The maximum horizontal stress (SHmax) is oriented sub-horizontally in approximately NW-SE direction, while the minimum horizontal stress (Shmin) is orientated approximately NE-SW (Müller et al. 2003).
Minimum horizontal stress is computed for anisotropic shale medium.
Differential stress ratio (DHSR) section is generated from maximum and minimum horizontal stress magnitudes using MLFN models.
The minimum horizontal stress magnitude, Shmin, is a crucial input parameter for a variety of subsurface engineering applications.
Key parameters are the local minimum horizontal stress, variability of the tensile strengths of the layers of a sedimentary sequence and the thickness of the beds.
The stable FPP value changes linearly with the minimum horizontal stress (Shmin), and it is independent of the maximum horizontal stress (Shmax) or the vertical stress (Sv).
In addition, the optimum well path is studied and again the maximum horizontal stress followed by minimum horizontal stress impacted well path the most.
In anisotropic loading mode, the velocity of P-waves in direction of the maximum stress was greater than minimum horizontal stress.
In this regard, the hydraulic fracture will easily propagate in the direction of minimum horizontal stress (where rock stress also seems to have decreased remarkably).
The stress path (Δσh/Δp), which describes the induced minimum horizontal stress per unit pore pressure change monitored at the well, shows characteristic trends over time on the modeling results.
It was found that, the most stable drilling direction is along the minimum horizontal stress for the extensional stress regime, while it is along the maximum horizontal stress in the strike-slip and compressional stress regimes.
