IMAGE: Penn State
“There is a growing need to understand how seismic and hydraulic characteristics of fractured rock can be used to illuminate the key mechanisms controlling subsurface flow, energy production and waste disposal,” Shokouhi said.
In the lab, the research team uses acoustic vibrations on fractured rock to simulate seismic activity. The team then studies the frictional, hydraulic and ultrasonic responses to create a model or image of the fractures. This model allows the team to predict how fluid will flow through the rock, even if the rock is underground and inaccessible.
By using seismic waves to predict the rock fracture properties, Shokouhi said she hopes to better understand how fluid flows through fractured rock to create more efficient methods of monitoring geothermal energy production.