Determination and Application of Stress States Based on Finite Element Techniques: A Case Study of the Longmaxi Formation in the Luzhou Block, Sichuan Basin

Knowledge of the present-day in situ stress field (PIS) has important theoretical and practical significance for shale gas exploration and development. The Wufeng–Longmaxi Formation in the Luzhou Block serves as the main reservoir of marine shale production in southern China. However, there is no clear understanding of PIS in the Luzhou area, which leads to a series of production problems. To investigate the PIS of deep shale reservoirs in Luzhou, experimental and finite element methods (FEMs) were used. Data obtained from imaging logging data, well deviation data, multipole array acoustic logging (XMAC), and world stress map were used to determine the orientation of the horizontal maximum principal stress (S_H max). Additionally, acoustic emission experiments were employed to determine the magnitude of three principal stresses. Based on FEM, with the stress of a single well as a constraint, a three-dimensional (3D) stress field model was developed. The results show that the orientation of S_H max varies from 90 to 120 °E. Further, there are significant differences in stress regimes across the region, with strike-slip/reverse faulting stress regime (S_H max > S_v ≈ S_h min) in the northern region and strike-slip stress regime in the southern region (S_H max > S_v > S_h min). In addition, geomechanical evaluations of wellbore stability and natural activation of fractures were performed. The Luzhou Block mainly develops two groups of natural fractures (NE–SW trending and NW–SE trending), with NW–SE trending being the dominant fracture development orientation. During the fracturing operation, a pore pressure increment larger than 50 MPa is conducive to maintaining a high opening ratio of the reservoir and improving the gas production efficiency. Horizontal wells drilled in the direction of maximum horizontal principal stress in the Wufeng–Longmaxi Formation reduce the probability of wellbore instability. The research results provide a reference for the effective development of deep shale gas reservoirs in southern Sichuan.