
GEOFORCE Group
GEOmechanics FOR subsurface Clean Energy exploitation
​We aim to understand how subsurface reservoirs respond to in-situ and external loads, focusing on the fundamental processes driving deformation and failure along geological discontinuities, such as faults. Our work involves developing advanced, physics-based computational and theoretical models to predict deformation across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, from sub-meters and fractions of a second to several kilometers and millennia.
Our approach goes beyond relying solely on numerical models to uncover the physical mechanisms behind these complex deformation phenomena. By extensively integrating fracture/fault mechanics concepts with scaling arguments, we aim to achieve a deep mechanistic understanding of these processes. This blend of theoretical insights and advanced numerical modeling distinguishes our research, enabling us to tackle efficiently long-standing and emerging challenges in geomechanics and geoengineering. These include - among others - earthquake nucleation, propagation, and recurrence on complex fault zones, subsurface geothermal energy extraction, and injection-induced seismicity.
Our work addresses significant scientific and practical challenges, offering insights that contribute to mitigating seismic hazards while advancing sustainable approaches to geo-resource utilization and clean energy exploitation.