Research and Development
Geothermal Modelling using Move
During the second half of 2012 Midland Valley became involved in the Eastgate Geothermal Borehole Project which is designed to produce geothermal energy for a “renewable energy village”. We have been providing support to University of Strathclyde PhD Student, Stewart Beattie, who has been using Move to help predict the position and geometry of a productive geothermal source within a granite pluton at Eastgate. Also involved in the project are Stewart’s supervisor, Professor Zoe Shipton, and Cluff Geothermal.
The Slitt vein crosscuts the overlying stratigraphy and is thought to extend into the granite itself. It is potentially providing an enhanced conduit for the geothermal fluids.
3d Modelling of the Mt Lykaion dataset
Midland Valley has been collaborating with Professor George Davis since 2008 to establish workflows and best practice methods of integrating 3d modelling and field mapping.
George’s collaborative project is with Dr. David Gilman Romano (Research Archaeologist, University of Pennsylvania) and Dr. Mary E. Voyatzis (Department Head of Classics, University of Arizona), in cooperation with and permission of the 5th Ephorate of Antiquities, Sparta, and the American School of Classical Studies, Athens.
Sediment Modelling Project (Phase 2)
Midland Valley and Royal Holloway University of London have kicked off a new collaborative project to model turbidite sand bodies. Turbidite sands are important reservoirs in the North Sea and improved predictions of distribution and quality will lead to increased recovery of hydrocarbons from existing fields and provide better estimates in new discoveries. This follows the successful application for funding from the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) in line with maximising recovery of UK’s oil and gas resources through its energy generation and supply strategy.
The Odin Project
The Odin project, completed in collaboration with the University of Glasgow and conducted by Dr Clare Bond, investigated how people use their 'prior knowledge' and concepts to interpret data. The 18 month research project, from late 2006 to summer 2008, defined the range of interpretations to a single seismic image. Seismic images are inherently fuzzy, due to the limited resolution of sub-surface seismic imaging techniques, making it an ideal source for assessing variations in the interpretation of equivocal data.
The Freyja Project
The Freyja Project was undertaken as part of Euan Macrae's PhD entitled "Conceptual uncertainty in the interpretation of geological data: statistical analysis of factors influencing interpretation and associated risk". The research sought to quantify the concept of interpretational bias which had been explored in Dr Clare Bond's project "Concept Uncertainty and Constraints in the Interpretation of Geological Data".
In Euan's project, 700 interpretations of a seismic image were collected during 2009 and 2010. The sampling took place at international conferences, in energy companies and in university departments, targeting individuals with varying levels of experience.
