In situ stress measurements by hydraulic fracturing in the Western Route of South to North Water Transfer Project in China

•Hydrofracturing tests are firstly performed in southeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.•The NEE–SWW direction of σH is in line with the plate movement.•The σH direction is in line with that revealed by earthquake focal mechanism solutions.•The difference of stress regimes revealed by different methods is explained.•The results may provide a good complement to the World Stress Map.

This technical note summarizes and discusses the results of the in situ stress measurements by hydraulic fracturing conducted in 7 holes at depths ranging from 21 to 111 m in planned dam sites, and in 13 holes at depths varying from 28 to 532 m in planned tunnel sites in the Western Route of South to North Water Transfer Project in China. The measured maximum and minimum horizontal principal stresses increase linearly with depth in tunnel sites, and piecewise-linearly in dam areas. The horizontal stresses are greater than the vertical stress, indicating a thrust faulting regime at all tested locations. Such a stress regime is confirmed by local geological structures. The direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress is generally NEE–SWW, which is highly correlated with the tectonic plate movement and crustal deformation in the study area, and consistent with that revealed by focal mechanism solutions from earthquakes. The results in the present study may provide in situ stress information for the design of planned dams and tunnels, and make a good complement to the World Stress Map.