Fundamental research into rock mechanics and geomechanical behaviour for nuclear waste management has cross-over applications for other sectors, such as tunnelling, trenchless excavation techniques, and oil gas production. Some examples include:
- Studying stress-induced changes in the excavation damage zone around underground openings to assess the implications for civil tunnels, pipelines and wells
- Exploring the limitations of mechanical excavation techniques in pipeline applications based on mining experience
- Investigating thermally-generated borehole breakouts in large-diameter boreholes in granite to understand the implications for oil & gas applications
Large-scale borehole breakouts at AECL’s Underground Research Laboratory, Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba, Canada