Reducing uncertainty in deep subsurface projects
Direct in-situ measurement of both minimum and maximum horizontal stress components at depth
Beyond single-component in-situ methods
InSituMetrix develops direct in-situ stress measurement technology for deep boreholes, enabling consistent stress-state assessment and reducing uncertainty in engineering and operational decisions.
Technology in advanced development, preparing for pilot deployments.
Underground stress uncertainty limits performance and increases risk
Why indirect stress data leads to conservative decisions
Reliable knowledge of the underground stress state is essential for CO₂ and hydrogen storage, deep geothermal energy, oil and gas operations, and deep geological repositories for nuclear waste.
Uncertainty in stress data leads to:
induced seismicity
unexpected fracture behaviour
wellbore instabilities
To manage risk, operators adopt conservative strategies (e.g. reduced injection pressures), often resulting in:
underutilized reservoirs
reduced injectivity and storage capacity
lower project profitability
delayed or downsized projects
Direct stress data for better decisions
From direct measurement to confident engineering and regulatory design
Reliable stress-state data enables safer operations, more efficient design, and more confident regulatory and investment decisions across underground projects.
Engineered for deployment in deep boreholes
Adapted from proven principles for subsurface environments
The InSituMetrix technology adapts a well-established flat-jacking principle for deep subsurface stress measurement and integrates dedicated instrumentation with wireline deployment.
Key attributes
Direct measurement of both minimum and maximum horizontal stresses
Calibrated vertical stress at depth, reducing uncertainty in stress-state interpretation
Enabling consistent reconstruction of the in-situ stress tensor from direct data
No hydraulic fracturing
Minimal borehole disturbance
Compatible with deep borehole operations
Designed for deployment in operational wells
Current development focus
Assembly of a first-generation prototype (Gen-1) for pilot use at the Mont Terri underground research laboratory (2026)
Integration of high-pressure, high-temperature instrumentation for deep borehole conditions (2026)
Preparation of pilot deployments in operational and research wells (2026-2027)
Supporting critical underground systems
One technology, multiple high-impact markets
These applications share one common requirement: reliable knowledge of the stress state at depth:
Carbon Capture and Storage (CO₂ storage)
Underground Hydrogen Storage
Deep geothermal energy
Oil and gas production and injection wells
Deep geological repositories for nuclear waste
From uncertainty to informed operations
Reducing risk without unnecessary conservatism
Improved stress-state data enables operators, designers, and regulators to:
increase injection pressures safely, without increasing risk
optimize reservoir utilization
reduce uncertainty in key design parameters
support data-driven operational decisions
strengthen regulatory approval and long-term safety cases
Partner with us
Join our 2026–2027 pilot deployment program
We are seeking industrial and institutional partners for 2026–2027 pilot deployments.
If you operate or develop underground energy or infrastructure assets and want to access direct stress-state data at depth, we welcome discussions on collaboration, pilot projects, and early adoption.
Developed through collaboration with leading research and industrial partners
Aligned with academic excellence, regulatory needs, and industry standards
Latest Updates
01.07.25
InSituMetrix joins the Innovaud and Platinn support programs
We are proud to announce that InSituMetrix is now officially supported by Innovaud and the Platinn coaching program.
Innovaud is the innovation and investment promotion agency for the canton of Vaud, dedicated to supporting high-potential ventures. Platinn provides personalized coaching in business strategy and innovation management, helping deep tech startups strengthen their market position and scalability.
We gratefully acknowledge Jean-Michel Stauffer from Innovaud for enabling this collaboration, and thank Pascal Dutheil, our Platinn expert, for his valuable strategic guidance.
This support comes at a crucial time as we continue developing and scaling our in situ stress measurement technology—a solution designed to enhance the safety and performance of subsurface operations across energy and storage applications.
05.06.25
Productive Days at Mont Terri – Advancing Subsurface Innovation
On May 13–14, 2025, InSituMetrix took part in the Mont Terri Technical Meeting TM-42, hosted at Switzerland’s renowned underground research laboratory. The event brought together international experts to discuss cutting-edge developments in underground engineering and geo-energy technologies.
As part of the program, InSituMetrix contributed to several key sessions:
A presentation in Working Group 2 – New innovative technologies and sensor developments, chaired by Dr. Oliver Czaikowski (Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit gGmbH)
A presentation in Working Group 4 – CO₂ and gas experiments, chaired by Dr. Frédéric Bourgeois (TotalEnergies)
A dedicated poster session, showcasing recent advances and ongoing research activities
Photo credit: S. Schefer, swisstopo
09.05.25
InSituMetrix to Launch First Pilot at Mont Terri Underground Laboratory
We’re excited to announce the official signing of an agreement with the Mont Terri Underground Laboratory to carry out our first pilot test of InSituMetrix’s subsurface stress measurement technology. The field test will take place in 2025 and represents a significant step toward real-world validation.
The project will be conducted with the support of BGR (Germany’s Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources), SwissTopo, and TotalEnergies — reinforcing strong international and institutional collaboration at this critical stage of development.
17.01.25
InSituMetrix submits a patent
We are thrilled to announce that the InSituMetrix team has taken a significant step forward in our innovation journey by filing a patent for our groundbreaking deep stress measurement technology. We would like to extend special thanks to the EPFL Technology Transfer Office (TTO) and our patent attorney for their invaluable support in navigating the complexities of intellectual property protection and ensuring that our innovations stand on solid legal ground.