SEDIMENT MECHANICS LAB

The Sediment Mechanics Lab studies marine geology and sediment mechanics. Specifically, we study ocean sediments acquired through the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) and its predecessors and through other sources. It is our goal to develop a detailed understanding of subsurface hydromechanical processes and the interrelationships between particles, organisms, and pore fluid through burial and on various scales (from pore to basin scale). This understanding is relevant for the prediction of subsurface pressures/stresses, submarine slope stability, and hydrocarbon production from low permeable formations. The Sediment Mechanics Lab uses field samples and data and employs a suite of laboratory experiments (sedimentological, geotechnical, petrological, and geomicrobiological) and micro-scale imaging techniques to explore their science goals. Current study areas include the South Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Nankai Trough offshore Japan, and west coast of Africa.

 

Dr. Julia Reece is the Principal Investigator of the lab. She holds a BS and MS from the University of Bremen in Germany and a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin.