Interaction between rock and fluid plays a critical role in rock engineering
ventures such as stimulation of oil and gas wells, geothermal energy
recovery and nuclear waste isolation. Robust and reliable design of the
related services and underground facilities is based on understanding of
the mechanics and chemistry of the coupled hydromechanical- thermochemical processes. This paper explores the application of the
theory of such processes in minerals engineering, with particular
reference to rockburst mitigation, in situ solution mining and cavity
completion of coal-bed methane production wells.