On the Role of Thermal Stresses during Hydraulic Stimulation of Geothermal Reservoirs

Figure 11

Failure potential for rotated fractures due to thermal stress. The failure potential is depicted in the classical Mohr-Coulomb diagram. A fracture is eligible for slip if its corresponding point in the diagram touches/crosses the failure line (black dashed). Failure occurs only in a narrow range of orientations with the selected injection pressure. After 10 days of injection, thermal stress leads to possible slip in a wide range of orientations.