Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/P010431/1
Microbial impacts on shale gas exploitation
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor JR Lloyd, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Grant held at:
- The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Earth
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Earth
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Natural Resource Management
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- Oil & Gas Extraction
- Assess/Remediate Contamination
- Earth Resources
- Hydrological Processes
- Environmental Microbiology
- Abstract:
- Understanding how microbial communities will respond to future exploitation of the subsurface is a key uncertainty, which cuts across many areas of science and technology, including the provision of clean water, the safe disposal of waste materials (e.g. CO2 and radwaste), harvesting geothermal energy and fracking for nonconventional gases. The development of a shale gas industry in the UK is seen as crucial to delivering a reliable and secure energy mix to the UK. However, microbial impacts during and after fracking are very poorly understood and could have major implications for the technology. For example, existing or introduced microorganisms could have beneficial impacts, enhancing gas recovery or helping bioremediate large volumes of water contaminated during fracking. They could also have negative impacts through souring reactions and reduced fluid/gas flow caused by biofilm formation. Making maximal use of expertise and infrastructure at Manchester and Rawwater (and building on a recently completed NERC IAA project between the partners), the objectives for this multidisciplinary PhD are therefore to; 1. Complete a detailed literature review of the microbiology of fracking systems, providing boundary conditions for the project. 2. Identify key fracking additives that can be metabolised under in situ conditions and determine the biogeochemical reactions that they support (focusing on souring reactions and polysaccharide production) 3. Determine the potential for microbial colonisation of fracture networks within shales under in situ conditions imposed in the laboratories of the partners 4. Quantify the impact of microbial growth on porosity and fluid transport Approach The student will benefit from excellent facilities, including a state of the art rock deformation laboratory (Manchester), microbial characterisation techniques (including DNA, protein and metabolite profiling) (Manchester), laboratories for X-Ray tomographic and biological imaging, mineralogical and geochemical (organic/inorganic) analyses (Manchester), and a pressurised bioreactor suite and wet analysis facility (Rawwater). Fracture networks will be imposed on shale samples, and in situ colonisation assessed under high-pressure regimes, delineating the impact of any in situ microorganisms, versus those introduced within fracking fluids. The impacts of microbial growth on porosity and transport will be assessed, using using helium porosimetery and permeametry, correlated with 3D X-ray CT image analysis. Microbial characterisation will include Illumina sequencing targeting 16S/18S rRNA and functional genes, correlated with inorganic and organic geochemical analyses. Outputs will be captured in a thesis of peer reviewed publications detailing (1) the application of state of the art imaging for microbial colonisation of fracture networks, (2) the impact of microbial growth on porosity and fluid flow in fracture systems, (3) the microbial metabolism of fracking additives under in situ conditions imposed under lab conditions and (4) the (bio)geochemical impacts on gases and produced waters (including sulfate reduction). A review of the literature around microbiology of fracking systems will also be prepared for publication from the introduction to the thesis. The project is ambitious, but given the unique infrastructure available, and the breadth of expertise available within the supervisory team and their labs, the outputs will be achievable. Potential impacts of the project will be significant to both the burgeoning academic community interested in subsurface (bio)geochemical processes, and the various stakeholders who rely on the safe and predictable exploitation of the subsurface. Dissemination will be via high impact peer reviewed papers and student involvement at industry/academic conferences and outreach events, and commercial exploitation driven by the CASE partner.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/P010431/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Industrial CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £88,292
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - RTSG | Total - Student Stipend |
|---|---|---|
| £17,296 | £11,000 | £59,998 |
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