SORPTIVE ROCKS AND ENGINEERING

The Second Workshop on Sorptive Rocks and Engineering: A Resounding Success

The Second Workshop on Sorptive Rocks and Engineering (2024) was successfully held from September 16 to September 20, 2024, in Poland. The annual workshop was organized by ISRM Commission on Sorptive Rocks and Engineering. The workshop was collaboratively co-hosted by Penn State, China University of Mining & Technology (Beijing) and Silesian University of Technology. The workshop attracted experts, researchers and engineers in the field of sorptive rocks and engineering.

Opening Ceremony and Technical Sessions

The workshop commenced with an opening ceremony on September 17, where Professor Yixin Zhao welcomed attendees with a brief introduction. Followed by a conference address by Shimin Liu. The opening remarks set a collaborative tone for the event, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in advancing research on sorptive rocks and engineering.

The technical program featured informative presentations by professors, researchers and industry leaders from Penn State University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Henan Polytechnic University, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Silesian University of Technology, China University of Mining and Technology Beijing and industry partners. Topics covered included seismicity-permeability linkages in unconventional reservoirs, gas desorption and diffusion in coal, high-precision stress profiling in shale oil reservoirs, and more.

Panel Discussion: Challenges and Opportunities

A highlight of the workshop was the panel discussion on “Challenges and Opportunities of Sorptive Rocks and Engineering”. The panel brought together researchers and industry partners to discuss three major topics: Understanding the Commission’s Future, Collaboration on Hydrogen Innovation, and Share High-impact Scientific Publications. Through the panel discussion, the commission has clarified and discussed the influence of Sorptive Rocks and Engineering in modern society. Sorptive rocks, including shale, coal, clay-rich rocks, mudstones, and volcanic rocks, are essential in addressing contemporary challenges such as energy transition, sustainable mining, energy storage, and broader societal imperatives. Their diverse properties make them invaluable for carbon capture and storage (CCS), enhancing resource extraction, and advancing clean energy technologies. As key materials in hydrogen storage and unconventional reservoirs, sorptive rocks drive innovation and contribute significantly to global sustainability efforts. These rocks are integral to carbon capture and storage (CCS), providing pathways for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Their unique adsorption properties make them essential for hydrogen storage, positioning them as key materials in developing hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. Additionally, sorptive rocks enhance the efficiency of unconventional reservoirs, facilitate resource extraction, and promote safer mining practices. As the world moves toward renewable energy solutions, the engineering and utilization of sorptive rocks stand at the forefront of innovation, contributing to economic growth and sustainability.

Technical Tour

Participants also enjoyed the technical tours to the mine sites, and academic university and institutions.

The Third Workshop on Sorptive Rocks and Engineering

At the end of workshop, the commission has determined the third Workshop will be held from July 26-29, 2025 in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China.