Determining orientation of a wellbore relative to formation stress fields.

摘要

The orientation of a wellbore relative to stress fields within a formation is determined by analysis of pressure climb data during a test fracturing operation. The test fracturing operation may be formed in a plurality of wells having a known angular relation to one another in a given formation. A known angular or azimuthal relationship between the wells may be correlated with the derivative of the pressure decline proximate the relief in pressure area to define maximum azimuthal stress field and a minimum azimuthal stress field in the formation.