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Utah FORGE Project 2439: A Multi-Component Approach to Characterizing In-Situ Stress

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Core-based in-situ stress estimation, Triaxial Ultrasonic Velocity (labTUV) data, and Deformation Rate Analysis (DRA) data for Utah FORGE well 16A(78)-32 using triaxial ultrasonic velocity and deformation rate analysis. Report documenting a multi-component approach to characterizing in-situ stress at the U.S. DOE FORGE EGS site: laboratory, modeling and field measurement.

Core-based methods for in-situ stress estimation were applied using samples from 5 intervals within the Utah FORGE 16A(78)-32 well. At three of these locations, Triaxial Ultrasonic Velocity (labTUV) tests were performed, resulting in experimentally-determined relationships between wave velocities and stresses. Non-monotonic increase in the velocity-stress relationships are inferred provide evidence of stress history and are therefore used to estimate in-situ stress magnitudes. Additionally, Deformation Rate Analysis (DRA) tests were run on core plugs from various orientations at each of the 5 sampling locations. These, too, provide evidence of stress history based on stress-strain behavior. A novel Weight of Evidence (WoE) method was developed as a means of synthesizing in-situ stress evidence from these two types of tests. Results indicate the minimum horizontal stress gradient ranges from 0.58 psi/ft to 0.69 psi/ft, with 4 of the 5 values between 0.66 psi/ft and 0.69 psi/ft. The vertical stress gradient ranges from 1.05 psi/ft to 1.12 psi/ft, with 4 of the 5 zones given results between 1.09 psi/ft and 1.12 psi/ft. The maximum horizontal stress gradient ranges from 0.98 psi/ft to 1.34 psi/ft, with 4 of the 5 zones falling between 0.98 psi/ft and 1.24 psi/ft. The stress regime thus appears to be on the edge between normal faulting and strike-slip faulting, potentially flipping back and forth between the two regimes due to variability of rock properties, structures such as faults, and/or thermal anomalies.

Citation Formats

Battelle Memorial Institute. (2022). Utah FORGE Project 2439: A Multi-Component Approach to Characterizing In-Situ Stress [data set]. Retrieved from https://dx.doi.org/10.15121/1923003.
Export Citation to RIS
Bunger, Andrew, Higgins, Joshua, Huang, Yao, and Kelley, Mark. Utah FORGE Project 2439: A Multi-Component Approach to Characterizing In-Situ Stress. United States: N.p., 13 Dec, 2022. Web. doi: 10.15121/1923003.
Bunger, Andrew, Higgins, Joshua, Huang, Yao, & Kelley, Mark. Utah FORGE Project 2439: A Multi-Component Approach to Characterizing In-Situ Stress. United States. https://dx.doi.org/10.15121/1923003
Bunger, Andrew, Higgins, Joshua, Huang, Yao, and Kelley, Mark. 2022. "Utah FORGE Project 2439: A Multi-Component Approach to Characterizing In-Situ Stress". United States. https://dx.doi.org/10.15121/1923003. https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/1438.
@div{oedi_5811, title = {Utah FORGE Project 2439: A Multi-Component Approach to Characterizing In-Situ Stress}, author = {Bunger, Andrew, Higgins, Joshua, Huang, Yao, and Kelley, Mark.}, abstractNote = {Core-based in-situ stress estimation, Triaxial Ultrasonic Velocity (labTUV) data, and Deformation Rate Analysis (DRA) data for Utah FORGE well 16A(78)-32 using triaxial ultrasonic velocity and deformation rate analysis. Report documenting a multi-component approach to characterizing in-situ stress at the U.S. DOE FORGE EGS site: laboratory, modeling and field measurement.

Core-based methods for in-situ stress estimation were applied using samples from 5 intervals within the Utah FORGE 16A(78)-32 well. At three of these locations, Triaxial Ultrasonic Velocity (labTUV) tests were performed, resulting in experimentally-determined relationships between wave velocities and stresses. Non-monotonic increase in the velocity-stress relationships are inferred provide evidence of stress history and are therefore used to estimate in-situ stress magnitudes. Additionally, Deformation Rate Analysis (DRA) tests were run on core plugs from various orientations at each of the 5 sampling locations. These, too, provide evidence of stress history based on stress-strain behavior. A novel Weight of Evidence (WoE) method was developed as a means of synthesizing in-situ stress evidence from these two types of tests. Results indicate the minimum horizontal stress gradient ranges from 0.58 psi/ft to 0.69 psi/ft, with 4 of the 5 values between 0.66 psi/ft and 0.69 psi/ft. The vertical stress gradient ranges from 1.05 psi/ft to 1.12 psi/ft, with 4 of the 5 zones given results between 1.09 psi/ft and 1.12 psi/ft. The maximum horizontal stress gradient ranges from 0.98 psi/ft to 1.34 psi/ft, with 4 of the 5 zones falling between 0.98 psi/ft and 1.24 psi/ft. The stress regime thus appears to be on the edge between normal faulting and strike-slip faulting, potentially flipping back and forth between the two regimes due to variability of rock properties, structures such as faults, and/or thermal anomalies.}, doi = {10.15121/1923003}, url = {https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/1438}, journal = {}, number = , volume = , place = {United States}, year = {2022}, month = {12}}
https://dx.doi.org/10.15121/1923003

Details

Data from Dec 13, 2022

Last updated Feb 3, 2023

Submitted Dec 14, 2022

Organization

Battelle Memorial Institute

Contact

Mark Kelley

614.424.3704

Authors

Andrew Bunger

University of Pittsburgh

Joshua Higgins

University of Pittsburgh now with Deloitte

Yao Huang

University of Pittsburgh now with Los Alamos National Laboratory

Mark Kelley

Battelle Memorial Institute

Research Areas

DOE Project Details

Project Name Enhanced Geothermal System Concept Testing and Development at the Milford City, Utah Forge Site

Project Lead Lauren Boyd

Project Number EE0007080

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