Related Research Projects

Geoscience and Offshore Wind JIP

This project is part of the Geoscience and Offshore Wind Joint Industry Programme , and a partnership between RWE, SSE Renewables, Vattenfall, and Geosolutions Leeds. It seeks to blend geological and geotechnical approaches to develop 3D ground models that permit cost-effective and safe turbine foundations and cable route design. Lead researchers: Prof David Hodgson, Prof Natasha Barlow and Dr Mark Thomas; PhD student: Lydia Brown

Mobile North Sea seabed for the offshore wind farms

Using new high-resolution seismic reflection data, generated by offshore surveys, the project studies the sedimentary environments preserved below the seabed of the North Sea. The research analyses how the submerged landscapes of the North Sea have evolved over the past 500,000 years, enabling us to create detailed maps of former land surfaces and understand the complex depositional environments and the structure of the sediments. This provides wind farm companies with the valuable insights needed to position new turbines securely on the variable sediments and mobile sea floor. Lead researcher: Prof Dave Hodgson, the Stratigraphy Group.

Supporting the offshore wind industry with geoscience

Using new high-resolution seismic reflection data generated by offshore surveys, Professor Dave Hodgson, Dr Natasha Barlow, and their team of researchers in the School of Earth and Environment are gaining a highly detailed picture of the sedimentary environments preserved beneath the seabed of the North Sea. This gives wind farm companies the valuable insights needed for positioning new turbines securely on the variable sediments and mobile sea floor. The team’s expertise in stratigraphy (the age and sequence of the geological record), seismic interpretation and paleoenvironments is providing key insights from the data to understand how the submerged landscapes of the North Sea evolved over the past 130,000 years.

Geological characterisation of shallow marine sediments

The Shallow Marine Research Group focuses on cutting-edge applied shallow marine research, with an emphasis on characterising subsurface sedimentary architecture to provide a better understanding of issues related to environmental geology, hydrocarbon systems, mining and mineral exploration, groundwater aquifer appraisal, and carbon sequestration. The research programme covers the following sedimentary environments and reservoir types: deltas, estuaries, paralic wave- and tide-dominated shorelines and clastic shelves. Lead researchers: Prof David Hodgson, Prof Nigel Mountney.

Characterisation of flow regimes for shallow geothermal heat

This project focuses on understanding the flow zonation and the seasonal major ion geochemistry of the Northern Chalk Aquifer. The flow zonation is studied using open-well dilution testing, while the geochemistry is investigated through the use of loggers in springs and spring water sampling. Knowledge of ambient well flow velocities and flow patterns enables the vertical hydraulic characterisation of depth intervals in wells, which is required for effective planning of future geochemical sampling, contaminant tracking, remediation activities, pumping test campaigns, and shallow geothermal heat pump installations. Lead researcher: Dr Jared West, Rock Mechanics, Engineering Geology and Hydrology Group.

A Sustainable Circular Economy for Offshore Wind

This EPSRC knowledge transfer project is a collaboration between the University of Leeds, the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and the Department for International Trade. The project aims to integrate the circular economy into the design, operation, and end-of-use management of offshore wind infrastructure. A series of outputs will be delivered, including industry and government events, policy and practice briefings, and a framework for a circular economy in offshore wind, as well as a baseline of current “circular” practices. It also supports knowledge exchange across low-carbon energy, oil & gas, and offshore wind sectors. It prepares the ground for a 5-year joint industry partnership on circular economy and wind systems. Lead researcher: Dr Anne Velenturf.

The evolution of natural geothermal systems

The magmatic-hydrothermal systems that form economically viable gold deposits are complex, and significant gaps remain in our understanding of how these systems evolve, particularly during and between periods of ore genesis. This study aims to elucidate the physico-chemical conditions of the hydrothermal fluids that facilitate ore deposition in certain parts of an evolving magmatic-hydrothermal system. Understanding the evolution of such natural geothermal systems is crucial in predicting the sustainability of geothermal reservoirs. Lead researcher: Dr Dan Morgan, Ores and Mineralisation Group.

Characterisation of low-permeability sandstone reservoirs

A key aim of Petrophysics of Tight Gas Sandstone Reservoirs (PETGAS) is to consolidate existing petrophysical data supplemented by new standard and special core analysis to create an atlas of the petrophysical properties of tight sandstones. This provides new insight into the controls of the petrophysical properties (e.g., diagenesis, grain-size, stress etc.), and stress dependency of permeability and relative permeability of tight sandstones. The research helps characterise tight sandstone reservoirs for gas, geothermal and CCS applications. Lead researcher: Prof Quentin Fisher.

Mechanisms of contaminant migration from buried concrete structures

The focus of this project is the mechanisms of alkaline plume generation at near-surface conditions from inactive and potentially radioactive concrete structures, cementitious rubble, and soil from UK nuclear sites. The interaction of this high pH leachate with adjacent soils and the mechanisms of alkalinity attenuation (e.g., carbonation, mineral dissolution) 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, Cohen Geochemistry Group.