Modelling Horizontal Stress and Hydraulic Fracturing in Cap Rocks

C-25 MODELLING HORIZONTAL STRESS AND HYDRAULIC FRACTURING IN CAP ROCKS Abstract 1 A sub-routine modelling the accumulated horizontal stress in the cap rocks is developed and included into Pressim pressure compartment simulations (Borge 2002). The main intention is to integrate basin scale fluid flow and geomechanics into basin modelling. A more complete 3D description is achieved by modelling the pressure in the permeable units and the stress in the cap rocks compared to traditional Pressim models (Borge 2000). The modelled minimum horizontal stress may thus be applied to a theoretical fracture criterion. Thus the model represents an alternative to empirical