Patent ID: 9238942
Filing Date: 2016-01-19
CPC Classification: E21B,G01V

Claim Text:
1. A method of developing an earth formation, the method comprising: using a tool conveyed in a borehole in the formation to induce stress in the earth formation proximate the borehole without fracturing the formation; using a sensor to obtain a measurement of a physical property of the borehole at a plurality of azimuthal locations in the borehole, wherein a value of the measurement of the physical property is related to the induced stress in the formation; and using a processor to: form an image of the borehole using the obtained measurement of the physical property, estimate an azimuthal variation with depth of the induced stress in the formation from the formed image, and alter an operational parameter of a device to develop the earth formation using the estimated azimuthal variation with depth of the induced stress in the formation.