Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal Statement
My research is concerned with the structural and permeability architecture of faults. Understanding 3D fault structure is key to answering many questions concerning the evolution of fault zone structures and the migration of fluids through the Earth's crust. My research focuses on four main areas
1) How do faults act as high permeability conduits? Will this type of fault allow potentially undesirable fluids, for example contaminated water or CO2, to escape from geological storage sites? Many “leaky” CO2 reservoirs are controlled by faults, and faults are responsible for controlling the formation of some ore bodies [PhD students: Megan Heather-Cooley, Nilay Gulyuz, Stewart Beattie, Ali McCay (2014), Neil Burnside (2010), Heather Moir (2010), Ben Dockrill (2006), Jonny Willson (2006). Post-docs: Yannick Kremer, Stuart Gilfillan, Jamie Kirkpatrick, Aisling Soden, Jen Roberts]
2) Low permeability faults often produce hydrocarbon traps or barriers to fluid flow.What controls the distribution of structural elements in the faults, and how does each structural element contribute to overall fault zone permeability? Is there any scaling of fault elements that would allow us to predict fault zone properties in the subsurface? [PhD students: Silvia Sosio de Rosa, Yannick Kremer (2014), Rachael Ellen (2013), Aisling Soden (2008), Aileen Bright (2006)]
3) Earthquakes are the tangible evidence of relative movements across fault zones.The processes of earthquake rupture propagation are critically dependent on fault structure and geometry. These processes can also potentially be controlled by changing fluid pressure on fault surfaces. Can we understand these processes by looking at faults exhumed from the depths where earthquakes are known to have nucleated? [PhD students: Brigitte Vogt, Jamie Kirkpatrick (2008), Susan Lawther (2011)]
4) How can we constrain uncertainty in geological models? Measurements of petrophysical fault properties can be incorporated into models of bulk fault properties, but how can we optimise data collection to capture variability? How much does our previous experience influence the way we interpret data? [PhD student Euan Macrae (2013), Post-docs: Clare Bond, Jen Roberts].
Each of these problems can be addressed by detailed characterization of fault zone structures and their permeability and physical properties. My research has a strong multidisciplinary approach and includes collaborations with geologists, civil and environmental engineers and statisticians.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, Displacement gradients at fault tips- the Chimney Rock fault array, Utah., University of Edinburgh
Award Date: 1 Jan 1999
Bachelor of Science, University of Leeds
Award Date: 1 Jan 1994
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
-
Unlocking the Economic Opportunity of Minewater Geothermal Resources in Scotland-PhD support
1/10/22 → 31/08/25
Project: Research - Studentship
-
GigaWattHour Subsurface Thermal Energy storAge: Engineered structures and legacy Mine shafts: STEaM
Shipton, Z., Burnside, N., Tuohy, P. G., Yang, S. & Johnson, G.
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
13/08/22 → 12/02/25
Project: Research
-
Natural hydrogen seeps as analogues to inform monitoring of engineered geological hydrogen storage
McMahon, C. J., Roberts, J. J., Johnson, G., Edlmann, K., Flude, S. & Shipton, Z. K., 30 Aug 2023, In: Geological Society Special Publication. 528, 1, p. 461-489 29 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Special issue › peer-review
Open AccessFile95 Downloads (Pure) -
Could faults provide conduits for fluid escape? New field data in the vicinity of the Otway International Test Centre
McMahon, C. J., Roberts, J., Shipton, Z., Johnson, G., Feitz, A., Tenthorey, E. & Gallagher, S., 15 Aug 2023, p. 1-2. 2 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure)
Datasets
-
Data for: "Comparing fault core thickness, total displacement and earthquake properties between plate boundary and intraplate faults"
McKay, L. (Creator) & Shipton, Z. (Supervisor), University of Strathclyde, Nov 2020
DOI: 10.15129/21271686-f115-4f9d-bf9a-ac681fd6f15b
Dataset
-
Supplementary information for the paper "How do we see fractures? Subjective Bias in fracture data collection."
Andrews, B. (Creator), Roberts, J. (Contributor), Shipton, Z. (Supervisor), Johnson, G. (Contributor), Bigi, S. (Contributor) & Tartarello, M. C. (Contributor), University of Strathclyde, 18 Apr 2019
DOI: 10.15129/d3b26853-7236-4066-846f-7a6abb8d91bf
Dataset
Prizes
-
Awarded the William Smith Fund for excellence in contributions to applied and economic aspects of geology in an under 40.
Shipton, Zoe (Recipient), 2010
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Shipton, Zoe (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Election to learned society
Activities
-
European Geoscience Union (EGU) 2020
Billy Andrews (Speaker), Zoe Shipton (Speaker), Jen Roberts (Speaker) & Gareth Johnson (Speaker)
6 May 2020Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
-
European Geoscience Union (EGU) 2020
Christopher McMahon (Speaker), Jen Roberts (Speaker), Gareth Johnson (Speaker), Zoe Shipton (Speaker) & Katriona Edlmann (Speaker)
5 May 2020Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
Impacts
-
Research on geological uncertainty informs UK Government policies on shale gas and radioactive waste disposal
Zoe Shipton (Participant) & Rebecca Lunn (Participant)
Impact: Impact - for External Portal › Policy and legislation, Public understanding, information and debate, Environment and sustainability - natural world and built environment
File