ABSTRACT
Complex initial stress refers to the geostress field in which the orientation of maximum horizontal stress (SH ) varies with location. In one case provided in this chapter, the orientation of SH in the upper formation section differs from that of the lower section. In another case, the orientation of SH on the west side of a field differs from the orientation on its east side. Special approaches to construct the initial geostress field that matches phenomena observed at the well locations are necessary in these cases. This chapter introduces the principle and methods used to analyze SH rotation and initial
geostress direction. Equations and user subroutines used to construct these types of complex initial stress fields are presented. Two examples are also presented to illustrate the workflow.
