Hydrodynamics, with Sandia National Laboratories, investigated the Norton Mine for a five year period to characterize and analysis the mine for CAES performance. Our complex and extensive research program included:
- Geologic Mine Mapping for Integrity
- Exploratory Coring & Geophysical Borehole Logging
- Microscope Core Analysis & X-Ray Diffraction Analysis
- Rock Core Strength & Permeability Analysis
- In-Situ High Pressure Permeability Testing
- Finite Element Model of Mine for Stability Under Pressure
- Air Migration from Mine Face Numerical Modeling
- In-Situ Stress Measurements & Rock Strength Testing
- Mine Shaft Ground Penetrating Radar Survey
- Mine Shaft Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves




Hydrodynamics also provided mine development support services that included:
- Mine Maintenance & Safety
- Underground Project Permitting
- Environmental Site Analysis
- Geotechnical Soil Foundation Investigation
The results of our research demonstrated the Norton Mine is capable of supporting approximately 2,700 MW of CAES turbo-machinery