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Research interests My research is concerned with the structural and permeability architecture of faults. Understanding 3D fault structure is key to answering many geological 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 [PhD students: Ben Dockrill (completed 2006), Neil Burnside (submitted 2010), Heather Moir (Strathclyde), Ali McCay (Strathclyde). Post-docs: Stuart Gilfillan (completed 2007), Jamie Kirkpatrick (completed 2009)]
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: Rachael Ellen, Yannick Kremer, Aisling Soden (completed 2008), Aileen Bright (completed 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: Jamie Kirkpatrick (completed 2008), Susan Lawther, Jonny Willson (completed 2006)]
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 people for many sub-disciplines of geology, and from outside geology including civil engineers and statisticians.
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, Post-doc: Clare Bond (completed 2007)]. Recent publications | View all publications >> Bond, C.E., Philo C. and Shipton Z.K. 2010. When there isn’t a right answer: interpretation and reasoning, key skills for 21st century geoscience. International Journal of Science Education, in press Dockrill B. and Shipton Z.K. 2010. Structural controls on leakage from a natural CO2 geologic storage site: central Utah, U.S.A. Journal of Structural Geology, in press. doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2010.01.007 >> Moir, H., Lunn, R. J., Shipton, Z. K., and Kirkpatrick, J. D., Simulating brittle fault evolution from networks of pre-existing joints within crystalline rock, Journal of Structural Geology, in press. doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2009.08.016 >> Kirkpatrick, J. D. and Shipton, Z. K. 2009. Geologic evidence for multiple slip weakening mechanisms during seismic slip in crystalline rock, Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 114, B12401, doi:10.1029/2008JB006037. Kirkpatrick, J. D., Shipton, Z. K, and Persano, C., 2009. Pseudotachylytes; rarely generated, rarely preserved or rarely reported? Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, v.99, p. 382-388. doi:10.1785/0120080114 >> Recent research grants | View all grants >> Shipton Z. K., Lawther S., Dempster T. and Boyce A. (SUERC). 2009-2010. Variability in fault architecture, mineralogy and fluid flow through faults in granite gneiss exhumed from seismogenic depths. NERC Isotope Geoscience Facility award IP-1156-1109, £43,200. Shipton Z.K. and Lunn R.J.(University of Strathclyde) 2009-2012. Deriving field-based statistical relationships to characterize the geometry, heterogeneity and permeability of faults in mixed sand-shale sequences: a new tool for upscaling flow properties. Total Oil. £151k (£77k GU) Shipton Z.K., Kirkpatrick J.D. and Mark D. (SUERC) 2009-2010. What stops earthquakes running away to become Sumatra-sized events? £56,300 (NERC Isotope Geoscience Facility award IP-1110-0509) Shipton, Z.K., Bond C.E. (Midland Valley Exploration) and Lunn R.J. (University of Strathclyde). 2008-2011. Conceptual uncertainty in the interpretation of geological data: statistical analysis of factors influencing interpretation and associated risk. NERC Open CASE award, NE/F013728/1 Shipton, Z.K. and Lunn, R.J. 2007-2010. The simultaneous evolution of seismicity and permeability within geological faults, £179,862 (NERC NE/E005365/1) (Joint grant submission with Strathclyde University, total FEC £408k). Teaching responsibilities Structural Geology Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3
Level 2 Arran field class with Alan Owen, Maggie Cusack and John Faithful
Level 3 Oban field class with Rod Brown
Level 3 Roseneath, 1-day field class Current postgraduate students
Yannick Kremer (PhD candidate)
Susan Lawther (PhD candidate)
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