Numerical calculation of stress rotation caused by salt creep and pore pressure depletion

The orientation of the principal horizontal stress has an important influence on completion design (i.e., casing direction and hydraulic fracturing). Several tectonic and depositional mechanisms influence the orientation of the principal stresses:

• Relaxation of stresses adjacent to faults. • Accumulation of stresses adjacent to faults before slippage. • Halo kinetics (i.e., movement of salt masses). • Slumping. • Rapid deposition of sediments on top of a subsurface environment dominated by strike-

slip or reverse faulting.