This research indicates that knowledge of in situ stress fields offers the key to better design of fracture treatments and control of fracture growth. Techniques for measurement of in situ stress variation within a gas reservoir must be developed into a routine test that is both economic and acceptable to well operators before significant advances in fracturing treatment design technology can be made. Pertinent in situ material properties normally can be obtained with some degree of precision through the use of geophysical logs supplemented by a lab testing program.