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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101398
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$355,744.00
Summary
Quantifying the risk of groundwater contamination from hydraulic fracturing in coal seam gas operations in Australia. Concern for impacts to groundwater resources due to coal seam gas operations has led to heated debate in the community. This project will assess the risk to groundwater contamination from fracking in coal seam gas operations. It is critical that naturally occurring compounds in the coal seam and injected compounds are not mobilised to aquifers topped by water bores. This project ....Quantifying the risk of groundwater contamination from hydraulic fracturing in coal seam gas operations in Australia. Concern for impacts to groundwater resources due to coal seam gas operations has led to heated debate in the community. This project will assess the risk to groundwater contamination from fracking in coal seam gas operations. It is critical that naturally occurring compounds in the coal seam and injected compounds are not mobilised to aquifers topped by water bores. This project will build accurate, site-specific, dynamic numerical models of the hydraulic-fracturing process in coal seam gas operations. This will enable prediction of the maximum vertical extent of stimulated fractures in specific coal seams and will help establish criteria for when and where fracking in coal seam gas wells is safe in relation to groundwater contamination.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100181
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$650,000.00
Summary
Strengthening merit-based access and support at the new National Computing Infrastructure petascale supercomputing facility. World-leading high-performance computing is fundamental to Australia's international research success. This facility will provide access to the new National Computational Infrastructure facility by world-leading researchers from six research universities, and sustain ground-breaking work in an increasingly competitive environment.