Understanding tectonic stress in the oil patch: The World Stress Map Project

Abstract

Knowledge of the present-day tectonic stress is essential for numerous applications in petroleum exploration and production and in civil and mining engineering, such as improving the stability of boreholes and tunnels and enhancing petroleum production through natural or induced fractures. The World Stress Map (WSM) Project is a collaborative project between academia, industry, and government that is building a comprehensive global database of present-day stress information to better understand the state and sources of contemporary tectonic stress in the lithosphere (Figure 1).