Understanding rock behaviour at depth: Integration of high pressure-temperature-pore fluid measurements via a servo-controlled stiff testing system for experimental geomechanics

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The behaviour of rock at depth is primarily controlled by confining pressure, temperature, pore fluid pressure and strain rate. It is crucial to understand these variables if we are to: i) improve the mitigation of geo-hazards that pose a risk to our communities and infrastructure; and ii) safely, economically and sustainably extract Canada's natural resources at depth. The proposed facility would see the conversion of a high capacity, stiff testing frame into a state-of-the-art servo-controlled triaxial test system capable of simulating the pressure and temperature conditions experienced at depth. The facility will be housed in the new $75 million Earth Science Building at UBC, and will link researchers with overlapping expertise in rock mechanics, structural geology, volcanology and resource extraction (deep mining and hydrofracking of hydrocarbon reservoirs). This group of researchers have a proven track record in experimental rock mechanics, integrated with field-based observations and state-of-the-art numerical modelling. This synergy leads to both improved experimental design and more robust interpretation of results. As a group, they have published extensively on these topics, and the requested equipment would allow us to continue and build upon our previous research successes.