Abstract
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?
Highlights
Achieving a transition to net zero carbon emissions from energy systems is one of the most pressing challenges globally (Rogelj et al, 2015)
This study focuses on the coverage of both seismic reflection data and borehole data, and the spatial distribution and acquisition history of these data
This study describes the spatial distribution and characteristics of data available from the British Geological Survey (BGS), Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) and United Kingdom Onshore Geophysics Library (UKOGL) (Table 2), comprising geological and geophysical data primarily collected for oil and gas exploration and production
Summary
Achieving a transition to net zero carbon emissions from energy systems is one of the most pressing challenges globally (Rogelj et al, 2015). Society is increasingly concerned with the environmental risks and impacts of subsurface activities (van Os et al, 2016), which can have a direct impact on communities, for example, as the result of induced seismicity (van der Voort and Vanclay, 2015), subsidence (Franks et al, 2010), environmental pollution (O’Rourke and Connolly, 2003), health (Holdren et al, 2000) and rapid changes to community life (Schafft et al, 2013). As a result of the increased scrutiny with which subsurface activities have come under, the need for effective communication is becoming increasingly vital to ensuring that geoscientific know-how reaches all those involved and impacted (Stewart and Gill, 2017; van der Bles et al, 2019) This comes at a time when the United Kingdom’s (and the World’s) ambition to decarbonize energy systems could, despite the predicted shift from fossil fuels to new, lower carbon energy sources, require subsurface activities at significant industrial scale, This study synthesizes the legacy subsurface data, primarily collected for oil and gas exploration and production, from the United Kingdom landmass, with the purpose of providing an unbiased view of the implications for future geoenergy activities using examples for geothermal and unconventional hydrocarbons
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