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Integrated In Situ Stress Estimation by Hydraulic Fracturing, Borehole Observations and Numerical Analysis at the EXP-1 Borehole in Pohang, Korea

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Abstract

It is desirable to combine the stress measurement data produced by different methods to obtain a more reliable estimation of in situ stress. We present a regional case study of integrated in situ stress estimation by hydraulic fracturing, observations of borehole breakouts and drilling-induced fractures, and numerical modeling of a 1 km-deep borehole (EXP-1) in Pohang, South Korea. Prior to measuring the stress, World Stress Map (WSM) and modern field data in the Korean Peninsula are used to construct a best estimate stress model in this area. Then, new stress data from hydraulic fracturing and borehole observations is added to determine magnitude and orientation of horizontal stresses. Minimum horizontal principal stress is estimated from the shut-in pressure of the hydraulic fracturing measurement at a depth of about 700 m. The horizontal stress ratios (S Hmax/S hmin) derived from hydraulic fracturing, borehole breakout, and drilling-induced fractures are 1.4, 1.2, and 1.1–1.4, respectively, and the average orientations of the maximum horizontal stresses derived by field methods are N138°E, N122°E, and N136°E, respectively. The results of hydraulic fracturing and borehole observations are integrated with a result of numerical modeling to produce a final rock stress model. The results of the integration give in situ stress ratios of 1.3/1.0/0.8 (S Hmax/S V/S hmin) with an average azimuth of S Hmax in the orientation range of N130°E–N136°E. It is found that the orientation of S Hmax is deviated by more than 40° clockwise compared to directions reported for the WSM in southeastern Korean peninsula.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the New and Renewable Energy Technology Development Program of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) through a grant funded by the Korean Government’s Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (No. 20123010110010). The authors are thankful to The Research Institute of Energy and Resources, Seoul National University.

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  1. Ki-Bok Min

    Present address: Department of Energy Systems Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Energy Systems Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Hanna Kim, Linmao Xie & Ki-Bok Min

  2. GeoGeny Consultants Group Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Seongho Bae

  3. GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany

    Ove Stephansson

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Correspondence to Ki-Bok Min.

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Kim, H., Xie, L., Min, KB. et al. Integrated In Situ Stress Estimation by Hydraulic Fracturing, Borehole Observations and Numerical Analysis at the EXP-1 Borehole in Pohang, Korea. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50, 3141–3155 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-017-1284-1

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