In-situ stress orientation and magnitude at the Fenton geothermal site, New Mexico, determined from wellbore breakouts
The acoustic borehole televiewer provides excellent data for the detection and measurement of stress-induced wellbore breakouts. Analog televiewer data from the Fenton Geothermal well EE-3 in New Mexico were digitized and interactively processed for detection and analysis of azimuth and shape of stress-induced breakouts occurring in the well at depths of about 2.9--3.5 km. A statistical analysis of the measured breakout azimuths yields a well resolved orientation of least horizontal principal stress of 119/sup 0/, consistent with least principal stress data from the Rio Grande Rift. As the magnitude of the least horizontal compressive stress, S/sub hmin/, in EE-3 is known from hydraulic fracturing, we present a new method in which S/sub hmin/ and data on breakout width are used to estimate the magnitude of the maximum horizontal principal stress. copyright American Geophysical Union 1988
- Research Organization:
- Department of Geophysics, Stanford University, California
- OSTI ID:
- 5079062
- Journal Information:
- Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 15:5; ISSN GPRLA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Insights into the relationship between wellbore breakouts, natural fractures, and in situ stress
Observations of wellbore failure in the Toa Baja well - Implications for the state of stress in the North Coast Tertiary Basin, Puerto Rico