Borehole-conformable tool for in-situ stress measurements

摘要

A downhole tool facilitates in-situ borehole measurement of stress required to initiate a fracture in a desired direction in subterrean formation. The tool is constructed by longitudinally splitting a cylinder in half, and in use the tool includes an inflatable packer disposed within the split cylinder to force each half of the split cylinder against the borehole wall when the packer is inflated. Each half of the split cylinder, which serves as a borehole platen, is made to better conform to an irregular surface of a borehole wall by dividing the split cylinder into multiple segments that are loosely joined so as to allow limited independent movement of each segment with respect to adjacent segments.