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Enhanced structural geology models of complex fractured reservoirs, utilising new virtual- and field-based techniques developed at Durham, have been applied by industry in the Faroe- Shetland region, N Britain and helped sanction development of the 8 billion barrel Clair Ridge project, a £4.5 billion investment by the Clair Joint Venture Group (BP, Shell, ConocoPhillips, Chevron). Geospatial Research Ltd (a spin-out launched in 2004) has additionally used Durham structural geology research methodologies and expertise to provide > £1.3 million of consultancy services to the global hydrocarbon industry creating, since 2008, 12 new highly skilled jobs.
Birkbeck research on improved mapping of seismic hazards has led to changes in working practices at Italian civil service institutions and the Bank of Greece. In particular, the research has enabled these institutions to make more informed assessments of seismic hazard through the use of five parameters that were not previously considered. Communication of research findings through meetings and websites as part of a new Knowledge Exchange Network has also resulted in improved understanding about earthquake hazard within industry and the financial sector in the UK.
Durham research on hydraulic fracturing was an important part of the UK government's reasoning for lifting the ban on hydraulic fracturing to recover gas and oil from shale, which has an estimated commercial value in the UK of £1500 billion. We demonstrated that hydraulic fractures will not be tall enough to cause contamination of water supplies where there is a sufficient vertical separation (> 600 m) between the shale reservoir and the drinking water aquifer. Durham research has also provided critical data needed by national environment agencies setting regulations, oil and gas companies seeking permission from regulators to drill wells and for local communities that are objecting to hydraulic fracturing.
Bristol researchers have been working with the oil and gas industry to develop new methods for monitoring and modelling deformation in oil and gas reservoirs. Industry and NERC funded research has led to the development of (i) novel techniques that better utilise microseismicity monitoring of petroleum reservoirs, and (ii) new software which couples geomechanical deformation and fluid flow with geophysical observations. The research has led directly to development and improvement of commercial software to enhance exploration efforts and minimise costs. Bristol software is now used by several multinational companies worldwide and its development has led to a successful start-up company.
Impact: Economic benefits have been derived from the MTEM Limited spin-out company, which has been owned since 2007 by Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS). These include a commercial marine application of the MTEM (Multi-Transient ElectroMagnetic) method offshore Tunisia in 2008, successfully discovering hydrocarbons before drilling and the 2012 launch by PGS of a fully-towed commercially-viable marine MTEM system.
Significance and reach: Approximately 180 man-years of employment, with a value of more than $15M, have been provided in Edinburgh over the period January 2008 — December 2012.
Underpinned by: Research into electromagnetic survey methods, undertaken at the University of Edinburgh (1999 onwards), which led directly to the creation of MTEM Limited.
Our research has had a global impact on understanding the tectonic development and fill of rift basins, providing a predictable spatial and temporal template for the distribution of hydrocarbon reservoir rocks. The models are embedded in exploration workflows of global oil companies and have influenced recent exploration success (North and East Africa, Atlantic conjugate margins). Translational research on 3-D rift basin outcrop data capture and resulting software licencing has improved reservoir modelling, optimising positioning of $100m wells. Field-based training for several hundred oil industry staff since 2005 has ensured in-depth knowledge transfer.
Economic gains by oil and gas companies, improvements in professional practice in hydrocarbon exploration, and environmental benefits from identifying CO2 disposal sites have been achieved through a Cardiff-led consortium with industry. Building on research carried out since 2004, ten of the largest oil companies in the World have contributed to and benefited from understanding how faulted caprocks behave under specific geological conditions. Research at Cardiff has shown which families of faults and fractures make caprocks highly permeable, thus improving Industry's ability to predict if caprocks are able to prevent oil and gas reaching the surface.
Resistivity anomalies resulting from hydrocarbon reservoirs can be located and measured using controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) techniques. The University of Southampton played a pivotal role in the first full-scale marine CSEM survey over a hydrocarbon target in late 2000. This survey and subsequent work spawned one of the greatest technological advances in the field of oil exploration since the development of 3D seismic techniques. By the end of 2012 over 650 commercial CSEM surveys had been completed worldwide, with annual survey revenues in excess of US$200 million. The University continues to develop impact through consultancy and industry-funded research projects.
Researchers in petroleum geology at the University of Aberdeen have since the mid 1990's been investigating the characteristics and geological context of sand injectites. The geological contexts within which injected sands are discovered have permitted a step change in the production potential in some oil fields (up to c. 1 billion barrels oil), and to define new exploration targets (up to 250 million barrels oil) to make a significant increase to the overall proven reserves of hydrocarbons in any given province (e.g. the North Sea). The findings of this research have been utilised by a number of multinational oil & gas companies to optimise their exploration and field development strategies to maximise the commercial production of hydrocarbons. This case study describes the economic impacts resulting from two projects in particular in the North Sea, the Volund field (Marathon Oil) and the Mariner Field (Statoil) resulting in the enhancement of strategy, operations and management practices; improvements in performance and adoption of new processes; and creation of new employment as a direct result of research facilitating the development of new assets that would otherwise have remained fallow.
Failure to predict and control geological overpressures during drilling can lead to operational delays costing millions of pounds, or to blow-outs causing serious environmental damage and costs running into billions. Using methodologies, knowledge and data analysis techniques developed at Durham, a spin-out, GeoPressure Technology (GPT; now Ikon Geopressure) (20 employees, revenues 2008-13: £10.8 million) has become a niche supplier to the global oil industry of expertise, training and software ("PressureView") that predicts and assess the causes of overpressure. GPT consultancy has had particular impacts for companies drilling in the North Sea, offshore Canada, Norway and West Africa where overpressure represents a significant technical challenge.