Hiroki Sone

Research

My area of expertise is rock mechanics and geomechanics, which aims to understand the mechanical deformation of rocks and subsurface structures (e.g. reservoirs, faults, mines) and the forces that causes these deformations. Most of my research involves experimental studies of rock/sediment properties using high-pressure deformation apparatuses, but I also frequently look at field data (borehole and seismic data) to analyze in-situ stress states and deformation. Insights gained from the lab are applied to numerical/theoretical models to solve larger-scale geomechanical problems in order to optimize recovery of energy resources, minimize hazards during resource production, and address problems in tectonophysics. Recently, I have put some emphasis on studying the long-term ductile properties of clay-rich rocks which has implications for how stress accumulate/relax in the lithosphere over time, the long-term productivity of unconventional gas reservoirs, and the integrity of waste disposal sites.

Teaching

GEOSCI 474: Rock Mechanics Structural Geology (Spring 2022)