GeomInt: geomechanical integrity of host and barrier rocks\u2013experiments, models and analysis of discontinuities

Olaf Kolditz,Holger Steeb,Jobst Maßmann,Gesa Ziefle,Thomas Fischer,Patrick Schmidt,Heinz Konietzky,Carolin Helbig,Amir Sattari,Thomas Frühwirt,Daniel Pötschke,Bernhard Vowinckel,Karsten Rink,Thomas Nagel,Mathias Nest,Uwe-Jens Görke,Keita Yoshioka,Frank Wuttke

doi:10.1007/s12665-021-09787-0

Abstract

The present paper gives an overview of the GeomInt project “Geomechanical integrity of host and barrier rocks—experiment, modelling and analysis of discontinuities” which has been conducted from 2017–2020 within the framework of the “Geo:N Geosciences for Sustainability” program. The research concept of the collaborative project is briefly introduced followed by a summary of the most important outcomes. The research concept puts geological discontinuities into the centre of investigations—as these belong to the most interesting and critical elements for any subsurface utilisation. Thus, while research questions are specific, they bear relevance to a wide range of applications. The specific research is thus integrated into a generic concept in order to make the results more generally applicable and transferable. The generic part includes a variety of conceptual approaches and their numerical realisations for describing the evolution of discontinuities in the most important types of barrier rocks. An explicit validation concept for the generic framework was developed and realised by specific “model-experiment-exercises” (MEX) which combined experiments and models in a systematic way from the very beginning. 16 MEX have been developed which cover a wide range of fundamental fracturing mechanisms, i.e. swelling/shrinkage, fluid percolation, and stress redistribution processes. The progress in model development is also demonstrated by field-scale applications, e.g. in the analysis and design of experiments in underground research laboratories in Opalinus Clay (URL Mont Terri, Switzerland) and salt rock (research mine Springen, Germany).

Highlights

The use of the subsurface as a source of resources, a storage space and for installing underground municipal or traffic infrastructure has increased both in intensity and diversity in recent years Volchko et al (2020)
The progress in model development is demonstrated by field-scale applications, e.g. in the analysis and design of experiments in underground research laboratories in Opalinus Clay (URL Mont Terri, Switzerland) and salt rock
For the coordinated experimental analysis of the thermal properties under various loading conditions (THM) properties and behaviour of clay, salt and crystalline rocks an experimental platform has been established within GeomInt, which comprises both laboratory (LAB) and in-situ test in Underground Research Laboratories (URL) (Fig. 2)

Summary

Introduction

The use of the subsurface as a source of resources, a storage space and for installing underground municipal or traffic infrastructure has increased both in intensity and diversity in recent years Volchko et al (2020). The progress in model development is demonstrated by field-scale applications, e.g. in the analysis and design of experiments in underground research laboratories in Opalinus Clay (URL Mont Terri, Switzerland) and salt rock (research mine Springen, Germany).

Results

Conclusion