Geological Stress Inversion Using Fault Displacement and Slip Tendency
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorsAlan P. Morris, David A. Ferrill, John M. McFarland
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Abstract
A computer-implemented method of determining the stress state associated with a geological fault is described. The source data comprises measured fault displacement values, or proxy displacement values, associated with the fault. An error function calculates error as a function of normalized fault displacement and normalized slip tendency. Candidate stress states are used to determine slip tendency values, which are used in the error function to calculate an error value. This value is minimized to determine the “best” candidate stress state.
Claims9
A computer-implemented method of determining the stress state associated with a geological fault, comprising:
- storing a dataset representing fault displacement values, or proxy displacement values, associated with the fault;
- storing an error function that calculates error as a function of normalized fault displacement and normalized slip tendency;
- selecting principal stress values for a stress state;
- calculating the slip tendency for that stress state for each measurement in the data set;
- calculating an error value for the data set, using the error function, the slip tendency, and the displacement or the proxy displacement values;
- repeating the selecting and calculating steps for a number of stress states;
- and
- determining the stress state that minimizes the error value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.