Abstract: A subsurface representation that includes geometry and material properties of subsurface geological formations may be generated. To compute the initial (pre-production) state of stress, gravitational forces and tectonic forces may be applied to the subsurface representation. These loads may result in stress and displacement fields within the subsurface representation. The stress field may be calibrated against available measurements. At this point, the subsurface representation may be reinitialized by resetting the displacements within the subsurface representation while maintaining the stress field.