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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100204
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$452,147.00
Summary
Geothermal heat recovery and energy storage from underground mines. This project aims to investigate the technological aspects of re-using underground mines as a source for low-carbon heat extraction and storage – while simultaneously providing sustainable solutions for mine rehabilitation. Expected outcomes of this project include a framework to evaluate the viability of a mine-water system as a geothermal heat source; experimental and field exploration of the proposed technology; and strategie ....Geothermal heat recovery and energy storage from underground mines. This project aims to investigate the technological aspects of re-using underground mines as a source for low-carbon heat extraction and storage – while simultaneously providing sustainable solutions for mine rehabilitation. Expected outcomes of this project include a framework to evaluate the viability of a mine-water system as a geothermal heat source; experimental and field exploration of the proposed technology; and strategies to optimise the heat extraction process. Overall, the research provides significant benefits for renewable-based energy transformation while minimising the adverse impacts of post-mining landscapes.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.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100117
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$940,000.00
Summary
An advanced, macro-scale, hydro-thermo-mechanical testing chamber for sustainable deep geological applications. The Advanced Macro-scale Testing Chamber (AMTC) is a novel laboratory testing device capable of recreating deep geological conditions which can occur at depths of up to 13km underground. The AMTC will help scientists and engineers understand the Earth's behaviour during deep geological activities such as geothermal energy collection, pollutant disposal, underground mining and earthquak ....An advanced, macro-scale, hydro-thermo-mechanical testing chamber for sustainable deep geological applications. The Advanced Macro-scale Testing Chamber (AMTC) is a novel laboratory testing device capable of recreating deep geological conditions which can occur at depths of up to 13km underground. The AMTC will help scientists and engineers understand the Earth's behaviour during deep geological activities such as geothermal energy collection, pollutant disposal, underground mining and earthquake modelling.Read moreRead less
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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100058
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,000.00
Summary
Three dimensionally compressed and monitored Hopkinson bar . 3D compressed and monitored Hopkinson bar: The 3D compressed and monitored Hopkinson bar allows determination of the dynamic mechanical properties and fracturing behaviour of materials under such confinement. Understanding material behaviour under dynamic loading is essential in dealing with many engineering problems as excavation, fragmentation, earthquake, blasting, and structure design. In geotechnical and structure projects, materi ....Three dimensionally compressed and monitored Hopkinson bar . 3D compressed and monitored Hopkinson bar: The 3D compressed and monitored Hopkinson bar allows determination of the dynamic mechanical properties and fracturing behaviour of materials under such confinement. Understanding material behaviour under dynamic loading is essential in dealing with many engineering problems as excavation, fragmentation, earthquake, blasting, and structure design. In geotechnical and structure projects, materials are often subjected to existing confining stresses. The full-field optical techniques, with an ultra-high speed and resolution camera in the system, aims to assist the quantitative measurement of deformation fields including small strain induced in brittle material's failure and identification of constitutive parameters.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
Novel technology for enhanced coal seam gas production utilising mechanisms of stimulated cleat permeability through graded particle injection. This cross-disciplinary project will develop a new integrated technology for well productivity enhancement in coal seam gas, shale, tight gas and geothermal reservoirs - the world’s fastest growing unconventional clean energy resources. It will improve our understanding of the multi scale physics of natural gas and energy production.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100213
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$180,000.00
Summary
x-ray transparent core flood apparatus . X-ray transparent core flood apparatus: This facility is a novel X-ray transparent flow vessel and ancillaries for achieving direct, near-real-time, 3D measurement and visualisation of material flow inside rock samples. It will enable direct evaluation of how liquid, liquid-solid, gas-liquid and gas-liquid-solid flows behave in cores replicating conditions in underground reservoirs. The coal seam gas, shale gas and oil, and geothermal energy recovery rely ....x-ray transparent core flood apparatus . X-ray transparent core flood apparatus: This facility is a novel X-ray transparent flow vessel and ancillaries for achieving direct, near-real-time, 3D measurement and visualisation of material flow inside rock samples. It will enable direct evaluation of how liquid, liquid-solid, gas-liquid and gas-liquid-solid flows behave in cores replicating conditions in underground reservoirs. The coal seam gas, shale gas and oil, and geothermal energy recovery rely on precise understanding and simulation of subsurface flow. This apparatus will provide a new method to measure and visualise otherwise inaccessible flow behaviour, at a high level of detail, providing characterisation and model validation data underpinning reservoir simulations.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