The present-day stress state and its impact on drilling and reservoir management in a field of the Abadan Plain, Southwest Iran

The present-day stress state of the Abadan Plain in Southwest Iran is a critical factor in the management of drilling operations and reservoir development. This research integrates multiple data sources, including borehole image logs, leak-off test (LOT) data and petrophysical logs from 11 wells, to characterize the regional stress field. Borehole breakouts and drilling induced fractures were analyzed to identify the orientation of the maximum horizontal stress (S_Hmax), which was found to consistently align in a northeast-southwest direction across the region. Using a stress polygon method, results showed that the S_Hmax values ranged from 50.78 MPa to 62.1 MPa in the Gurpi Formation, from 92.91 MPa to 116.82 MPa in the Gadvan Formation and between 114.48 MPa and 127.23 MPa in the Fahliyan Formation. The results also revealed that the region exhibits a consistent strike-slip stress regime, with S_Hmax > vertical stress (S_V) > minimum horizontal stress (S_hmin) in multiple wells, which has important implications for fault reactivation and drilling operations. These insights are crucial for improving drilling practices, understanding fault reactivation, and making informed decisions for future exploration and development in the area.