Authors: A.A. Skulkin, A.V. Panov, E.V. Rubtsova, N.A. Miroshnichenko

Title of the article: Justification of the scheme for implementing directional measurement hydraulic fracturing to determine components of the natural stress field

Year: 2025, Issue: 5, Pages: 128-136

Branch of knowledge: 2.8.6. Geomechanics, destruction of rocks by explosion, mine aerogasdynamics and mining thermophysics

Index UDK: 622.831.1

DOI: 10.26730/1999-4125-2025-5-128-136

Abstract: The practical implementation of methods for the instrumental determination of stresses in rock masses remains a pressing challenge. This article presents a methodological approach that utilizes data from directional measurement hydraulic fracturing in three differently oriented boreholes drilled in a plane orthogonal to the excavation axis. This approach enables the determination of the magnitude and direction of the principal components of the external stress field. To justify the schemes for the mutual arrangement of measurement boreholes, an analysis of errors in determining the target stress components was conducted under the following conditions: 1) variations in angles between boreholes and the position of the first borehole relative to the a priori unknown vector of the principal stress component; 2) dependence on the accuracy of directional drilling. An analytical algorithm for solving forward and inverse problems with noisy input data was proposed to assess potential errors. The algorithm was tested using experimental data obtained from the "Gidrorazryv" complex at the mines of JSC "Uchalinsky GOK ". It was established that the angles between the axes of the measurement boreholes in the plane orthogonal to the excavation direction should be at least 30°, regardless of the orientation of the first borehole relative to the assumed principal stress direction. Deviations of the measurement boreholes from the specified angles within 4° result in errors not exceeding 7% in the magnitude of the principal stresses and 1.5° in the angle between the first borehole and the direction of the maximum stress component. These errors are deemed acceptable for conducting measurement hydraulic fracturing under field conditions.

Key words: borehole initiation fracture directional hydraulic fracturing stress field components fracture closure pressure numerical experiment multiplicative noise error

Receiving date: 25.05.2025

Approval date: 22.09.2025

Publication date: 23.10.2025

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