The increasing use of the subsurface for energy production, storage, and waste disposal requires a better understanding of how geological systems respond to human activities. Changes in subsurface conditions trigger interactions between thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, chemical, and biological (THMCB) processes, which influence fluid and heat transport, rock properties, and the long-term evolution of engineered subsurface systems. Understanding these interactions is essential for predicting system performance and ensuring safe and sustainable operation.
Although subsurface technologies differ in their objectives and operational conditions, they share many underlying processes and challenges. Research on geothermal energy, underground energy storage, geological CO₂ storage, and radioactive waste disposal can therefore benefit from a common understanding of coupled processes and the exchange of knowledge between research communities.
This session welcomes contributions investigating individual and coupled THMCB processes in porous and fractured geological media. We encourage experimental, observational, and modelling studies that improve our understanding of how these processes interact and affect subsurface behavior. We encourage contributions that explore feedback between processes, bridge spatial and temporal scales, and improve our ability to predict subsurface responses under changing conditions.