CeREES: Centre for Research into Earth Energy Systems

Introduction

The Centre for Research into Earth Energy Systems (CeREES) is a Geo-Energy research centre, founded in 2006, which is a part of the Durham Energy Institute. Since it began, CeREES has attracted £1.3M research income per annum. CeREES is the only research centre in the UK that works across all Geo-Energy themes, carrying out high level multidisciplinary research in Petroleum Geoscience, Geothermal, Clean Coal and Carbon Capture and Storage.

CeREES links together research groups across Durham with appropriate institutions and organisations locally, nationally and internationally

Our Mission: Work in Partnership with industry, research councils, Regional Development Agencies and government to achieve internationally excellent and world leading research in Geo-Energy.

CeREES carries out research in all areas of Geo-Energy including:

Petroleum Geoscience

· Volcanic Margins

· Source Rocks

· Overpressure

· Sedimentary and structural geology of passive margins

· Unconventional Hydrocarbons

· Enhanced oil recovery using CO2

Much of the work within the area of Petroleum Geoscience is applied, answering problems brought to us from the petroleum industry. Research sponsors include: BP, Statoil, Total, ExxonMobil, Chevron, BG, DONG, ENI, Lundin, Ikon Science, CGG Veritas, Clair Partnership, OMV, Hess, ConocoPhillips, Talisman, ONE, DECC, Maersk, NERC, and WesternGeco. Many projects are run through the CeREES Geo-Energy Scholarship Programme.

Clean Coal

Clean Coal Technologies include four main areas, Underground Coal Gasification (UCG), Coal Bed Methane/Enhanced Coal Bed Methane (CBM/ECBM), and Carbon Capture and Storage. CeREES has expertise in all these areas and is currently working to reinvigorate the UK coal industry. Durham is one of only two academic members of the Underground Coal Gasification Association (UCGA).

Carbon Capture and Storage

CeREES, along with the Durham University Carbon Capture and Storage Research Grouop (DUCCS) are involved in CCS research which focuses on CO2 storage, and more specifically on the risks associated with site integrity. CEREES recently appointed the first ever UK professor of CCS, and is one of only three academic members of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association.

Geothermal

Research expertise is related to micro seismicity linked with volcanically active regions. CeREES has expertise in the exploitation of geothermal energy from low to medium grade geothermal aquifers, the production water from oil and gas fields and the optimisation of the process for generation of heat and electricity from low temperature resources.