Hydraulic Fracturing In Situ Stress Estimations in a Potential Geothermal Site, Seokmo Island, South Korea

We conducted hydraulic fracturing (HF) in situ stress measurements in Seokmo Island, South Korea, to understand the stress state necessary to characterize a potential geothermal reservoir. The minimum horizontal principal stress was determined from shut-in pressures. In order to calculate the maximum horizontal principal stress (S _Hmax) using the classical Hubbert–Willis equation, we carried out hollow cylinder tensile strength tests and Brazilian tests in recovered cores at depths of HF tests. Both tests show a strong pressure rate dependency in tensile strengths, from which we derived a general empirical equation that can be used to convert laboratory determined tensile strength to that suitable for in situ. The determined stress regime (reverse-faulting) and S _Hmax direction (ENE–WSW) at depths below ~300 m agrees with the first order tectonic stress. However the stress direction above ~300 m (NE–SW) appears to be interfered by topography effect due to a nearby ridge. The state of stress in Seokmo Island is in frictional equilibrium constrained by optimally oriented natural fractures and faults. However, a severe fluctuation in determined S _Hmax values suggests that natural fractures with different frictional coefficients seem to control stress condition quite locally, such that S _Hmax is relatively low at depths where natural fractures with low frictional coefficients are abundant, while S _Hmax is relatively high at depths where natural fractures with low frictional coefficients are scarce.