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Refined equations for estimating maximum horizontal stress from borehole breakouts in vertical wells

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Abstract

Accurate information of in-situ stresses is critical to all deep underground engineering. Unlike the vertical stress and minimum horizontal stress, the maximum horizontal stress cannot be directly measured, instead it must be inferred from other measurements. One widely used method is to inversely compute the maximum horizontal stress from borehole breakout angle revealed by caliper log or borehole televiewer. However, theoretical derivation and numerical modeling indicate that the accuracy of the existing equation computing the maximum horizontal stress from borehole breakout needs to be improved for both impermeable and permeable boreholes and formations. The refined equations are proposed and verified in this technical note.

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Acknowledgement

Technical discussions with professor Younane Abousleiman at the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Jon Jincai Zhang at Sinopec and Dr. Gang Li at Occidental Petroleum are highly appreciated.

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Correspondence to Yanhui Han.

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Han, Y. Refined equations for estimating maximum horizontal stress from borehole breakouts in vertical wells. Geomech. Geophys. Geo-energ. Geo-resour. 7, 45 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-021-00251-8

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