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Managing the environmental sustainability of the offshore energy transition: a solutions-based approach (MOET)

Lead Research Organisation: British Geological Survey
Department Name: Energy Systems and Basin Analysis

Abstract

Recent research suggests that the effects of climate change are already tangible, making the requirement for net zero more pressing than ever. Part of the solution for net zero will be geo-energy technologies in the North Sea, including offshore wind, blue and green hydrogen, and carbon capture and storage. These new technologies will interact with each other in the potentially-sensitive subsurface, seabed and water column. The project will assess the environmental sustainability of these technologies combined, for selected test areas of the UK offshore, and will develop solutions to make sure that the technology and infrastructure of the offshore energy transition, works well, is efficient, and does not harm the environment. Work package 1 focuses on the security and viability of industrial scale subsurface offshore hydrogen storage and carbon dioxide storage and investigates how the two might interact, and how best to make decisions about when to use storage space for hydrogen, and when for carbon dioxide. Work package 2 focuses on the characteristics of the sea bed and water column above the storage sites in the geology, and the effects of gas or fluid release from geological storage on the environment, and the environmental interactions of other offshore energy infrastructure like windfarms and cables. Work package 3 will focus on the social implications of an offshore energy transition, evaluating the risks and benefits of different technological scenarios to ecosystem services (the natural benefits that we get from the ocean, like fisheries), and it will look for net benefits where combinations of technologies provide extra environmental or efficiency improvements. Work package 4 will work with other WPs to ensure a fully integrated project, bringing together outputs from each work package into a usable form to support the decisions that stakeholders like the Oil and Gas Authority, Crown Estate, National Grid, and operators like Equinor, might make in the future.
 
Description MOET answers fundamental questions that relate to the potential environmental impacts generated as a consequence of deployment of, and potential interactions and synergies between, different net zero technologies. The project has investigate how the UK's geological salt deposits can be utilised for cavern storage of H2, by undertake extensive mapping and laboratory studies to define offshore potential and barriers to large scale delivery.
MOET has asked how will the compartmentalisation of the subsurface control the roll out of subsurface energy transition projects by undertake data interpretation and mapping programme to assess and classify structures that bound connected hydraulic zones in the Southern North Sea, the Central North Sea and Outer Moray Firth.
Studies have assessed how will the variability in sealing rock units, across offshore geological basins, control the perturbations in pressure and fluid, and long-term risk profiles, associated with use of the subsurface for energy transition projects?
MOET is invetigating how can the projected performance of salt cavern and porous rock temporary hydrogen storage be verified, and asks what roll will microbial activity play in the repeated utilisation of the subsurface in net zero projects?

MOET has led UK efforts to map and publish data on the seabed geology and geomorphology to support energy transition technology roll-out, including wind farm development.
The project asks what are the potential environmental consequences of CO2 leakage from offshore CCS storage reservoirs into-near surface sediments and water column through lab work and modelling?
MOET continues to investigate how can the potential consequences of interactions between H2 and shallow sediments be understood and quantified, through laboratory experiments that will identifying the dominant products
of reactions of H2 to define impacts including on microbial community structure.
MOET assesses how can models, that can replicate the dissolution, impact and detectability of H2 and products in the marine system, be suitability built, parameterised and utilised to inform best practice in the event of fluid leakage or disposal.
Exploitation Route The geoenergy and environmental findings generated by MOET provide the stakeholder community with tools to understand the consequences and challenges of proximal energy transition technologies in the offshore domain. This work informs operators best practice, regulatory frameworks and the wider stakeholder community. MOET is already feding its findings into these groups and further dialoghue of major findings will continue to suport UK net zero targets
Sectors Energy

Environment

 
Description MOET has provided a space for key stakeholders on the offshpre energy transition to discuss opportunities, synergies, dependencies and challenges of co-location of decarbonisation technologies. The findings have been used to highlight the sptaila extent of subsurface perturbations, and allow the wider community to develop projects in proximal settings. This is facilitated by a dedictated stakeholder focused work pakage, translating scientific research into stakeholder-led outcomes that support decision making. MOET coordinates and manages an informed stakeholder group, and a higher-level Programme Advisory Group. Attendees at last face-to-face included Centrica, National Gas, UK Hydrographic Office, Storegga, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, The Crown Estate, Environment Agency, Marine and Coastguard Authority, BP, International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Perenco, MarineSpace Ltd, ERM, Natural England, Atkins Realis, North Sea Transition Authority, Wintershall Dea, National Physical Laboratory, Synergia Energy Ltd, Equinor.
First Year Of Impact 2024
Sector Energy
Impact Types Societal

Economic

Policy & public services

 
Description Contributon of discussion paper and attendence at UK Government Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) Chief Scientific Advisor Roundtable on CO2 Storage
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Submitted evidence to the Committee of Public Accounts: Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (2025)
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description OFGEM/Innovate UK's Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)
Amount £138,382 (GBP)
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2024 
End 08/2024
 
Description OFGEM/Innovate UK's Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)
Amount £111,580 (GBP)
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2024 
End 08/2024
 
Title BGS Seabed Geology 10k: Anglesey version 1.0 
Description The BGS Seabed Geology 10k: Anglesey digital map portrays the distribution of the different types of bedrock and sediments that are interpreted to represent the dominant geology within to the top 1-2 metres of the seabed to the north-west of Anglesey, at a scale of 1:10 000. It also includes the distribution of the main seabed morphological and geomorphological features (e.g. drumlins, sandwaves) and the principal structural features observed at rockhead (fractures). This digital map is the result of the interpretation of two high-resolution, multibeam echo-sounder (MBES) bathymetry datasets: (i) the Off Skerries HI1420 survey, collected by Net Survey in 2013 as part of the Civil Hydrography Programme (CHP) surveys managed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) for the UK Hydrographic Office; and (ii) the North St George's Channel candidate Marine Conservation Zone (rMCZ) survey, collected jointly by JNCC and Cefas in 2012 for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). MBES backscatter, physical samples (e.g. grabs, cores, and boreholes), academic papers and previous BGS geological interpretations at broader scales (250k and 50k scales) were used to further inform this geological interpretation. The bedrock is divided into three units: (i) Neoproterozoic to Palaeozoic age metamudstones and metasandstones of the Monian Supergroup; (ii) undifferentiated Lower Palaeozoic age rocks (mudstone, volcaniclastics, siltstone, slate); and (iii) limestone and sandstone of the Carboniferous Limestone Supergroup. The superficial deposits are composed of various types of glacial sediments (e.g. glacial till and morainic deposits) that were deposited underneath and around the margins of the last British-Irish Ice Sheet in the area, and also more recently deposited marine sediments. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact We have released Seabed Geology mapping (Anglesey) within the MOET East Irish Sea focus area; 
URL https://www2.bgs.ac.uk/nationalgeosciencedatacentre/citedData/catalogue/d2f2f8e8-8e97-40fb-9207-8755...
 
Title BGS Seabed Geology 10k: Offshore Yorkshire version 1.0 
Description The BGS Seabed Geology 10k: Offshore Yorkshire digital map products comprise three complementary components: 1) Substrate Geology, showing the distribution of Bedrock and Superficial geological units interpreted to be present within the top 1 m below seabed; 2) Structural Geology, delineating the principle structural features such as faults and folds observed at rockhead; and 3) Seabed Geomorphology, classifying the physical morphology and interpreted geomorphic character of the seabed. This geospatial product is the result of analysing, interpreting, and classifying several high-resolution, multibeam echo-sounder (MBES) bathymetry datasets, supported by further data and information, e.g., MBES backscatter, physical samples (e.g., grabs, cores, and boreholes), seismic data, academic and publicly accessible industry literature, and previous BGS mapping (e.g.,1:250k maps). The bedrock geology comprises Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, with bedrock commonly outcropping in the northern and central parts of the map area. Triassic rocks of the Bacton, Haisborough, and Lias Groups are dominant in the north, whereas Cretaceous Chalk is dominant in the central areas. Extensive folding, fracturing, and faulting are observed at the rockhead, indicative of the complex structural evolution of the southern North Sea basin. Superficial deposits comprise several Quaternary deposits, in particular, Late Pleistocene subglacial till of the Bolders Bank Formation. Post-glacial channel-infill deposits are also common as well as Holocene through modern unconsolidated marine sediments. The Seabed Geomorphology records a range of relict and active processes, including bedrock 'Bedding ridges', Late Pleistocene 'Ice-marginal moraines', and active marine sedimentary current-induced bedforms, e.g., 'Sediment Waves'. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact We have released Seabed Geology mapping (Offshore Yorkshire - green polygon below) within the MOET Southern North Sea focus area; 
URL https://www2.bgs.ac.uk/nationalgeosciencedatacentre/citedData/catalogue/4cd1b2e2-1f8f-4f9b-9991-2451...
 
Title BGS Seabed Geology: Offshore East Anglia version 1.0 
Description The BGS Seabed Geology: Offshore East Anglia digital map products comprise three complementary components: 1) Substrate Geology, showing the distribution of Bedrock and Superficial geological units interpreted to be present within the top 1 m below seabed; 2) Structural Geology, delineating the principle structural features such as faults and folds observed at rockhead; and 3) Seabed Geomorphology, classifying the physical morphology and interpreted geomorphic character of the seabed. This geospatial product is the result of analysing, interpreting, and classifying several high-resolution, multibeam echo-sounder (MBES) bathymetry datasets, supported by further data and information, e.g., MBES backscatter, physical samples (e.g., grabs, cores, and boreholes), seismic data, academic and publicly accessible industry literature, and previous BGS mapping (e.g.,1:250k maps). The bedrock geology of the mapped area comprises Cretaceous age Chalk Group sedimentary rocks. These rocks crop out extensively at seabed across the southern and central parts of the dataset forming an extensive bedrock platform and Europe's largest known offshore chalk reef. This reef has been designated the Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) owing to the range of unique floral and faunal habitats that it supports. The Chalk Group is covered across the central (partly) and southern parts of the dataset by natural superficial deposits that accreted during the Quaternary. These include preglacial delta bottom-set (Westkapelle Ground Formation) and delta top-set (Yarmouth Roads Formation); and glacial sediments and landforms that were deposited and formed during at least two separate phases of glaciation that inundated parts of the southern North Sea and adjacent East Anglia during the Middle Pleistocene (Anglian / Elsterian) and Late Pleistocene (Late Devensian / Late Weichselian). Collective geological evidence includes extensive areas of out-cropping subglacial till; the presence of largely concealed and infilled over-deepened (>100 m deep) subglacial tunnel valleys, ice-marginal moraines, and a glacially disrupted chalk surface that includes the development of incised meltwater channels, detached and transported glacitectonic bedrock rafts and megablocks. Post-glacial environments from the Late-Pleistocene - Holocene (prior to marine inundation) included fluvial and estuarine deposition, that together with variable infill of late-glacial valleys are included within the Botney Cut Formation. Holocene marine transgression flooded the region, with shallow marine sedimentation active through modern times resulting in the variable cover of unconsolidated marine sediments, as well as the distribution of extensive current-induced bedforms, e.g., sediment banks, sediment waves and fields of mega ripples which are recorded within the Seabed Geomorphology data-set. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2024 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact a marine mapping programme that provides detailed and accurate characterisation of the Seabed Geology, integrating Substrate Geology, Structural Geology and Seabed Geomorphology. These detailed digital map products are intended as enabling resources to support a diverse range of offshore activities and applications, including scientific research, offshore development, and conservation initiatives. These geological products also provide a new and unique resource to better inform marine spatial planning and management. 
URL https://www2.bgs.ac.uk/nationalgeosciencedatacentre/citedData/catalogue/98d92cef-88da-40a9-8a01-621d...
 
Description 8 bi-monthly project stakeholder newsletters January 2023-March 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact 8 bi-monthly project stakeholder newsletters January 2023-March 2024 to a wide stakeholder project group
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
 
Description A presentation given at the 7th International Workshop on Rock Physics, Pau, France 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact International conference presentation on MOET research: Elastic, electrical and transport properties of Bunter sandstone exposed to H2 and CO2 flow-through. Audience of post-graduate , academic and inustry experts
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://sites.google.com/view/7iwrp/home
 
Description A presentation given at the Geological Society of London 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A poster presentation given on 'Zechstein halites as a potential hydrogen storage solution - Interim Results' at the Geological Society London
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/expired/09-EG-CCS-Symposium
 
Description A presentation given at the Geological Society of London 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A presentation given at the Geological Society of London 'Understanding the impact of regional structures on pressure communication within the Bunter Sandstone Formation, UK Southern North Sea' given to expert room of over 100 people
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538048/1/Abel_Abstract_GeolSoc_2024.pdf
 
Description A presentation given at the Geological Society of London 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A presentation given at the Geological Society of London 'Small-strains and gentle uplift of the seabed: Modelling the regional geomechanical response to industrial-scale injection of carbon dioxide in the Bunter Sandstone'. Over 100 expert attendess at key international meeting.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538050/1/Williams_Abstract_GeolSoc_2024.pdf
 
Description A presentation given at the Geological Society of London 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A poster presentation given on 'The Röt Halite Member of the Southern North Sea - A critical top seal for carbon dioxide storage in the Bunter Sandstone Formation' to a room of over 100 indusrty experts and academics.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538049/1/Morris_Abstract_GeolSoc_2024.pdf
 
Description A presentation given at the international GHGT-17 conference in Canada 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A conference paper on the presentation 'Classification and Modelling of Structural Controls on Pressure Communication Across the Bunter Sandstone Formation, UK Southern North Sea', given at the international GHGT-17 conference, Calgary, Canada.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5069495
 
Description Addressing the challenges of the Energy Transition: use of the UK subsurface for permanent and temporary geological storage 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Keynote speaker at International Symposium on Applied Microbiology and Molecular Biology in Oil Systems. Presentation, to an international audience of around 100 from industry and academic sectors, focused on challenges of strategically utilising the UK's offshore geology to enable the wider energy transition towards net zero.

The transition to low-carbon technologies to provide the UK population with heat, power and everyday materials, and reduce emissions has raised challenges for use of the UK offshore subsurface and seabed. The UK subsurface storage resource for the energy transition is reviewed: temporary storage of hydrogen in salt caverns and porous strata; the permanent storage of carbon dioxide. The concept of compressed air energy storage is considered. The UK strategy for decarbonisation of industry, power generation, and supply of low-carbon hydrogen is centred around clusters of industrial CO2 sources. Case studies illustrate the marked increase in requirement of CO2 storage for planned large-scale production of hydrogen for low-carbon heating at UK industry clusters. Comparison of the distribution of subsurface strata suitable for storage of gases, the footprint of offshore windfarms and existing uses of the subsurface and seabed has demonstrated potential for conflicts of use. Mapping of offshore storage resources for two industrial decarbonisation clusters illustrates co-location of sites for the temporary storage of hydrogen, the permanent storage of carbon dioxide, and existing uses of the subsurface. The potential for physical interaction with seabed installations is shown by the distribution of existing and planned windfarms. Research to model the effects of subsurface
operations, their interaction and impact on seabed infrastructure is outlined. The research
objective is to assess the synergies and minimise conflict to manage and optimise use of the
busy UK subsurface and seabed.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://ismos-9.org/
 
Description Advice to Royal Society policy briefing on Large-Scale Electricity Storage 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Advice and technical input to the Royal Society policy briefing on Large-Scale Electricity Storage
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://royalsociety.org/news-resources/projects/low-carbon-energy-programme/large-scale-electricity...
 
Description British Ecological Society Annual Conference 2023 Landscapes and Seascapes (thematic session Belfast) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Talk given on ecological and social effects of a future UK energy transition (Steve Watson)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description British Geological Survey Net Zero Week presentation series 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Talk on the challenges of the offshore energy transition to an audience of approximately 300 people, external and internal to the British Geological Survey.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Bunter Sandstone Formation, Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage webinar series 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Contribution to webinar series organised by Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage. Attendeess included regulators, professional practitioners, academics and industry
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.sccs.org.uk/latest/events/webinar-bunter-sandstone-formation-co2-storage-extensive-hydra...
 
Description Central Scotland Regional Group, Geological Society of London, October 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Addressing the challenges of the Energy Transition: use of the UK subsurface for permanent and temporary geological storage. M Akhurst, BGS
In-person audience of approximately 50 people and a similar number online featuring attendees from industry and academia sectors.
The talk focused on the use of offshore UK geology to enable a stategic energy transition towards net zero. the talk sparked a good online and in person debate on the challenges faced.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.sccs.org.uk/latest/events/addressing-challenges-energy-transition-use-uk-subsurface-perm...
 
Description EAGE Oslo 2025 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact An international workshop on marine monitoring for CCS, presented a talk: Environmental Measurement Monitoring and Verification for offshore storage - challenges and solutions.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://eageannual.org/workshop-1/
 
Description GHGT 17, Calgary 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Presentation at the Green House Gasses Technology Conference in Calgary, Canada GHGT 17: Environmental MMV for offshore storage - are we there yet?. Attended by an international audience of industry professionals, policy makers and other researchers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5034674
 
Description HyNet presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Presentation to CCS practicioners associated with the HyNET (Liverpool Bay) CCS project on optimal monitoring strategies
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description IDRIC Solent Industrial Cluster Webinar Series presenation to a national audience 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Ed Hough gave a presentation on Enabling hydrogen storage near industrial clusters in January 2024 at a webinar attended by 50 people. There was significant interest in the potential for hydrogen storage locally and discussions on the feasibility of delivering future work were had.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://idric.org/idric-event/idric-cluster-webinar-series-solent-cluster/
 
Description IEAGHG Workshop Environment and Risk in CCS 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Two invited talks given at workshop organized by IEAGHG at Heriot Watt to discuss and present the state of the art in environmental risk assessment, mitigation and management related to CO2 storage in the context of Carbon Capture and Storage.
Environmental impact potential of well leakage and implications for monitoring (Jerry Blackford)
The ACTOM toolbox: A decision support tool for environmental offshore monitoring (Marius Dewar)
In the workshop included researchers and stakeholders from Japan, China, Australia, Americas, Europe, including (oil and gas majors: Equinor, BP, Shell).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://ieaghg.org/publications/technical-workshops
 
Description IEAGHG Workshop Monitoring for CCS 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Two invited talks given at workshop organized by IEAGHG at Louisina State University, Baton Rouge to discuss and present the state of the art in measurement, monitoring and verification related to CO2 storage in the context of Carbon Capture and Storage.
STEMM CCS work on offshore marine monitoring & Interpreting data and variability offshore (both Jerry Blackford)
In the workshop included researchers and stakeholders from Japan, China, Australia, Americas, Europe, including (oil and gas majors: Exxon, Equinor, BP, Shell).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://ieaghg.org/publications/technical-workshops
 
Description In person stakeholder engagement event, London 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact In person stakeholder engagement event, London, to discuss ambitions and research of MOET project with wide and varied cast list.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Interaction with offshore CCS operators 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Open session with Equinor to highlight research underttaken in MOET project to international research team and policy stakeholders.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Invited talk in Nanjing, China (9th Dec 2023): Underground gas (H2, CO2) Storage: Joint elastic-electrical monitoring for reservoir hydro-chemo-mechanical assessment in the laboratory 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This event was an SEG workshop entitled "Rock Physics and Geofluid Detection", that took place in Nanjing, China, on the 9-10th Dec 2023
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://dxy.hhu.edu.cn/en/2023/1219/c10164a269718/page.htm
 
Description Invited talk in Trondheim, Norway (8-9th May 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Invited talk given by IHFS in Trondheim, Norway (May 2023), for the annual 2-days seminar of the (NTNU) Research Council and industry funded project entitled GAMES, where the G represents geophysics and the M has to do with Mathematics - The project is led by Martin Landrø. The event includes presentations by the local PhD students and professors involved, plus a few invited external speakers
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Lecture at the University of Turin, Italy (18th July 2023): Underground gas (H2, CO2) Storage: Engineering-based solutions contributing towards a net-zero carbon society 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Lecture given by IHFS at the Engineering School, University of Turin (Italy) to promote gas storage research among the student community
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.polito.it/ateneo/comunicazione-e-ufficio-stampa/appuntamenti/news?idn=21233
 
Description MOET online workshop - Policy and regulation 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact This session will explore the policy and regulatory landscape: who the various regulators and policy makers are, existing regulatory processes and options for coordination across different regulations in support of issues such as co-location, and priority areas for temporary storage of hydrogen, offshore wind farms, and permanent geological storage of carbon dioxide
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description MOET online workshop - Technical aspects of low-carbon technologies 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact This session will explore the increased understanding, gained from research with the MOET project, on the variability of UK subsurface strata and capacity for hydrogen and carbon dioxide storage. Additionally, the workshop will report on the geo-spatial distribution of different geological storage technologies, the key subsurface processes and parameters, the constraints and opportunities for co-location and the requirements for co-existence of offshore technologies
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Meeting with Department Energy Security and Net Zero, December 2023, discussion with WP1 and WP2 MOET of salt cavern storage of hydrogen, microbial limits database, risks and consequences of hydrogen leakage. Review of a summary of the MOET project prepared by DESNZ, January 2024. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Meeting with Department Energy Security and Net Zero, December 2023, discussion with WP1 and WP2 MOET of salt cavern storage of hydrogen, microbial limits database, risks and consequences of hydrogen leakage. Review of a summary of the MOET project prepared by DESNZ, January 2024.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Meeting with UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Discussion to highlight geological energy storage with a focus on Compressed Air Energy Storage and research that BGS is involved with.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description ORIES Stakeholder Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact We presented the tools to 20 people from : the UK offshore wind policy leads (within DEFRA), the bodies responsible for planning and regulating the use of UK marine space (the Crown Estate and Marine Management Organisation), offshore wind developers (e.g., Orsted, Scottish Power Renewables), conservation agencies and NGOs (e.g. Natural England, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Blue Marine Foundation), research bodies (e.g., Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, Centre for Environment, Fisheries Aquaculture Science) and organisations involved in facilitating the transition to net zero (e.g., the Carbon Trust) at a workshop in October 2023. Participants welcomed the tools and fed back on how they can be improved and how we can best share them to maximise uptake and impact.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Overview of Energy Storage 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Presentation by Ed Hough to to around 20 colleagues from British Embassy, Beijing, on the challenges identified in the project for Energy Storage in the subsurface.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Presentation and discussion with The European Energy Research Alliance's Joint Programme on Carbon Capture and Storage (EERA CCS) on Managing the Environmental Sustainability of the Offshore Energy Transition (MOET). 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The European Energy Research Alliance's Joint Programme on Carbon Capture and Storage (EERA CCS) recently spotlighted the "Managing the Environmental Sustainability of the Offshore Energy Transition (MOET)" project, presented by Hazel Napier and Jim White of the British Geological Survey.
The audience engaged in discission on the findings of the MOET preoject and the challenges of optimising use of the offshore for the energy transition
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://eera-ccs.eu/
 
Description Presentation at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland (5th March 2024): Joint elastic-electrical properties of Bunter sandstone during H2 and CO2 flow-through tests 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Oral presentation given by IHFS during the Minisymposium on Poroelasticity and Rock Physics 2024
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://rockphysics.org/en/minisymposium
 
Description Presentation to DEFRA on Brine Dispersal associated with H2 production. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Presentation to Defra describing the potential ecosystem impacts and monitoring protocols associated with hypersaline brine disposal from offshore H2 production.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Presentation to Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage PhD consortium 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Presentation given on 'Zechstein halites as a potential hydrogen storage solution - Interim Results'. Questions from audience on use of subsurface for hydrogen storage and the UK potential.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.sccs.org.uk/latest/events/sccs-phd-consortium-autumn-2024
 
Description Two talks at Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage PhD consortium evenet and Tectonic Studies Group Meeting 2024, Geological Society of London to attendees from industry and acaademia 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Two talks highligthing the Structural controls on pressure communication across the Bunter Sandstone Formation, UK Southern North Sea, were presented by ECR Lucy Abel. The talks generated interest in the work programme and resulted in ongoing discussions for future PhD studies and a potential Joint Industry Project
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://tectonicstudiesgroup.org/meetings/
 
Description Webinar given on GeoEnergy highlighting cavern storage, as part of the EU Stories project 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Webinar given on GeoEnergy highlighting cavern storage, as part of the EU Stories project
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k54J2RZLOZM
 
Description Webinar given to Hydrogen Energy Association with an audience of 100 people 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Webinar presentation, E Hough, October 2023. Given to Hydrogen Energy Association with an audience of 100 people. The webinar was followed by a Q&A session that attracted lots of interest
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Webinar given to Imperial College London attended by 30 people. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Webinar on Towards Net Zero: Geological perspectives of underground storage of hydrogen, given by Dr Ed Hough, to Imperial College London attended by 30 people. A spirited Qand A session followed the presentation
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Workshop organization - NOC, Southampton, UK (12th May 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Workshop organized by IHFS in the NOC to discuss the present and the future of the underground gas storage, from a multiscale and multi-disciplinary viewpoint, internationally. We shared opinions from industry and academia to explore crucial areas of investigation and potential collaborations to efficiently contribute to achieve the energy transition objectives. In the workshop we counted with the presence of stakeholders (oil and gas majors: ENI, BP), professors from University of Southampton, University of Sao Paulo, and the NOC.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023