Abstract
In time-lapse (4D) seismic, slow-down in the overburden is often seen as a footprint of depletion in subsurface reservoirs. The work presented in this lecture has demonstrated that for stress changes around the in situ stress, laboratory measured stress and strain sensitivity of a field shale core depends strongly on the stress path. Translated to the field, the stress path describes how horizontal stress varies with changes in the vertical stress when stress arching occurs above a depleted (or inflated) site. Geomechanical simulations are needed in order to identify the correct in situ stress path for each specific field situation, but 4D data may also provide guidelines towards the identification of the overburden stress path.