Fault Zone Spatial Stress Variations in a Granitic Rock Mass: Revealed by Breakouts Within an Array of Boreholes
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Date
2023-08
Publication Type
Journal Article
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yes
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Abstract
The in situ stress state within fault zones is technically challenging to characterize. At the Bedretto Underground Laboratory in the Swiss Alps, the breakouts observed in an array of eight inclined boreholes penetrating a fault zone offer a unique opportunity to characterize the fault-associated spatial stress variations. Synthesizing multiple geophysical logs, natural geologic structures intersecting these boreholes are identified, revealing a hierarchy of a major fault zone along with secondary structures. Within the boreholes, breakout rotations occur over multiple scales, spanning individual fractures and the entire major fault zone. We first estimate and rule out the effect of the fracture-induced anisotropy on the breakout rotations, which are attributed mainly to the stress variations. Based on the stress field around a circular borehole and Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion, the observed breakout azimuths are used to invert the stress information.
Results show that the stress field outside the fault zone features a stress ratio (quantifying the relative stress
magnitude) of about 0.9, an inclined overburden stress (inclination: 12°∼18°), and a maximum horizontal principal stress (SHmax) oriented N100∼120°E. Within the fault zone, a substantial reduction of the stress ratio and complicated stress rotations are constrained, likely induced by the stress drop on local fractures. As a result, less critical stress state inside the major fault zone is expected. Our work provides a semi-quantitative estimation of the in-situ stress variations around fault zones in the absence of direct stress measurements, which is beneficial to a number of scientific and engineering applications
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published
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Volume
128 (8)
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American Geophysical Union
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Organisational unit
03476 - Giardini, Domenico / Giardini, Domenico
02334 - BULGG - Bedretto Underground Lab / BULGG - Bedretto Underground Lab
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Funding
182150 - In situ stress variations near faults considering fault zone rock rheology - implications for reservoir stimulation and associated seismicity (SNF)
ETH-06 19-1 - Creating a hierarchy of fracture network in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) through innovative hydraulic fracturing stimulation (ETHZ)
ETH-06 19-1 - Creating a hierarchy of fracture network in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) through innovative hydraulic fracturing stimulation (ETHZ)