Research and systematic student training in principles of both structure and diagenesis is the key to unlocking scientific knowledge about postdepositional processes in sedimentary basins. SDI promotes a merger of these disciplines and a new training paradigm in sedimentary geochemistry and structural geology.

The initial focus of the SDI is on processes that systematically create and destroy fracture porosity and that influence fracture size and spatial distribution. Fluid flow in fractured rock is an increasingly central issue in recovering water and hydrocarbon supplies and geothermal energy, in predicting flow of pollutants underground, in engineering structures, and in understanding large-scale crustal behaviour. Our cross-disciplinary research is providing fundamental advances in our understanding of how the diversity of natural structural patterns evolves.

This effort is supported by Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and Biosciences Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy, Grant No. DE-FG02-03ER15430.

From a practical standpoint this research is leading to better predictions of fracture pattern attributes in the subsurface where sparse sampling is the rule.

The Jackson School is supporting an already strong cross disciplinary and cross unit program in fundamental and applied fracture and rock-property evolution research. Results are reviewed by industry representatives of the Fracture Research and Application Consortium that has been funded since 1998 by industry.

Background information and related pages.