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Determining In-Situ Stress State by Anelastic Strain Recovery Method Beneath Xiamen: Implications for the Coastal Region of Southeastern China

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Abstract

The in-situ stress state in the shallow crust of the coastal region of Southeastern China (CRSC) remains poorly understood. We conducted anelastic strain recovery measurements in a 2 km deep geothermal borehole to investigate the in-situ stress state. Four high-quality granite core samples were employed to successfully estimate the full stress tensors. The results show that the maximum principal stress σ1 is nearly vertical, implying an extensional shallow crust that is controlled by normal faulting. From ~1865 to ~1959 m in depth, the maximum and minimum horizontal principal stresses (SHmax and Shmin) are 36.1–48.7 MPa and 34.0–38.5 MPa, respectively. Based on the paleomagnetic analysis, the orientation of the maximum horizontal compressive stress SHmax is determined as N43° ± 19°W and aligned with the subduction direction of the Philippine Sea plate. According to the compiled stress data, the SHmax orientations in the CRSC rotate counterclockwise towards the Chinese mainland, which are consistent with those of the earthquake focal mechanisms and regardless of earthquake type, indicating a heterogeneous stress field dominancy in the CRSC. Our findings manifest that there is a lower horizontal compressive stress state in the upper crust in the study region. We also discussed the possible influence of in-situ stress on wellbore stability and fracture propagation in hot dry rock exploration and further quantitatively analyzed the reactivation possibility of natural fractures under different injection pressures. This study will provide scientific data for geodynamic research, fault seismicity, and geothermal development in the region in the future.

Highlights

  • We used the anelastic strain recovery (ASR) method to obtain the in-situ stress state at 2 km depth in Xiamen, Fujian, China, indicating that Xiamen is controlled by normal-faulting stress.

  • In ASR experiments, rock mechanics and rock compliance experiments were conducted to help better constrain the in-situ stress state.

  • The collision of the Eurasian and Philippine Sea plates controls shallow crustal stress pattern and shows a relatively low horizontal compressive stress state in the coastal region of Southeastern China.

  • Implications of in-situ stresses on geothermal resource development were discussed and quantitatively analyzed.

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modified from Liu et al. (2011) and Hu et al. (2017)). The JM-1 borehole is located in Xiamen city and is controlled by a fan-shaped local stress field resulting from the northwestward movement of the Philippine Sea plate. B Simplified present geologic setting and active faults in the CRSC and Taiwan (modified from Ma et al. 1989). Stress data are collected from Xie (2015), Zhang et al. (2015), Li et al. (2016), and some unpublished hydraulic fracturing stress results. The star represents the JM-1 borehole. Note that only stress data in the CRSC are collected and shown here

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by research funds from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 42177175, 41807222, 41702351), the China Geological Survey Project (DD20221660, DD20190138), and the CGS Research Fund (No. DZLXJK201706). Dr. Dongsheng Sun assisted in ASR measurement equipment and analysis software. Dr. Junling Pei helped conducted the paleomagnetic test of the ASR cores. Many thanks to Prof. Guiling Wang and Dr. Wenjing Lin for their help in the stress investigation in the JM-1 borehole. Dr. Haonan Gan provided geological data and rock cores of the JM-1 borehole. Particularly, the first author would thank Mr. Sho Nagata for helping conduct the ASR compliance experiment at Kyoto University. The original draft was edited by Elsevier Language Editing Services. Thanks to Dr. Ke Gao and Dr. Yu Feng for helping to improve the language of the revised manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, 100083, China

    Chongyuan Zhang, Manchao He & Zhigang Tao

  2. Institute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China

    Chongyuan Zhang & Wen Meng

  3. Key Laboratory of Active Tectonics and Geological Safety, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing, 100081, China

    Chongyuan Zhang & Wen Meng

  4. Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 615-8540, Japan

    Weiren Lin

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Contributions

Chongyuan Zhang: methodology, formal analysis, writing–review editing. Weiren Lin: Formal analysis, writing–review editing; Manchao He: validation, writing–review editing; Zhigang Tao: Formal analysis, writing – review editing; Wen Meng: Formal analysis.

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Correspondence to Manchao He or Zhigang Tao.

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Zhang, C., Lin, W., He, M. et al. Determining In-Situ Stress State by Anelastic Strain Recovery Method Beneath Xiamen: Implications for the Coastal Region of Southeastern China. Rock Mech Rock Eng 55, 5687–5703 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-022-02915-7

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