Time-dependent fracture formation around a borehole in a clay shale

In the short term, the axis connecting the maximum failure depth on opposing sides of the borehole is parallel to the minimum stress direction in a plane normal to the borehole axis. In the long term, this axis rotates significantly towards the maximum stress direction, primarily as a consequence of tangential shear fracture propagation, slab formation and buckling. Dissipation of excess pore pressures may be the key process underpinning longer-term fracture propagation and formation.