A Critical Assessment of Geomechanics of Leak Off Test

A detail Knowledge of insitu stress and formation pore pressure in a basin brings understandings into their configuration as well as its implications for well design and drilling safety. Leak off pressure (LOPs) recorded during leak-off tests (LOTs) accompanied down boreholes are frequently used for the evaluation of magnitude of the minimum stress (usually assumed to be horizontal-σh) in the subsurface. Though, the reliability of these tests has been questioned in the literature as well as in oil and gas industry. Newly acquired extended LOTs provide more reliable estimate of minimum stress as compared to other available methods. But standard LOTs performed in each borehole section and provide huge data set for geologist which can be further used for the estimation of minimum horizontal stress. In present study geomechanical assessment of parameter used for LOT are discussed which specify the relation between LOP and minimum horizontal stress.