A researcher at the University of Northern BC in Prince George is working to make oil and gas extraction safer and less harmful to the environment.
Dr. Wenbo Zheng has received over $300,000 in federal and provincial funding to address safety and efficiency issues associated with the oil and gas industry.
UNBC said Dr. Zheng is using the funding to build a rock mechanics lab within the school of Engineering.
“The lab will support my ongoing research into the mechanical behavior of deep geological formations using engineering simulation like hydraulic fracturing,” said Zheng.
He said the lab will be the first of its kind in the north of the province, even though most of BC’s oil and gas well sites are concentrated in the northeast.
Its location will also make it easier for his team to obtain rock samples from active shale gas development formations in the region.
Zheng added that fracking has been known to cause micro-earthquakes, particularly in the Peace Region.
“When fracturing fluids are injected into rocks at high pressure, they can cause the faults to slip and trigger micro0earthquakes,” he explained.
He said the new lab will allow him to conduct engineered simulations, such as fracking and fluid injections which are part of modern resource extraction.
He said the simulation will help bridge knowledge gaps and improve environmental protections.
The lab is expected to be operational at the beginning of next year.