What we do

The Stress and Crustal Mechanics Group uses knowledge of the state of stress in the Earth and the mechanical properties of Earth materials to investigate a variety of geophysical problems.

Register for online classes

Registration is open for the first of our group's two free online courses:
Reservoir Geomechanics
(SOEEES-YGEORESGEO202)

Registration will open soon for the other class:
Unconventional Reservoir Geomechanics
(SOEEES-YGEORESGEO208)

Rock Deformation and Fluid Transport

Using state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, we investigate why natural rocks deform, and how this changes local fluid transport. We perform mechanical and permeability tests in combination with micro and nanoscale analysis/imaging to identify the mechanisms that control bulk deformation, fault movement and fluid transport at the crustal & reservoir scale.

Faulting and Crustal Mechanics

Our group carries out a variety of studies that approach problems of faulting and crustal mechanics in geologic environments by integration of various types of data. Typically, these studies involve working with data on the magnitude and orientation of in situ stresses, seismological data, geodetic data, etc.

Reservoir Geomechanics

We are carrying out a series of studies, usually in close collaboration with the oil and gas industry, on problems in oil and gas reservoirs, potential CO2 repositories and geothermal reservoirs. The emphasis of this research recently has been on shale gas, tight gas and tight oil reservoirs.