Uniform NE-SW Compression in the Devonian Grosmont Formation in NE Alberta: Constraints on Stress Directions and Magnitudes from Analysis of Drilling Induced Tensile Fractures

Hundreds of thousands of boreholes have been drilled within the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin; and the stress field in Alberta has been the subject of numerous studies. However, most of these are focused in deeper boreholes concentrated in the west near the front of the deformation zone, and there is little publicly available data in the NE portions of the basin. Here we use a combined approach of interpretation of tectonic information with results from Breakouts (BO) and Drilling Induced Tensile Fractures (DITFs) analysis to quantitatively constrain the principal stress magnitudes within the Devonian Grosmont Formation. High-resolution electrical image logs from 32 wells were evaluated for drilling-induced fractures and display a remarkable consistency in the stress directions of N41.8 °± 16.5 °. By combining rock properties and geomechanical limitations with other logs, it was possible to subsequently delineate possible stress magnitudes to describe the complete stress field.