Characterisation of long term pollution effects of subsurface energy extraction using combined analytical techniques

Started: October 2015

Supervisors: Dr Adrian Butler; Dr Geoff Fowler

Industry Partner: CSIRO

Description of Research

Unconventional energy sources such as shale gas are beginning to play a major role in our energy landscape. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is currently under debate as to its environmental degradation potential. Worldwide reserves of unconventional gas is available in the form of shale and coal seam gas but relatively little environmental research has gone into understanding the long term effects of such activities. This project aims to develop novel techniques for characterising organic pollutants in waste streams. By combining multiple chemical analytical techniques this project aims to enhance our capabilities of understanding the nature and source of pollutants derived from anthropogenic processes.