Systematic variations in stress state in the southern San Joaquin Valley: Inferences based on well-bore data and contemporary seismicity

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:6730514

Castillo, D A; Zoback, M D ^[1]

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1. Stanford Univ., CA (United States)

Analysis of stress-induced well-bore breakouts in 35 wells from 10 production fields in the southern San Joaquin Valley (SSJV) indicates systematic spatial variations in the direction of the maximum horizontal stresses at three different scales. First, the regional northeast-southwest compressional stress direction seen along the western margin of the San Joaquin Valley in the Elk Hills, Kettleman Hills, and Coalinga areas, gradually changes to approximately north-south compression over a distance of 10-20 km in the SSJV. This major excursion in the stress field seen in the Yowlumne, Yowlumne North, Paloma, and Rio Viejo production fields represents an approximately 40[degrees] counterclockwise rotation in the direction of the maximum horizontal stress (MHS). This systematic reorientation is consistent with approximately north-south convergence as seen in the local fold axes and reverse faults of Pliocene age and younger. Second, at the extreme south of the SSJV in the San Emidio, Los Lobos, Pleito, Wheeler Ridge, and North Tejon fields, another systematic, but localized, reorientation in the stress field indicates an abrupt change to an approximately east-northeast-west-southwest compression over a distance of a few kilometers. This latter reorientation of MHS stress direction, which is inconsistent with the local east-west-trending fold axes and thrust faults, represents a 40-50[degrees] clockwise rotation in the stresses; this reorientation appears to be limited to oil production fields located within the inferred hanging wall of the White Wolf fault that ruptured during the 1952 Kern County earthquake. Inversion of earthquake focal mechanisms of events located below the perturbed stress field indicates approximately north-south compression. The stress drop associated with the 1952 earthquake may have been responsible for rotating the MHS stress direction, implying that the remote horizontal stresses are comparable in magnitude. 53 refs., 16 refs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6730514
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Vol. 78:8; ISSN 0149-1423; ISSN AABUD2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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