Mechanical and Transport Properties of Fractures

(see also this link)

We are developing an improved understanding of the interaction of stress and chemical effects in controlling the transport and mechanical properties of fractures. All projects involve laboratory characterizations, the development of consistent mechanistic models, and the upscaling and application of results to specific environments. These include understanding the staged development of Engineered Geothermal Reservoirs (EGS) at Coso, CA, and at Desert Peak, NV; the long term behavior of the radioactive waste repository at Yucca Mountain, NV; and the role of fracture and fault healing in the earthquake cycle.

Contact: Derek Elsworth, Avrami Grader, Phil Halleck, Chris Marone