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World Stress Map Database as a Resource for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering

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Abstract

Knowledge of the in situ stress state is of key importance for rock engineering. We inform the reader about the World Stress Map (WSM) database and its application to rock mechanics and rock engineering purpose, and in particular the orientation of maximum horizontal stress. We discuss the WSM and the quality ranking system of stress orientation data. We show one example of discrete-measured and computed-smoothed stress orientations from central and northern Europe with respect to relative plate velocity trajectories. We give first insights into ongoing development of a second, more Quantitative World Stress Map database which compiles globally rock-type specific stress magnitudes versus depth. We discuss the vertical stress component, and the lateral stress coefficient versus depth for different rock types. We display stress magnitudes in 2D and 3D stress space, and investigate stress ratios in relation to depth, lithology and tectonic faulting regime.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank two anonymous reviewers for their valuable input. We appreciate the thorough reading from the oil industry perspective (reviewer 1), and comments from the rock mechanics and rock engineering perspective (reviewer 2). The first author was supported by the European Union funded project GEISER (Geothermal Engineering Integrating Mitigation of Induced Seismicity in Reservoirs, Grant agreement no.: 241321-2). He would like to thank Ernst Huenges and David Bruhn (both GFZ, Section 4.1 Reservoir Technology).

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  1. Department 2: Physics of the Earth, Section 2.6 Seismic Hazard and Stress Field, German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ), Telegraphenberg, 14473, Potsdam, Germany

    Arno Zang, Ove Stephansson & Oliver Heidbach

  2. R+V Versicherung AG, Reinsurance, Underwriting Support, Leipziger Straße 35, 65191, Wiesbaden , Germany

    Silke Janouschkowetz

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  1. Arno Zang
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Zang, A., Stephansson, O., Heidbach, O. et al. World Stress Map Database as a Resource for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. Geotech Geol Eng 30, 625–646 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-012-9505-6

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