SORPTIVE ROCKS AND ENGINEERING

The commission’s interest includes both mining and petroleum fields to address the unique rock engineering challenges posed by sorptive rocks. We will address the long-term ground control challenge in underground mining by considering time-dependent fluid-rock interactions and we will focus on fluid production enhancement and carbon sequestration through modelling of sorption behaviour of sorptive reservoir rocks. The commission will focus on the mechanical and transport behaviours of sorptive rocks, such as shale, coal and other mudstones, and their implications on their corresponding rock engineering designs. The purpose of the commission will include the following:

• To provide a forum for review, evaluation, and discussion of rock mechanics issues associated with sorptive rocks, including fluid-rock sorption, fluid transport processes, rock fracturing, rock swelling, fluid- rock interactions;
• To provide a forum to share and exchange best practices for sorptive rock related engineering designs, including shale gas development, coalbed methane development, CO₂ sequestration in subsurface formations, ground control design for mining and rock tunnels;
• To facilitate the multidisciplinary and cross-industry collaborations within the international rock mechanics communities;
• To organize periodic technical workshop/symposia (ISRM sponsored conferences).