS/RF Stress Field)
33
Instruction
Homework
Vertical & Horizontal stresses
Request
Deadline = next lecture must submit, on time
Complete on sheet answer with A4
Find on E-learning
Quiz - HW 34
SEISMOTECTONICS
35
Seismotectonics of Northern S. America
36
Stress State in Northern S. America
37
FAULT SLIP INDUCED
STRESS PERTURBATIONS
in WELL
38
Modeling Fault-Induced Stress at the Wellbore Wall
Model of wellbore penetrating a The observed stress rotations (as well
pre-existing fault which has slipped as the abrupt termination of breakouts)
and perturbed the stress field in can be explained by the stress
the surrounding rock mass. perturbation associated with fault slip. 39
Wellbore Breakout Rotations Due to Fault Slip
Breakout
Breakout Rotation
Rotation
40
Breakout Rotation Observations
Expanded
view as
Faults
Original fault
interpretations indicated.
Dotted green
line traces
approximate
rotation of
breakouts
throughout
the fault zone.
This is the
pattern we try
to replicate in
the model.
41
Breakout Rotation Analysis: Results
Fault position in
wellbore
Fault necessary to
cause the breakout
rotations observed.
Trace of approximate 42
rotation of breakouts.
Good match to model.
Class Discussion
1. Identify the three stress regimes and the
relative magnitudes of the principal stresses
in each stress regime
2. Identify at least two sources of stress
perturbation in the Earth
3. What kind of stress regime dominates your
field? What evidence do you have to indicate
your assumptions are correct? 43
Reference
44