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U.S. Department of Energy
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Insights into the relationship between wellbore breakouts, natural fractures, and in situ stress

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5146666
A direct comparison has been made between the azimuth of wellbore breakouts determined from dipmeter logs with oriented four-arm calipers, the orientation of natural fractures observed in oriented core, and the directions of the principal horizontal in situ stresses determined from hydraulic fracture tests. This comparison shows that the direction of the long axes of breakouts are aligned with the minimum horizontal stress. Breakouts occurred independent of natural fracture occurrence, and are oriented nearly perpendicular to the average strike of near vertical fractures. These observations suggest that analysis of dipmeter logs with oriented four-arm calipers or televiewer logs could provide an inexpensive and reliable method of determining the principal horizontal in situ stress directions. 12 refs., 5 figs.
Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
5146666
Report Number(s):
SAND-84-2132C; CONF-850671-3; ON: DE85008065
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English