New Paper: Suitability of legacy subsurface data

The work, published in Frontiers in Earth Sciences, is a contribution from the UKUH Programme, and looks at how the coverage and quality of existing subsurface data may impact decision making for subsurface energy systems. The work includes researchers from Newcastle, Durham and Northumbria Universities, and the British Geological Survey.

The work addresses the challenge of subsurface data uncertainty and limitations for geoenergy systems. The increasing focus on the use of the subsurface to support carbon emission reductions, could see the rapid expansion of geoenergy schemes, such as carbon capture and storage, energy storage in the subsurface and geothermal energy. In this work we, for what we think is the first time, analyse the distribution and extent of the subsurface data available onshore the UK. For two specific examples, geothermal, and hydraulic fracturing, considering the implications of the data quality on the decision making processes associated with subsurface developments. The studies addresses topics at the intersection of earth sciences and social sciences, examining the societal aspects of data uncertainty. We note the importance of characterising uncertainty for the communication of subsurface uncertainty and risk. We also discuss the importance of understanding the provenance and quality of data for public confidence in subsurface activities. We finally discuss, for what we consider whether there should be a minimum data collection criterion, such as resolution requirements, ahead of subsurface activities where there are potentially significant impacts to the environment, economy and society?

The article can be accessed here

Last modified: Tue, 15 Jun 2021 15:18:19 BST