Pressure required to induce a tensile fracture (breakdown pressure)

Input(s)

$\mathrm{S}_{\mathrm{hmax}}$: Maximum Principal Stress in reservoir (psi)

$\mathrm{S}_{\mathrm{hmin}}$: Minimum Principal Stress in reservoir $(\mathrm{psi})$

$P_{p}$: Pore Pressure (psi)

$\mathrm{T}_{\mathrm{o}}$: Minimum Hoop Stress for formation at which crack initiates (psi)

Output(s)

$\mathrm{P}_{\mathrm{b}}$: Breakdown Pressure $(\mathrm{psi})$

Formula(s)

$$ \mathrm{P}_{\mathrm{b}}=3 * \operatorname{Shmin}-\operatorname{Shmax}-\mathrm{P}_{\mathrm{p}}+\mathrm{T}_{\mathrm{o}} $$

Reference(s)

Mark D. Zoback, Reservoir Geomechanics, Cambridge University Press, UK, Page: 56.