The critical path controlling the first power generation of Sanbanxi Hydropower Station is the construction of the diversion tunnel and dam as well as the initial filling of the reservoir.

The result shows that sediment filling history of Biyang fault depression can be classified into initial rift, main rift and downwarp filling stages which have in turn formed three tectonic sequences.

Faster injection (up to a point): less cooling during filling, hence a thinner initial frozen layer, lower viscosity due to shear thinning;