Groß-Triaxialpresse

• Subject Area: Geography ; Geology and Palaeontology
• Term: Funded in 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 299375766

The overall goal of this proposal is to build a novel multi-physics large-scale laboratory equipment for deep reservoir rock testing termed the Geo-Reservoir Experimental Analogue Technology (GREAT) Triaxial cell. The GREAT cell will enable researchers to better understand, evaluate and test properties and behavior of multiphysical fluid-rock coupled processes in georeservoirs (classical and enhanced geothermal, CO2 storage, hydrocarbons, nuclear waste disposals and oil and gas geo-reservoirs), address environmental questions related to geo-reservoirs and educate geology and rock mechanics students. The scientific fundamental focus of interest is fluid flow through fractures in highly stressed hot rock, rock-fluid mechanical, thermal, biological and chemical interactions and realistic insight in fracture mechanics and induced seismicity for quasi-brittle rocks with cracks and fractures under complex and changing simulated in situ stress conditions. In order to answer the multi-physics questions not yet resolved, the novel large GREAT cell will have advanced capabilities: (1) varying the magnitude for all three principal stresses with time (e.g. during an experiment); (2) providing a nonuniform principal stress field; (3) rotating two of three principal stresses independently, even during the experiment it-self; (4) studying the pore fluid pressure and flow of fluid through rock fractures at high spatial and temporal resolution; (5) advanced monitoring system will be built into the cell in order to track stress, strain, pore and fluid pressure, temperature and wave propagation through the specimen.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Groß-Triaxialpresse
• Instrumentation Group: 2130 Pressen und Maschinen zum Biegen, Drücken, Stanzen, Prägen, Ziehen
• Applicant Institution: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
• Leader: Professor Dr. Martin Sauter