Determination of horizontal stress orientation in the areas of the Tomsk region
Introduction. The World Stress Map project proves that horizontal stress orientation determination is a global task essential for the majority of geomechanical calculations. However, there is scant data on stress orientations in the territory of Russia at the moment. The task is therefore highly relevant.Research objective is to determine the orientations of maximum and minimum horizontal stresses by separate areas of the Tomsk region and build a map of horizontal stresses.Method of research. The basis for determining the orientations of horizontal stresses is the theory of drilling-induced fracture and borehole breakouts occurrence. The maximum stress orientation coincides with the drilling-induced fracture orientation, whereas the minimum stress orientation coincides with the borehole breakouts orientation or is perpendicular to the maximum stresses.Results. Research results are compiled in a summary table containing mean orientations of horizontal stresses by areas and a map of horizontal stress orientations.Conclusions. A summary map of maximum horizontal stress strike azimuths has been constructed. The stresses are of similar orientation in every well under consideration, except for a well in the North-Shingin area. The average value of maximum horizontal stress orientation has made up 337° northwest and 157° southeast.