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Latest news about our research. Project progress and collaboration. Awards and achievements.
Seismicity at Preston New Road, Oct - Dec 2018
Since hydraulic fracturing started at Preston New Road, near Blackpool, earthquakes have been detected close to site.
We publish detected events on our website page earthquakes around the British Isles in the last 100 days. Magnitudes are local magnitude (ML) and are calculated to one decimal place, as is standard practice in earthquake seismology.
The BGS has deployed additional seismic sensors across the north of England. This denser network allows us to detect smaller earthquakes than we are typically able to do.
The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has strict controls in place to ensure that operators manage the risk of induced seismicity. This includes a requirement for operators to control and monitor the fracturing process and assess the risk of induced seismic events.
The BGS is not a regulatory body. Our role is to provide impartial data. Current regulations require operators to stop hydraulic fracturing if an event with a magnitude of 0.5 ML or above occurs during operations. It is the responsibility of the operators to carry out real-time seismic monitoring and any decision to stop will be based on the information they provide rather than by the BGS.
Our seismic monitoring provides an impartial source of earthquake data. Data from our stations are viewable on the real-time seismograms page of our website.
Seismic activity at Preston New Road: FAQs
For any media enquiries contact the BGS Press Office.
Read more on the United Downs Deep Geothermal Power project.
Geothermal heat, arises from the heat dissipated from the centre of the earth and, at shallow depth, from heating by the sun. High-enthalpy (deep) geothermal heat is found within some granitic rocks such as those in Cornwall due to slightly raised levels of the radiogenic isotopes of potassium, uranium and thorium. The BGS has corporate policy positions on a range of geoscience topics and science briefing papers that allow BGS scientists to reflect and communicate their science in a succinct way to other experts, policymakers and the public. You can read BGS’s Science Briefing Paper 'Who owns geothermal heat?' to find out more about geothermal regulations in the UK.
To find out more about how other countries as well as the UK are rising to the challenge of using geothermal energy as a source of renewable energy generation then you can read Chris Rochelle’s latest GeoBlogy 'Feeling the heat: exploring the potential for geothermal energy.'
The Geospatial Commission has partnered with Innovate UK to launch a new government competition where organisations can apply for a share of £1.5 million to fund projects which use data linked to location. Between £50,000 to £750,000 could be granted to eligible organisations.
By using location data, geospatial technology is transforming services across the public and private sectors and are contributing to the #SmarterGov Government campaign, which is helping to deliver wider economic growth and productivity.
The aim of the competition is explore the benefits and challenges of crowdsourcing data. It will encourage different organisations to work together to identify innovative new ways for crowd-sourced data, to either:
- Improve the delivery of public services
- Support the third sector
- Enhance the quality of open public datasets
This new competition is a further boost to the UK’s status as a world leader in digital innovation and an example of how advances in technology can be used to foster economic growth, deliver outstanding public services and generate savings for the public.
The competition opened on 26 November 2018 and the deadline for applications is midday on 30 January 2019. It is open to UK-based organisations from a business of any size, academic organisation or higher education institute, charity, public sector organisation or local authority, public sector research establishment, research council institute or a research and technology organisation.
The BGS is one of the six partner bodies of the Geospatial Commission which was formed in 2017: Chancellor to unlock hidden value of government data
Find out more about and apply here Geospatial Commission competition
During her visit, Carol will shadow Christine Jardine and learn about her work. As well as attending seminars and panel discussions about how evidence is used in policy-making, Dr Cotterill will also attend a mock Select Committee.
The visit will provide Dr Cotterill with a behind the scenes insight into how policy is formed and how her research can be used to make evidence based decisions. It will also give Christine Jardine the opportunity to investigate the science behind her decisions and improve their access to scientific evidence.
Dr Cotterill said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to see the inner workings of policy-makers and parliamentarians. I am hoping to gain a new perspective on how scientific research is used within the creation and revision of policies, and how best to maximise the visibility of scientific research within the political landscape. It will also allow me to highlight the impact of vital research being undertaken within BGS, that supports sustainable growth in both infrastructure and energy developments offshore and onshore”.
The Royal Society’s pairing scheme, which started in 2001, aims to build bridges between parliamentarians, civil servants and some of the best scientists in the UK.
Christine Jardine MP will get hands on experience of ongoing research into offshore renewable ground models when she enters the world of log-books and geological models on visiting Dr Cotterill at the BGS next year.
The Royal Society pairing scheme is in its 18th year. By the end of this year’s scheme, 456 Scientists will have taken part, shadowing a mixture of MPs, Peers, Civil Servants and Select Committee Staff. That is enough Scientists to fill the Green benches in the House of Commons, and still leave 28 standing. Previous politicians who have participated include Michael Gove, Defra Secretary, Nick Clegg, former Deputy Prime Minister, Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister for Industrial Strategy, Caroline Lucas, Co-leader of the Green Party.
Further information about the Royal Society pairing scheme, as well as case studies, can be found at the following link: Royal Society Pairing Scheme.
Professor Rob Ward, Groundwater Science Director at the BGS, contributed evidence to the EAC on the problems associated with what has become known as the “nitrate time bomb”. This is a phenomenon caused by historic high applications of fertiliser that has not yet filtered through into groundwater aquifers in some parts of the UK because the geology, especially the Chalk and thick unsaturated zone, has slowed it down.
Professor Ward warned that in some areas it might take 60 years for levels of nitrate to peak and that in the worst-case scenario it might take a century.
Link to EAC report UK progress on reducing nitrate pollution
Link to the BGS web site for further information on Nitrate contamination in groundwater
EPOS is a research infrastructure that will provide a better understanding of the physical processes controlling earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, tectonic movements and other such geo-hazards with potentially grave impact on the environment and the welfare of citizens. The launch was the latest milestone in EPOS. The European Commission granted the legal status of European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) to EPOS on 31st October. This provides the facility with a stable legal structure and administrative advantages to contribute to the long-term sustainability of EPOS.
EPOS will enable scientists to address key scientific and socio–economic questions, including understanding geo–hazards and geo–resource issues and improve our ability to better manage the use of the subsurface of the Earth. BGS will play a key role in achieving this. BGS is one of 46 beneficiaries, representing 23 countries across Europe participating in the project. BGS have been heavily involved since the start and are leading the development of the core services. BGS research will also contribute many of the Thematic Core Service Communities – infrastructures that provide data services to specific communities.
Professor John Ludden, Direct of BGS said: "EPOS will create a unique and world class data infrastructure. BGS leads the core data services of EPOS, thus recognising and enhancing an opportunity for global leadership in Geoscience data systems." When EPOS is complete, a researcher will be able to sit in front of a computer screen and be able to download a great range of earth science data from across Europe, and visualise them in real time in many different ways.
Two deep geothermal wells will be drilled into the granitic rock beneath the site, the deepest of which will reach 4.5km making it the deepest onshore borehole in the UK. Water will be pumped from the deepest well at a temperature of approximately 190°C and extracted heat will be converted into electricity and supplied to the National Grid.
The low carbon energy source does not suffer from peaks and troughs that many other sustainable power sources are subject to and it is hoped that this innovative approach will be replicated in other suitable sites in Cornwall and Devon. Dave Schofield, Director of Energy Systems and Basin Analysis at the British Geological Survey said 'Geothermal energy in the UK has the potential to significantly contribute towards reaching our CO2 emission target; the Cornish geothermal project has the potential not only to supply electricity and heat, but also to demonstrate technical and economic feasibility of this form of clean energy.'
The project has received around £18 million in funding, including £10.6 million from the European Regional Development Fund. The British Geological Survey is just one of the delivery partners in the project and is well placed to help provide good science to the United Downs programme and projects linked to it including microseismic monitoring as well as geochemistry and hydrochemistry analyses.
More information on geothermal energy
- Professor Frances Wall (Professor of Applied Mineralogy, Camborne School of Mines)
- Professor Mike Bradshaw (Professor of Global Energy, Warwick Business School)
- Dr Liz Fellman (Associate Director, NERC)
- Joanna Coleman (UK Energy Transition Manager, Shell)
- Dr Patrick Bermingham (Exploration Chief Geophysicist, Shell International)
- Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer (Assistant Deputy Principal, Research & Innovation, Heriot-Watt University)
- Professor Cherry Tweed (Chief Scientific Adviser, Radioactive Waste Management Ltd)
- Dr Andy Croxford (Head of EU Exit and Environmental Strategy, The Environment Agency)
- Professor Stephen de Mora (Chief Executive, Plymouth Marine Laboratory)
The Terms of Reference will need to be agreed, but the committee’s broad role is to :
- Advise the BGS CEO and Director of Science & Technology on the development and delivery of the overall science strategy for the BGS as a national and international centre of excellence for geosciences in a way that maximises and demonstrates its impact
- Advise on funding and impact opportunities
- Advise on the development and implementation of a process for evaluating the quality of BGS’s research
The committee’s first meeting will be in Keyworth on Friday 16 November, where the focus of discussion will be the refreshed science strategy. It is expected that the committee will meet a couple of times a year, with input being sought when required outside of formal meetings. The committee will also advise us on the process for evaluating BGS science.
This is a very strong committee with extensive expertise and experience in academic research, industry, and government liaison. I am sure it will provide invaluable advice to BGS in the exciting and challenging time we are facing.
Professor John Ludden CBE
The BGS has provided historical maps and reports on the geology of Korea as part of the centennial celebrations for the foundation of the Korean Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM).
In 1918, the Geological Survey of Chosen (Korea) was established during Japanese colonial rule (1910–1945). After Korea was partitioned following the end of the Korean War (1953), there was little official contact with the BGS for many years. In 1969, a UK technical aid programme initiated collaboration that has continued for 47 years with the first assistance to build capacity in geological mapping and mineral exploration. This has evolved over time to a relationship where in recent years the BGS shares its knowledge through training courses such as geohazard and tsunami risk, urban geological mapping and carbon capture and storage.
In 2018, the BGS provided KIGAM access to its archive of maps and reports on the geology of Korea extending back to 1903. These have been copied as high-quality scans and printed along with several originals on extended loan to celebrate the centenary year of the formation of KIGAM and the 47 years of friendship and respect between our two countries.
The presentation was made on Wednesday 31 October 2018 at the 54th Annual Session of the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP) in Busan, Republic of Korea. Prof John Ludden, chief executive of the BGS, presented the maps and reports to Dr Bok Chul Kim, president of KIGAM.
John Ludden said:
'Congratulations on your 100 years. The BGS has been working with KIGAM for 47 years, half a century of partnership, and we intend to continue working with you in the future. I want to pass on the best wishes from Tony Reedman, who many of you remember and was clearly a popular figure in this part of the world.'
Photos from the event are available on the BGS Facebook page.
The ISO 45001 is the world's first global health and safety management system dealing with health and safety at work. The certification was developed by experts in occupational health and safety and provides a global benchmark for organisations, ensuring that they operate in a consistent, healthy and safe manner. BGS is the first centre within UK Research and Innovation to achieve accreditation.
Professor John Ludden, Director of the British Geological Survey said: "This is a significant step of which BGS can be justly pleased. It recognises our commitment to achieving positive health & safety culture and setting high standards in what we do."
This standard differs from the previous British Standard OHSAS 18001:2007 in that it requires an integrated and holistic approach to safety management. This has allowed BGS to reflect on its scope of business and the impact their work has on the wider communities in which it operates. The BGS values societal impacts highly and works for the benefit of society to meet changing needs with responsive, innovative and interdisciplinary science.
This certificate relates specifically to activities based at or managed by the BGS Keyworth site in Nottingham. In the future, it is hoped to extend the accreditation to the whole of the BGS.
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