Mark Zoback
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Research Topics
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.News
Jul 23 2019 | Many Dallas-Fort Worth Area Faults Have the Potential to Host Earthquakes, New Study Finds
Researchers have mapped more than 250 faults totaling more than 1,800 miles in combined length, finding that the majority of faults underlying the Fort Worth Basin are as sensitive to changes in stress that could cause them to slip and generate earthquakes.
A new study shows that the majority of faults underlying the Fort Worth Basin are as sensitive to changes in stress that could cause them to slip as those that have generated earthquakes in recent years.
Jul 17 2019
The Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) has awarded Ph.D. Candidate Jens-Erik Lund Snee and Professor Mark D.
Mar 20 2019
Quality criteria for maximum horizontal stress orientation (SHmax) and relative principal stress magnitude (Aϕ) measurements were recently updated by Lund Snee and Zoback (2018). The latest quality criteria can be found here.
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 (UNCONVRESGEO208).
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.
The group is directed by Professor Mark D. Zoback.