New in situ data based on hydraulic fracturing and overcoring have been compiled for eastern Australia, increasing from 23 to 110 the number of in situ stress analyses available for the area between and including the Bowen and Sydney Basins. The Bowen Basin displays a consistent north‐northeast maximum horizontal stress (σH) orientation over some 500 km. Stress orientations in the Sydney Basin are more variable than in the Bowen Basin, with areas of the Sydney Basin exhibiting north‐ northeast, northeast, east–west and bimodal σH orientations. Most new data indicate that the overburden stress (σV) is the minimum principal stress in both the Bowen and Sydney Basins. The Sydney Basin is relatively seismically active, whereas the Bowen Basin is relatively aseismic. Despite the fact that in situ stress measurements sample the stress field at shallower depth than the seismogenic zone, there is a correlation between the stress measurements and seismicity in the two areas. Mohr‐Coulomb analysis of the propensity for failure in the Sydney Basin suggests 41% of the new in situ stress data are indicative of failure, as opposed to 13% in the Bowen Basin. The multiple pre‐existing structural grains in the Sydney Basin further emphasise the difference between propensity for failure in the two areas. Previous modelling of intraplate stresses due to plate boundary forces has been less successful at predicting stress orientations in eastern than in western and central Australia. Nonetheless, stress orientation in the Bowen Basin is consistent with that predicted by modelling of stresses due to plate boundary forces. Variable stress orientations in the Sydney Basin suggest that more local sources of stress, such as those associated with the continental margin and with local structure, significantly influence stress orientation. The effect of local sources of stress may be relatively pronounced because stresses due to plate boundary forces result in low horizontal stress anisotropy in the Sydney Basin.

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The principal function of leak-off tests is to assess casing integrity, but the test data are commonly used beyond this original purpose, for stress estimations in exploration and drilling. The value of leak-off test data for stress estimation is questionable and extended leak-off tests have been proposed as a more appropriate method for stress estimation. The paper for the first time compares leak-off test (LOT) and extended leak- off test (ELOT) data from two areas, the North West Self of Australia and the Norwegian North Sea. Standard LOTs have a characteristically large scatter associated with the leak-off pressures (Plo), minimum stress and fracture gradient estimates in both areas. However, the minimum stress determined from ELOTs are consistent and form a lower bound to the standard fl0 data in both areas. The ELOT takes about an hour to perform, but provides far superior data than that obtained from a LOT, and is recommended where stress data are required. P. 131