The Fluid and Rock Processes Laboratory Cluster does research to identify, measure and quantify the complex geological and environmental processes that are essential for the efficient utilisation of natural resources and underground spaces.
Our facilities include:
- Geomicrobiology Laboratory
- Hydrates and Ices Laboratory
- Hydrothermal Laboratory
- Transport Properties and Fracture Physics Research Laboratories
Find out more about our research facilities

Geomicrobiology Laboratory
The Geomicrobiology Laboratory investigates microbiological processes associated with geological materials and how they impact on the environment.

Hydrates and Ices Laboratory
The BGS Hydrate and Ices Laboratory is a specialised facility used to study the behaviour of gas hydrates within sediments.

Hydrothermal Laboratory
This laboratory is used to study chemical reactions between fluids and rocks under conditions found in the top few kilometres of the Earth’s crust.

Transport Properties and Fracture Physics Research Laboratories
Research in these laboratories focuses on understanding fluid (water, gas and solutes) movement and rock deformation in the subsurface.

Carbon and oxygen isotope analysis of carbonates and the development of new reference materials
18/12/2024
Dr Charlotte Hipkiss and Kotryna Savickaite explore the importance of standard analysis when testing carbon and oxygen samples.

Celebrating 25 years of technical excellence at the BGS Inorganic Geochemistry Facility
08/11/2024
The ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is evidence of technical excellence and reliability, and a mark of quality assurance.

BGS laboratories become first in UKRI to receive gold LEAF accreditation
28/03/2023
BGS achieved gold certification in the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) accreditation in March 2023.

BGS receives silver LEAF accreditation for sustainable practices
12/07/2022
The accreditation is a standard awarded to laboratories that can demonstrate practical steps towards improved efficiency and sustainability.

Success for Sustainable Labs Initiative
31/03/2021
Improving the sustainability of our laboratories is integral to the BGS Environmental Sustainability Strategy.
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Rock Volume Characterisation Laboratory Cluster
Studying the structural and compositional characterisation of rocks and their constituent parts at all scales.

Engineering and Geotechnical Capability
Leading the development and application of field and laboratory infrastructure and long-term management of geophysical and geotechnical property data.