Influence of boundaries on electrical and mechanical properties of rocks

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Andreas Weller
• Subject Area: Geophysics
• Term: from 2013 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 242374803

The systematic investigation on the influence of the internal surface of rocks on the complex electrical conductivity and the mechanical dilatation should evidence the boundary forces and its implications. The relations between the different properties are described quantitatively by the theory of irreversible thermodynamics. A variety of sedimentary rocks including clean sandstones and shaly sandstones with non-swelling clays will be investigated in this project. The results can become relevant for changes of the state of saturation of rocks in the case of extraction of geothermal energy from hot dry rocks by circulating water, by the injection of carbon dioxide in saturated rock formations or by different technologies of hydrocarbon production.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants