oa Utilizing Moment Tensors to Identify Fracturing Behavior for Hydraulic Fracture Stimulations in Complex Geologic Domains

Microseismic monitoring has become an accepted method for monitoring fracture growth and stimulation effectiveness during hydraulic fracturing. In addition to delineating fracture dimensions and orientation, microseismic methods can also provide insight into local stress states adjacent to geological structures and their influence on fracture propagation. Understanding the role geology plays on fracture growth is integral to the planning and completion program of a hydraulic fracture treatment. In general, fractures will propagate in the direction of maximum horizontal stress which is controlled by the regional stress in the area. In contrast, we will show how local complex geologies can have a greater effect on fracture growth and fracture orientation as compared to a fracture network directly influenced by the regional stresses.