oa Stress Organization along Neuquen Basin in Vaca Muerta Formation and their Impact in Microseismic Response

This work presents the results of the analysis of stresses organization that includes the Shmax orientation and 1d geomechanical model information. The borehole breakouts and drilling induced tensile fractures (DITF) from wells within Total Austral blocks and surrounding areas in Neuquen Basin (Argentina) were used to compute Shmax orientation. This analysis was complemented with information obtained from World Stress Map Project and previous works [e.g. Guzman et al., 2007 ]. The results show a regional anticlockwise rotation of the SHmax from south to north of the Neuquen Basin.

The 1D geomechanical stresses model was computed in Total Austral wells and using to compute the ratios Shmin /Sv and Shmin /Shmax representing the stress regime and the horizontal stress anisotropy respectively.

The results show variations of stress regimes from strike-slip to thrust and a decrease of the stress anisotropy from south to north. These variations lead to different microseismic responses and allow characterizing in terms of hydraulic fracture creation the selected landing point in each area.