Suitability of Legacy Subsurface Data for Nascent Geoenergy Activities Onshore United Kingdom
The decarbonization of energy systems to achieve net zero carbon emissions will likely see the rapid development of carbon capture and storage, energy storage in the subsurface and geothermal energy projects. Subsurface data, in particular seismic reflection surveys and borehole data are vital for g...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.629960/full |
| _version_ | 1818742611031097344 |
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| author | Mark T. Ireland Rachel Brown Miles P. Wilson Paul B. Stretesky Andrew Kingdon Richard J. Davies |
| author_facet | Mark T. Ireland Rachel Brown Miles P. Wilson Paul B. Stretesky Andrew Kingdon Richard J. Davies |
| author_sort | Mark T. Ireland |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The decarbonization of energy systems to achieve net zero carbon emissions will likely see the rapid development of carbon capture and storage, energy storage in the subsurface and geothermal energy projects. Subsurface data, in particular seismic reflection surveys and borehole data are vital for geoscientists and engineers to carry out comprehensive assessments of both the opportunities and risks for these developments. Their cost of acquisition means that such legacy data are commonly the only mechanism for site selection so biased data distribution must be accommodated. Here, legacy subsurface data from United Kingdom onshore hydrocarbon and coal exploration in the United Kingdom are collated and reviewed for their suitability for geoenergy activities. We provide a description of the spatial coverage and a chronology of the acquisition of key seismic reflection and borehole data, as well as examine data resolution and limitations. We discuss the implications of spatial variability in subsurface datasets and the associated subsurface uncertainty as this is vitally important to understanding the suitability of data for decision making. We examine societal aspects of data uncertainty and discuss that when the same data are used to communicate subsurface uncertainty and risk, the source of the data should also be considered, especially where data are not easily publicly accessible. Understanding the provenance and quality criteria of data are vitally important for future geoenergy activities and public confidence in subsurface activities. Finally, we ask should there be minimum data collection criterion, such as resolution requirements, ahead of subsurface activities with potentially significant impacts to the environment, economy, and society? |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T02:15:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc6e122051a548e795381e57f5882572 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-6463 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T02:15:16Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc6e122051a548e795381e57f58825722022-12-21T21:24:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632021-06-01910.3389/feart.2021.629960629960Suitability of Legacy Subsurface Data for Nascent Geoenergy Activities Onshore United KingdomMark T. Ireland0Rachel Brown1Miles P. Wilson2Paul B. Stretesky3Andrew Kingdon4Richard J. Davies5School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United KingdomSchool of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United KingdomDepartment of Earth Sciences, Science Site, Durham University, Durham, United KingdomDepartment of Social Sciences and Languages, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United KingdomBritish Geological Survey, Nicker Hill, Keyworth, Nottingham, United KingdomSchool of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United KingdomThe decarbonization of energy systems to achieve net zero carbon emissions will likely see the rapid development of carbon capture and storage, energy storage in the subsurface and geothermal energy projects. Subsurface data, in particular seismic reflection surveys and borehole data are vital for geoscientists and engineers to carry out comprehensive assessments of both the opportunities and risks for these developments. Their cost of acquisition means that such legacy data are commonly the only mechanism for site selection so biased data distribution must be accommodated. Here, legacy subsurface data from United Kingdom onshore hydrocarbon and coal exploration in the United Kingdom are collated and reviewed for their suitability for geoenergy activities. We provide a description of the spatial coverage and a chronology of the acquisition of key seismic reflection and borehole data, as well as examine data resolution and limitations. We discuss the implications of spatial variability in subsurface datasets and the associated subsurface uncertainty as this is vitally important to understanding the suitability of data for decision making. We examine societal aspects of data uncertainty and discuss that when the same data are used to communicate subsurface uncertainty and risk, the source of the data should also be considered, especially where data are not easily publicly accessible. Understanding the provenance and quality criteria of data are vitally important for future geoenergy activities and public confidence in subsurface activities. Finally, we ask should there be minimum data collection criterion, such as resolution requirements, ahead of subsurface activities with potentially significant impacts to the environment, economy, and society?https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.629960/fulldatageoenergypublic perceptiongeothermalunceratintyenergy policy |
| spellingShingle | Mark T. Ireland Rachel Brown Miles P. Wilson Paul B. Stretesky Andrew Kingdon Richard J. Davies Suitability of Legacy Subsurface Data for Nascent Geoenergy Activities Onshore United Kingdom Frontiers in Earth Science data geoenergy public perception geothermal unceratinty energy policy |
| title | Suitability of Legacy Subsurface Data for Nascent Geoenergy Activities Onshore United Kingdom |
| title_full | Suitability of Legacy Subsurface Data for Nascent Geoenergy Activities Onshore United Kingdom |
| title_fullStr | Suitability of Legacy Subsurface Data for Nascent Geoenergy Activities Onshore United Kingdom |
| title_full_unstemmed | Suitability of Legacy Subsurface Data for Nascent Geoenergy Activities Onshore United Kingdom |
| title_short | Suitability of Legacy Subsurface Data for Nascent Geoenergy Activities Onshore United Kingdom |
| title_sort | suitability of legacy subsurface data for nascent geoenergy activities onshore united kingdom |
| topic | data geoenergy public perception geothermal unceratinty energy policy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.629960/full |
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