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Utah FORGE 2439: A Multi-Component Approach to Characterizing In-Situ Stress

Published by Battelle Memorial Institute | Department of Energy | Catalog Last Checked: March 23, 2026 at 09:43 PM | Dataset Last Updated: February 18, 2025 at 07:03 PM
Core-based in-situ stress estimation, Triaxial Ultrasonic Velocity (labTUV) data, and Deformation Rate Analysis (DRA) data for Utah FORGE well 16A(78)-32 using triaxial ultrasonic velocity and deformation rate analysis. Report documenting a multi-component approach to characterizing in-situ stress at the U.S. DOE FORGE EGS site: laboratory, modeling and field measurement. Core-based methods for in-situ stress estimation were applied using samples from 5 intervals within the Utah FORGE 16A(78)-32 well. At three of these locations, Triaxial Ultrasonic Velocity (labTUV) tests were performed, resulting in experimentally-determined relationships between wave velocities and stresses. Non-monotonic increase in the velocity-stress relationships are inferred provide evidence of stress history and are therefore used to estimate in-situ stress magnitudes. Additionally, Deformation Rate Analysis (DRA) tests were run on core plugs from various orientations at each of the 5 sampling locations. These, too, provide evidence of stress history based on stress-strain behavior. A novel Weight of Evidence (WoE) method was developed as a means of synthesizing in-situ stress evidence from these two types of tests. Results indicate the minimum horizontal stress gradient ranges from 0.58 psi/ft to 0.69 psi/ft, with 4 of the 5 values between 0.66 psi/ft and 0.69 psi/ft. The vertical stress gradient ranges from 1.05 psi/ft to 1.12 psi/ft, with 4 of the 5 zones given results between 1.09 psi/ft and 1.12 psi/ft. The maximum horizontal stress gradient ranges from 0.98 psi/ft to 1.34 psi/ft, with 4 of the 5 zones falling between 0.98 psi/ft and 1.24 psi/ft. The stress regime thus appears to be on the edge between normal faulting and strike-slip faulting, potentially flipping back and forth between the two regimes due to variability of rock properties, structures such as faults, and/or thermal anomalies.

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Complete Metadata
@type dcat:Dataset
accessLevel public
bureauCode 
[
  "019:20"
]
contactPoint 
{
  "fn": "Mark Kelley",
  "@type": "vcard:Contact",
  "hasEmail": "mailto:kelleym@battelle.org"
}
dataQuality 
true
description Core-based in-situ stress estimation, Triaxial Ultrasonic Velocity (labTUV) data, and Deformation Rate Analysis (DRA) data for Utah FORGE well 16A(78)-32 using triaxial ultrasonic velocity and deformation rate analysis. Report documenting a multi-component approach to characterizing in-situ stress at the U.S. DOE FORGE EGS site: laboratory, modeling and field measurement. Core-based methods for in-situ stress estimation were applied using samples from 5 intervals within the Utah FORGE 16A(78)-32 well. At three of these locations, Triaxial Ultrasonic Velocity (labTUV) tests were performed, resulting in experimentally-determined relationships between wave velocities and stresses. Non-monotonic increase in the velocity-stress relationships are inferred provide evidence of stress history and are therefore used to estimate in-situ stress magnitudes. Additionally, Deformation Rate Analysis (DRA) tests were run on core plugs from various orientations at each of the 5 sampling locations. These, too, provide evidence of stress history based on stress-strain behavior. A novel Weight of Evidence (WoE) method was developed as a means of synthesizing in-situ stress evidence from these two types of tests. Results indicate the minimum horizontal stress gradient ranges from 0.58 psi/ft to 0.69 psi/ft, with 4 of the 5 values between 0.66 psi/ft and 0.69 psi/ft. The vertical stress gradient ranges from 1.05 psi/ft to 1.12 psi/ft, with 4 of the 5 zones given results between 1.09 psi/ft and 1.12 psi/ft. The maximum horizontal stress gradient ranges from 0.98 psi/ft to 1.34 psi/ft, with 4 of the 5 zones falling between 0.98 psi/ft and 1.24 psi/ft. The stress regime thus appears to be on the edge between normal faulting and strike-slip faulting, potentially flipping back and forth between the two regimes due to variability of rock properties, structures such as faults, and/or thermal anomalies.
distribution 
[
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "DRA.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1438/DRA.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Deformation Rate Analysis (DRA) data for Utah FORGE well 16A(78)-32 organized by zone, each containing a data sheet describing specimen dimensions and loading sequence, INSTRON data giving load vs time, data used to compute axial displacement, and charts generated from the data."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Core-Based In-Situ Stress Estimation for Utah FORGE Well 16A78-32.pdf",
    "format": "pdf",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1438/Pitt-Battelle%202439%20Milestone%202.1%20Report%20For%20Submission.pdf",
    "mediaType": "application/pdf",
    "description": "Core-based methods for in-situ stress estimation were applied using samples from 5 intervals within the Utah FORGE 16A(78)-32 well. At three of these locations, Triaxial Ultrasonic Velocity (TUV) tests were performed, resulting in experimentally-determined relationships between wave velocities and stresses.Additionally, Deformation Rate Analysis (DRA) tests were run on core plugs from various orientations at each of the 5 sampling locations. More information in the document."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "README DRA and TUV Data for Well 16A78-32.docx",
    "format": "docx",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1438/README%20DRA%20and%20TUV%20Data%20for%20Well%2016A78-32.docx",
    "mediaType": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document",
    "description": "README document describing the organization of the Triaxial Ultrasonic Velocity (labTUV) and Deformation Rate Analysis (DRA) data and providing additional information and context."
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "labTUV Data.zip",
    "format": "zip",
    "accessURL": "https://gdr.openei.org/files/1438/labTUV.zip",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "description": "Triaxial Ultrasonic Velocity (labTUV) data for Utah FORGE well 16A(78)-32, containing raw waveform data, summary data and charts for each of the 3 zone tests."
  }
]
DOI 10.15121/1923003
identifier https://data.openei.org/submissions/8504
issued 2022-12-13T07:00:00Z
keyword 
[
  "16A78-32",
  "Characterization",
  "DRA",
  "Deformation Rate Analysis",
  "EGS",
  "FORGE",
  "Field Measurement",
  "In-Situ Stress",
  "Laboratory",
  "Modeling",
  "Stress Test",
  "TUV",
  "Triaxial Ultrasonic Velocity",
  "Utah FORGE",
  "Weight of Evidence",
  "Well Data",
  "WoE",
  "energy",
  "geophysics",
  "geothermal"
]
landingPage https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/1438
license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
modified 2025-02-18T19:03:19Z
programCode 
[
  "019:006"
]
projectLead Lauren Boyd
projectNumber EE0007080
projectTitle Utah FORGE
publisher 
{
  "name": "Battelle Memorial Institute",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
spatial 
"{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[-112.916367,38.483935],[-112.879748,38.483935],[-112.879748,38.5148],[-112.916367,38.5148],[-112.916367,38.483935]]]}"
title Utah FORGE 2439: A Multi-Component Approach to Characterizing In-Situ Stress

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