Geothermal Institute


Areas of expertise

The research activities at the Geothermal Institute are channelled into four main areas.  Within each of these areas sits the specific research topic or service.

Policy and Planning

The group specialises in "big picture" policy issues surrounding energy policy, resource economics and geothermal regulations.  Recent studies have focused on sustainability, resource assessment and capacity building.

Resource economics Capacity building
Geothermal regulations Resource assessment
Energy policy Sustainability

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Geoscience

The geoscience team is mainly based in the School of Environment.  The group covers the full 3G spectrum of geology, geochemistry and geophysics. As well as geothermal geology studies are based on structural geology and tectonics, reservoir characterisation and mineralogy and petrology. The geochemists are looking at reservoir chemistry via fluid inclusions, sinters and geothermometers. The geophysicists study rock physics, seismology and a variety of geophysical tools such as gravity, MT, resistivity and micro-seismicity.

Geothermal geology Geochemistry Structural geology and Tectonics Fluid-rock interaction and Rock physics
Mineralogy and Petrology Geophysics and Seismology Reservoir chemistry Reservoir characterisation

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Reservoir Engineering

The geothermal reservoir engineering group investigate drilling, well logging and well testing. They also study reservoir characterisation and resource assessment. Recently they have carried out studies on fluid-rock interaction and geotechnical engineering investigations, some related to subsidence.

Preliminary modelling Visualisation tools Reservoir chemistry Modelling software
Modelling of real systems Inverse modelling and Uncertainty quantification THM modelling, Fluid-rock interaction and Subsidence Induced seismicity

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Above Ground Engineering

Our above-ground engineering team study flow measurement techniques and corrosion and scaling.  In addition, our chemical engineers have applied their computer process simulation tools to geothermal.

Corrosion and scaling Flow measurements Process simulation and control

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