Patent ID: 6167964
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A method of determining an in-situ stress of an earth formation subjected to first, second and a third in-situ stresses, wherein a borehole has been drilled into the formation, the borehole containing a borehole fluid inducing a selected pressure to the borehole wall so that in a region of the formation the first in-situ stress is replaced by another stress depending on said selected pressure induced to the borehole wall, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a sample which has been removed from said region, the sample having first, second and third reference directions which coincide with the respective directions of the first, second and third in-situ stresses prior to removal of the sample from the formation; and conducting a plurality of tests on the sample whereby in each test the sample is subjected to selected stresses in the reference directions so as to determine a damage envelope of the sample and to determine from the damage envelope at least one of the second and third in-situ stresses, wherein the magnitude of the selected stress in the first reference direction is substantially equal to the magnitude of said another stress.