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Determination of principal stresses and confinement of hydraulic fractures in Cotton Valley

Conference · · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5767150
In order to delineate formations that will inhibit the vertical growth of hydraulic fractures, the principal stress within the formations must be known. The principal stresses can be calculated from density and acoustic logs. Overburden pressure is obtained by integrating density logs. The lithostatic gradient in Cotton Valley is approximately 1.07 psi/ft. Digitized acoustic wavetrains are processes to calculate Poisson's ratio. Poisson's ratio averages .16 in sands and .29 in shales. This implies that the average horizontal stresses in sands and shales at a depth of 10,000 ft (3048 m) are 2038 and 4370 psi, respectively. Principal stresses also are calculated from acid treatments. The minimum horizontal principal stress (closure stress) closely agrees with the predicted value from logs. The second horizontal principal stress is much greater than the closure stress implying that an additional tectonic stress is present. Since the horizontal principal stresses are higher in shales than sands, overlying shales should tend to confine the vertical growth of fractures. Fracturing pressures should be limited so as to take advantage of the sand-shale closure stress differential. 14 references.
OSTI ID:
5767150
Report Number(s):
CONF-790913-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: SPE-8405
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
020300 -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
58 GEOSCIENCES
580300 -- Mineralogy
Petrology
& Rock Mechanics-- (-1989)
COMMINUTION
DENSITY
FRACTURING
GAMMA-GAMMA LOGGING
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
OIL WELLS
OVERBURDEN
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POISSON RATIO
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
RADIOACTIVITY LOGGING
RESERVOIR ROCK
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES
SONIC LOGGING
STRESSES
TENSILE PROPERTIES
WELL LOGGING
WELLS