Inversion of breakout data from inclined bore-holes for stress state of the upper crust in Jizhong depression

Abstract

The forward and inverse problems of studying crustal stress state from breakout data of inclined boreholes are concisely stated. Direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress (compressive) and relative magnitudes of the horizontal stresses to the vertical stress in the upper crust in two regions of the Jizhong depression, the North of China, are obtained by analyzing the breakout data of 6 inclined wells. To get stable results in the analysis we searched for the unknown parameters both forwardly and inversely. The results show that the maximum azimuths of the horizontal principal compressive stresses in the central and southern part of the Jizhong depression are N86°E and N77°E, respectively, while the relative magnitudes of the three principal stresses in the upper crust (about 1000–4000 m) of the depression are variable. In the central part of the Jizhong depression we have foundS H :S V :S h =1.38:1.00:0.57, whereS H ,S V andS h are the maximum horizontal, vertical and minimum horizontal stress, respectively. This indicates that the present stress regime in this area is of strike-slip faulting type. In the southern part of the depression we have obtainedS H :S V :S h =0.80:1.00:0.62, indicating a normal faulting stress regime in the shallow part of the crust.