Related Research Projects

Unlocking the Potential of Hydrogen Storage in Salt Caverns in the Central North Sea

The project examines potential hydrogen storage sites on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) to facilitate the use of hydrogen as an energy source in achieving the UK's Net Zero targets by 2050. It aims to screen the subsurface for potential sites for hydrogen storage within Permian salt caverns. The thickness, structure, and composition of the salt rocks are highly variable, and specific sites need to be identified that can safely and securely store the hydrogen for later use. We will use a large subsurface dataset of seismic reflection data and boreholes, collected in the North Sea, to screen for sites of suitable size, geometry and seal capacity to store hydrogen. Samples of North Sea Permian salt will also be tested to determine their suitability for hydrogen storage. We will provide a database of potential salt cavern locations in the Central and Southern North Sea offshore Yorkshire. Project leads: Dr Adam McArthur, Dr Charlotte Botter; PDRA: Katerina Kyrkou.

Geological characterisation of fluvial and aeolian sediments

The principal aim of The Fluvial, Eolian & Shallow-Marine Research Group is to conduct cutting-edge research into the application of sedimentary geology, databasing and numerical modelling to develop a better understanding of issues relating to environmental geology, carbon capture and storage, geothermal energy provision, mining and mineral exploration and appraisal of groundwater aquifers. The group operates as a Joint Industry Project. Lead researchers: Prof Nigel Mountney, Dr Luca Colombera and Dr Na Yan.

Subsurface characterisation of deep-water sedimentary systems

The Turbidites Research Group (TRG) offers a world-leading applied research programme covering all deep-water sedimentary processes and products (marine and lacustrine), to characterise facies and facies architecture. The primary goal is to help predict heterogeneity of deep-water strata in the subsurface and hence de-risk subsurface storage projects, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), geothermal energy reservoirs, and groundwater aquifers. The TRG is also at the leading edge of experimental, numerical and computational modelling of submarine currents, enabling predictions of risk to seafloor infrastructure, such as cables for offshore wind.

TRG operates as a Joint Industry Project, led by Dr Adam McArthur.

Flow pathways in chalk aquifers; implications for heat storage

This project investigates the sources and sinks of nitrate contamination in chalk groundwater, focusing on the Yorkshire Wolds. Dual stable isotope analysis of nitrate is used to identify and constrain possible sources and processes. Understanding flow pathways in chalk aquifers is very important because they contain fractured zones and karsts which may be suitable for heat storage.

Lead researcher: Dr Jared West

Hydromechanical and Biogeochemical Processes in Fractured Rock Masses in the Vicinity of a Geological Disposal Facility for Radioactive Waste

The main aims of this project are to create a set of new and/or improved methodologies for estimating the repository-scale hydraulic conductivity of a fractured rock mass based on geologically realistic fracture network geometries; evaluate suitable seismic monitoring strategies and develop data processing techniques for the characterisation of potential repository sites; and examine the key seismic attributes for identifying fracture properties that play a critical role in repository performance. These developed methods and tools are sufficiently flexible and generic to be used in any fractured geological formation that might be investigated as a potential location of a geological repository in the UK.

Lead researcher: Prof Graham Stuart.

Mechanisms of contaminant migration from buried concrete structures

The focus of this project are the mechanisms of alkaline plume generation at near-surface conditions from inactive and potentially radioactive concrete structures and cementitious rubble and soil from UK nuclear sites. The interaction of this high pH leachate with adjacent soils and the mechanisms of alkalinity attenuation are investigated, in addition to the effects of the imposed pH conditions on the leaching and mobility of contaminant metals and radionuclides present.

Lead researcher: Dr Ian Burke

Organic carbon storage in marine sediments.

Primary producers in the world’s surface ocean contribute around 50% to the global biological transfer of atmospheric CO2 into biomass. Although only a small fraction of this biomass escapes degradation and is exported to the seafloor, the vastness of the ocean means that the global seafloor holds an enormous store of carbon. The burial of this carbon deep into ocean sediments is a crucial factor in its removal from the atmosphere over geological timescales, and there is increasing evidence that the association of organic carbon with iron plays an important role in its preservation. The MINORG and ChAOS projects are trying to understand, based on laboratory experiments and analyses of natural samples, how exactly organic carbon binds to iron and how stable this chemical association is at the seafloor.

Lead researchers: Prof Caroline Peacock (MINORG), Dr Christian März (ChAOS)

Stability analysis of shafts used for minewater heat recovery

The water in abandoned mines provides an alternative source of thermal energy that can be extracted through newly drilled boreholes or existing mineshafts. Surplus heat from power plants, industrial processes, or from installed solar plants can also be stored in these mines. This project aims to ensure successful and sustainable operation through numerical sensitivity analyses on: (a) water level, (b) temperature fluctuations. Lead researcher: Dr Chrysothemis Paraskevopoulou

REMIS - Reliable Earthquake Magnitudes for Induced Seismicity

Utilisation of subsurface resources for mining, carbon storage and hydrofracturing has the potential to induce earthquakes. Regulators use a “traffic light” system to manage this risk. However, existing methods used to characterise earthquakes do not account for the possible range of magnitudes, meaning that there will be cases where operations are incorrectly permitted to continue (or are halted) based on random variation or bias in the earthquake parameter estimates. The main objective of this project is to develop a new method to better image the Earth and enable the creating of specific, testable hypotheses of Earth processes and structure. This will lead to new recommendations to improve monitoring and high-value decision-making for the future of induced seismicity in the UK and worldwide and as a consequence our ability to utilise the subsurface for future decarbonisation.

Lead researcher: Dr Andy Nowacki.

Reducing uncertainty in predicting the geological storage of CO2 - improved geomechanical models and calibration using seismic data

The objective of this project is to address the fundamental uncertainty related to reservoir stress as a response to the geological storage of carbon dioxide. The research helps develop and advance current approaches in building complex hydro-mechanical models using seismic data, and develop methods to calibrate state-of-the-art hydro-mechanical modelling tools using seismic and surface deformation data. Lead researcher: Prof Quentin Fisher.