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

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