ElasticDislocationModellingandCoulombStressChange.PDFVIP

Elastic Dislocation Modelling and Coulomb Stress Change Investigations* 1 1 1 1 H. Broichhausen , R. Muir , C. Dunlop , and E. Macaulay Search and Discovery Article #41679 (2015)** Posted September 7, 2015 *Adapted from oral presentation given at AAPG 2015 Annual Convention and Exhibition, Denver, Colorado, May 31 – June 3, 2015 **Datapages © 2015 Serial rights given by author. For all other rights contact author directly. 1Midland Valley, Glasgow, United Kingdom (heike@) Abstract Elastic Dislocation modelling based on angular dislocation theory is able to predict displacement fields and the distribution of strain in a poroelastic medium for any slip introduced on a discrete fault. Assuming linear elasticity, the magnitude and distribution of fault-induced stresses can then be calculated and following on from this, the Coulomb stress changes in the surrounding rock can be determined from shear and normal stresses acting upon fractures. In addition, a key application of Coulomb stress change is the ability to determine optimal fracture orientations. Outputs from elastic dislocation and Coulomb stress change modelling have numerous applications for hydrocarbon exploration and production, but a key driver for this new development is the ability to model lateral variation of me