Subsurface fluid flow through fractures in sedimentary basins. This project aims to improve understanding of subsurface fluid transport through fractures. Fractures in rock provide interconnected, hydraulically conductive networks enabling large-volume fluid transport through sedimentary basins. The ability of a fracture to transmit fluid is primarily controlled by the in situ stress field, but also by rock strength, fracture plane orientation and roughness and pore-fluid pressure. We have a goo ....Subsurface fluid flow through fractures in sedimentary basins. This project aims to improve understanding of subsurface fluid transport through fractures. Fractures in rock provide interconnected, hydraulically conductive networks enabling large-volume fluid transport through sedimentary basins. The ability of a fracture to transmit fluid is primarily controlled by the in situ stress field, but also by rock strength, fracture plane orientation and roughness and pore-fluid pressure. We have a good understanding of in situ stress within many sedimentary basins, but know very little about the nature and origin of natural fractures. This project aims to provide a detailed, quantitative understanding of the nature and origin of natural fractures in the subsurface, which is critical for predicting fluid migration within aquifers, carbon dioxide storage sites, and geothermal and hydrocarbon reservoirs.Read moreRead less
Contemporary stress and tectonics of Australia. This project will conduct a detailed examination of the state and controls on present-day tectonic stress in Australia. Tectonic stresses are a primary control on deformation in the Earth and this project has direct applications for earthquake hazard assessment, mine stability, production of petroleum and geothermal energy, and carbon dioxide sequestration.
Modelling fluid-solid interaction in micro- and nano-porous media. This project aims to develop a state-of-the-art computational tool for modelling the coupled fluid transport-solid deformation behaviour in micro- and nano-porous media. A significant portion of the world’s water and energy resources are stored in fractured rocks, many of which contain characteristic pores with size ranging from nanometres to micrometres. The pore-scale particle-based modelling method will provide for better unde ....Modelling fluid-solid interaction in micro- and nano-porous media. This project aims to develop a state-of-the-art computational tool for modelling the coupled fluid transport-solid deformation behaviour in micro- and nano-porous media. A significant portion of the world’s water and energy resources are stored in fractured rocks, many of which contain characteristic pores with size ranging from nanometres to micrometres. The pore-scale particle-based modelling method will provide for better understanding and opportunities for manipulating fluid flow through fractured micro- and nano-porous media. Successful application of the model will improve the performance of diverse energy and environmental systems including carbon geo-sequestration, unconventional oil and gas recovery, enhanced geothermal energy generation and groundwater contamination.Read moreRead less
Long-term mechanical-flow performance of an enhanced geothermal reservoir. The project aims to improve methods to generate power from geothermal energy. Extraction of heat from deep earth is promising but so far inefficient. Heat is transferred when water is pumped underground, but recovery of heat is low and much water is lost. This project aims to investigate carbon dioxide (CO2) as an alternative to water. There are excellent prospects of relatively efficient recovery, and any loss of CO2 in ....Long-term mechanical-flow performance of an enhanced geothermal reservoir. The project aims to improve methods to generate power from geothermal energy. Extraction of heat from deep earth is promising but so far inefficient. Heat is transferred when water is pumped underground, but recovery of heat is low and much water is lost. This project aims to investigate carbon dioxide (CO2) as an alternative to water. There are excellent prospects of relatively efficient recovery, and any loss of CO2 in deep-earth geothermal reservoirs is beneficial because it represents permanent sequestration of carbon. The project plans to investigate the evolution of fluid-flow systems, recovery rate, long-term injectability, and mechanical-flow behaviour. Findings are expected to provide practical information on the geomechanical viability of this green power option.Read moreRead less
Qualitative and quantitative modelling of hydraulic fracturing of brittle materials. Few technologies have caused more concern in the general population than the so called hydraulic fracturing technique, applied to enhance the hydraulic conductivity of resource-bearing rocks by injecting high pressure fluids. The concern revolves around uncertainty with leakage of used chemicals to overlying aquifers, unwanted seismic events and surface subsidence. This research, combining experimental and compu ....Qualitative and quantitative modelling of hydraulic fracturing of brittle materials. Few technologies have caused more concern in the general population than the so called hydraulic fracturing technique, applied to enhance the hydraulic conductivity of resource-bearing rocks by injecting high pressure fluids. The concern revolves around uncertainty with leakage of used chemicals to overlying aquifers, unwanted seismic events and surface subsidence. This research, combining experimental and computational investigations, aims to establish fundamental understanding of key processes controlling fracture formation in brittle materials (coal seams and porous rocks) under the action of hydraulic fracturing. The research outcomes will help to assess and minimise the risks associated with the hydraulic fracturing technology. Read moreRead less
The micro-mechanics of faulting and fluid flow in porous reservoir rocks. The project will improve the understanding of the mechanics and physics of reservoir rocks under various loading conditions. This will have impact on the recovery of hydrocarbon energy resources, storage of carbon dioxide in depleted oil reservoirs, and extraction of energy from geothermal reservoirs in Australia.