Acquisition of a High-Pressure High-Temperature Load and Flow-Through System for Research and Teaching

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0842134ElsworthThis award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).This grant supports acquisition of a high temperature (up to 200°C), high pressure (up to 70 MPa) capable, multi (3) triaxial cell, rock deformation apparatus with sample ports to allow for chemical analysis of ingoing and outgoing fluids (via in line gas chromatography) and which can be mounted in Penn State?s X-ray computed tomography gantry to allow for concurrent nondestructive imaging of the samples. The apparatus will also be adapted to allow for observation of in situ p-wave velocities and resistivity in sample materials. The design will allow for long term (1-6 months) high P/T samples runs so as to simulate in situ conditions representative of the shallow crust. The equipment will be used to examine the evolution of deformation, pore fluid pressures, deformability, and chemically assisted compaction and micro-fracturing in a variety of rock samples in order to advance understanding of the evolution of basin rocks, fault gouges, proppants, caprocks and natural fractures in natural and engineered systems. The system will be unique in Penn State?s Energy Institute PSU and will complement other NSF-funded rock deformation experimental facilities in the Department of Geosciences and elsewhere in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Research applications described include several of high intellectual merit and broader societal impact including understanding the evolution of fluid transport (including liquid CO2 and radionuclide bearing fluids) and chemistry in fractured and granular media. The equipment to purchased be purchased is made in the U.S.A.