Research
I am an earth scientist who fascinated by how the earth deforms. Earth deformation leads to awe-inspiring natural processes such as plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of mountain belts. It has some very practical uses in trying to understand how deformation might affect the integrity of seals to carbon capture projects and nuclear waste disposal sites, the deposition of mineral resources, or the flow of fluids in the sub-surface.
My approach has been to combine field, laboratory experiments, and modeling to gain a fundamental understanding of deformation in the earth. I established the Rock Deformation Laboratory in Liverpool in 2003 which is now well-recognized as a global centre for studies on rock deformation and fluid flow under realistic crustal conditions.
Structure, mechanics, and fluid flow of major fault zones
A particular focus for me has been the study of the structure, mechanics, and fluid flow properties of major fault zones. Early work, building on the seminal contributions of Sibson, Logan, Chester, and Cox, focused on the description of fault zone structure (Faulkner et al. 2003; Faulkner et al. 2008). Field mapping identified a new end-member type of fault zone structure that, instead of very narrow and localized, was very wide and was composed of multiple strands (Faulkner et al. 2003; Faulkner et al. 2008). This had obvious implications for the flow of fluids within faults (Faulkner and Rutter 2000). The different types of structure were linked conceptually to seismogenic or creeping of faults for the first time (Faulkner et al. 2003). Drilling into the creeping section of the San Andreas Fault in California (SAFOD) a few years later confirmed that this fault at least, did have a wide zone of deformation, with multiple fault strands as was predicted.
I started studying the zone of fracture damage surrounding faults (fault damage zones) with PhD student Tom Mitchell in 2004. Understanding these zones is essential for predicting many of the fundamentals of faults; their fluid flow properties, modified stress fields, and rupture properties during earthquakes. In 2004 little was known about the nature and distribution of fracture damage around faults. Our work established the first scaling law for fault damage zones (Mitchell and Faulkner 2009; Faulkner et al. 2011), how the damage zone modifies stress around faults (Faulkner et al. 2006), and the fluid flow properties of damage zones (Mitchell and Faulkner 2008; Mitchell and Faulkner 2012).
Research groups
Research grants
Towards Safe Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste in Lower-Strength Sedimentary Rocks (GeoSafe).
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2023 - September 2027
The properties, mechanisms, and hazards of interplate and intraplate earthquakes in India
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL
February 2024 - February 2028
Hydro-Mechanics of Fluid-Induced Seismicity in the Context of the Green-Energy Transition
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2022 - September 2027
Exploring hydrothermal alteration mineralogy and fluid flow properties to generate next generation conceptual models of fractured geothermal systems
ROYAL SOCIETY
March 2023 - March 2025
Earthquake nucleation versus episodic slow slip: what controls the mode of fault slip
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL
March 2021 - February 2025
The physical properties of an active subduction megathrust
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL
August 2019 - March 2020
The influence of major faults on geothermal systems; a case study of the Tocomar Geothermal Field, NW Argentina
ROYAL SOCIETY
March 2021 - March 2023
How do earthquake ruptures propagate through clay-rich fault zones?
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL
November 2016 - September 2021
The ACORN Accelerating CCS Technologies (ACT) ERA-NET COFUND Project
DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY (BEIS) (UK)
August 2017 - February 2019
SHAPE-UK: Impact of hydraulic fracturing in the overburden of shale resource plays: Process-based evaluation
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL
September 2018 - September 2021
An experimental approach to understand inDuced sEismicity in GAS Shales - DEGASS
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
January 2016 - December 2017
Mechanics of earthquake slip
ROYAL SOCIETY (CHARITABLE)
January 2016 - December 2016
Evolution of the physical, geochemical and mechanical properties of fault rocks from the Alpine Fault Zone: a journey through an active plate boundary
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL
December 2012 - January 2017
Fluid flow in the Earth: the influence of dehydration reactions and stress
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL
September 2012 - June 2017