Patent ID: 8619500

Claim:
A method for estimating principal stresses of a subterranean formation using a computer system comprising: determining, using the computer system, rock strength parameters from seismic data of the formation; calculating, using the computer system, anisotropic elastic properties of the formation using at least said determined rock strength parameters; and determining, using the computer system, principal stresses of the formation using at least the calculated anisotropic elastic properties and the rock strength parameters of the formation, wherein the principal stresses comprise a vertical stress, a minimum horizontal stress, and a maximum horizontal stress; wherein the minimum horizontal stress is determined by a relation Ïƒ x = Ïƒ z â¢ v â¡ ( 1 + v ) 1 + EZ N - v 2 between the vertical stress Ïƒ Z , Young's modulus E, Poisson's ratio Î½, and normal compliance Z N .