In situ stresses and natural fractures in the Northern Perth Basin, Australia

Present-day stress orientations in the Northern Perth Basin have been inferred from borehole breakouts and drilling-induced tensile fractures observed on image logs from eight wells. Stress indicators from these wells give an east-west maximum horizontal stress orientation, consistent with stress-field modelling of the Indo-Australian Plate. Previous interpretations using dipmeter logs indicated anomalous north-directed maximum horizontal stress orientations. However, higher-quality image logs indicate a consistent maximum horizontal stress orientation, perpendicular to dominant north-south and northwest-southeast fault trends in the basin. Vertical stress was calculated from density logs at 21.5MPa at 1km depth. Minimum horizontal stress values, estimated from leak-off tests, range from 7.4MPa at 0.4km to 21.0MPa at 0.8km depth: the greatest values are in excess of the vertical stress. The maximum horizontal stress magnitude was constrained using the relationship between the minimum and maximum horizontal stresses; it ranges from 8.7MPa at 0.4km to 21.3MPa at 1km depth. These stress magnitudes and evidence of neotectonic reverse faulting indicate a transitional reverse fault to strike-slip fault-stress regime. Two natural fracture sets were interpreted from image logs: (i) a north- to northwest-striking set; and (ii) an east-striking set. The first set is parallel to adjacent north- to northwest-striking faults in the Northern Perth Basin. Several east-striking faults are evident in seismic data, and wells adjacent to east-striking faults exhibit the second east-striking set. Hence, natural fractures are subparallel to seismically resolved faults. Fractures optimally oriented to be critically stressed in the present-day stress regime were probably the cause of fluid losses during drilling. Pre-existing north- to northwest -striking faults that dip moderately have potential for reactivation within the present-day stress regime. Faults that strike north to northwest and have subvertical dips will not reactivate. The east-striking faults and fractures are not critically stressed for reactivation in the Northern Perth Basin.