A range of educational and communication activities have taken place to convey the key research findings and their implications for subsurface energy developments in the EU. A set of detailed talks, followed by discussion, have occurred including webinars and online workshops, the topics ranging from the more technical to the more psychological and ethical.
This report compiles a series of 5 factsheets, each based on one principal risk posed by Unconventional Hydrocarbons Extraction activities, outlining a series of good practice recommendations based on (and linked to) the research completed in the SECURe programme of work. The report is complimented by deliverable report D6.8 which compiles a further 4 factsheets, with a focus on risks associated with CO2 storage activities.
This report compiles a series of 4 factsheets, each based on one principal risk posed by CO2 storage activities, outlining a series of good practice recommendations based on (and linked to) the research completed in the SECURe programme of work. The report is complimented by deliverable report D6.9 which compiles a further 5 factsheets, with a focus on risks associated with unconventional hydrocarbons activities.
This report (1) discusses the risks studied for the four domains within a larger context of risks associated with CCS and UHE, (2) provides some crossover lessons learned and general implications for geoenergy operations performed for CCS, UHE as well as for some other subsurface activities in the energy domain, and (3) outlines a summary of general, overarching recommendations for environmental monitoring that can assess and mitigate these risks.
SECURe mainly focussed on four main domains that are of prime importance for risks associated with CCS and UHE:
• Well integrity and leakage
• Subsurface integrity and fluid or gas migration
• Induced seismicity
• Stakeholder engagement & participatory monitoring
There are three ways in which monitoring systems of geo-energy projects can be made more participatory: by changing the what, how and who in a participatory monitoring design. To identify what local residents deem important about complex and large-scale geo-energy projects and what they would like to see monitored, in this study a value-based approach is used. We analyzed which distributive, environmental and procedural values are at stake in four case studies (Netherlands, Norway and Poland and in the United Kingdom). This report shows the overarching building blocks for designing participatory monitoring systems in order to better embed geo-energy projects in their societal context.
This report presents the software and data used for a training programme for researchers and students focusing on the analysis of induced seismicity. The training is done using the non-commercial software package, SeisAn, which has been revised during the SECURe project in order to improve the linking of handling of metadata to the parametric data catalogue. The data used for the training is typical of data collections one could expect to face during a monitoring programme for induced seismicity.
This study outlines public perceptions of geothermal energy in the UK and Poland, and best practice in CCS public engagement. This work aims to understand perceptions of Mine-Water Heat Geothermal (MWHG) and CCS at a national UK scale using a survey, the results of which are statistically representative of the UK population. We used an informed survey approach in which a description of MWHG and its credible impacts is provided, given that existing knowledge of MWHG is likely to be very limited
Dr Bagus Muljadi of the University of Nottingham narrates the second video produced as part of SECURe's knowledge exchange activities in WP6.
Dr Bagus Muljadi of the University of Nottingham narrates the first of two videos produced as part of SECURe's knowledge exchange activities in WP6.
Disseminating research to a wider audience and the organisation of training activities is an important part of scientific research. New opportunities and media can now be used in addition to more traditional means of dissemination, such as workshops. Here, the SECURe project has produced two videos to complement school curricula (for ages 15+) on the topic of environmental monitoring for shale gas / CCS operations.
This report gives an overview of a workshop held 4-5 March in The Hague that introduced a framework for participatory monitoring and accompanying guidance on how the framework could be used in real practice.
This overview report of ethical and social issues associated with carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage (CCS) and with Shale Gas R&D is divided into two chapters that summarise the ethical and social issues raised in CCS and shale gas respectively, with comparison drawn out in the final chapter. This report improves the understanding of shale gas and CCS perceptions of stakeholders and local residents, and is useful when considering how to communicate complex scientific and technical material with the public.
An increase in shale gas extraction in North America and the possibility of similar operations in Europe have raised public concern over potential environmental impacts. At the same time, carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been identified as a necessary part of climate action worldwide. Both operations utilise geological formations deep below ground.
This work package supports the development of commercial CCS and responsible exploitation of Europe’s shale gas reserves by testing and recommending strategies for engaging with stakeholders. This includes the dissemination of information to non-technical audiences, such as policymakers and citizens. It will also explore opportunities for participative monitoring of projects as an aspect of public engagement.
Our approach will draw together best-practice recommendations from the other work packages and share these with targeted groups of stakeholders, including project developers, policy makers, legislators and regulators, industry and early career researchers.
Good Practices
SECURe has gathered unbiased, impartial scientific evidence for risk mitigation and monitoring for environmental protection to support subsurface geoenergy development. Our main research outputs underpin recommendations which we have collated below as nine factsheets.
The risk framework developed by SECURe identified four principal hazards associated with geological carbon dioxide (CO2) storage (carbon capture and storage - CCS), and five associated with unconventional hydrocarbons extraction (UHE).
Our recommendations seek to provide a pragmatic and reasonable response to these concerns: they can be used to inform site development and management strategies from the perspective of multiple stakeholders (operators, regulators, legislators and the general public). Each headline recommendation is underpinned by project technical reports, available here.
The project employed the "Bow Tie" risk assessment approach, which identifies a series of barriers that prevent a principal hazard (‘top event’) from occurring. Each factsheet addresses a single top event which can occur if control of a hazard is lost, and provides recommendations to help mitigate them.
The top events were identified through a literature review of hazards, threats, consequences and barriers associated with CO2 storage. The recommendations can be considered to inform preventative (e.g. a limit on operations) or mitigative (e.g. a technical measure that limits the chain of consequence arising from the top event) strategies for risk management.
Participatory monitoring formed a key part of SECURe’s research. The value of participatory monitoring approaches was captured and embedded within each Bow Tie risk assessment. Because participatory monitoring is relevant to the management of many aspects of the top events, we have created an overview Participatory Monitoring Factsheet - detailing our recommendations in this area.
Detailed recognition of the storage reservoir and confinement needs to be established, including identification of all existing faults in the possible injection operations’ influenced zone (see SECURe reports D3.7 and D3.8). A cost-effective and timely environmental baseline should always be established prior to any CCS activities commencing, supported by early site appraisals. Monitoring programmes demonstrate to stakeholders that sites are evolving as expected, or deviations in behaviour can identify anomalies.
Methodologies that can attribute the source of CO2 will also be needed. The baseline defines the environmental conditions prior to CCS activities and needs to account for natural and external anthropogenic temporal variation. Therefore, the use of continuous sampling methodologies for at least one year prior to the start of operations is recommended (D3.6).
In onshore storage operations, the sampling network for environmental baseline monitoring, ongoing monitoring throughout operation and post-operation monitoring should ensure that sampling is undertaken in all major hydrogeological units at suitable depths to protect groundwater from potential contamination. Existing relevant boreholes should be utilised and bespoke boreholes drilled where necessary.
Click on the buttons below to access each factsheet.
Release of CO2 at pressure from a well during injection
Release of CO2 /formation waters from the storage complex through wells
Release of CO2 /formation waters from primary storage reservoirs through geological formations/discontinuities
Induced/triggerred seismicity or aseismic earth movement associated with CO2 injection
Release of natural gas from well during exploration, production and after closure
Release of natural gas from shale production zone
Release of hydraulic fracturing fluid or flowback waters under pressure during, between and following hydraulic fracturing
Release of hydraulic fracturing/flowback or formation fluids from the shale production zone
Induced/triggerred seismicity or aseismic earth movement associated with hydraulic fracturing