Spotlight on microbiology

In order to provide a snapshot of life in the rock of the Cheshire Observatory BGS microbiologists took samples from the boreholes and the recovered cores.

The samples taken will provide information on life in the subsurface and how the microbial community changes within a relatively small volume of rock — something we know very little about. It also gives us a ‘starting point’ to compare the microbiology after experiments, such as heating and cooling of the aquifer, have taken place at the Observatory.

The most important thing to be learnt from this study is whether changes in the microbiology could have an effect on activities planned in the subsurface. Perhaps the microbes are beneficial and can be used to intentionally produce methane or help seal fractures? Or could they change the chemistry of the groundwater or the physical properties of the rock, which could result in clogging of flow paths, corrosion of metal infrastructure or the production of unwanted gases such as hydrogen sulphide?

Developing surface infrastructure

With drilling activities complete, focus has shifted to installing the surface infrastructure that will enable the site to operate.

Data from over 1800m of fibre optic cable and 1500 individual sensors is being channelled to an on-site data centre which will host network servers and sensor driver and monitoring systems. This is designed to facilitate big-data approaches to the analysis of the high volume, multi-system data that the Observatory will generate.

Any of these things could cause problems for industries such as storage of hydrogen, geothermal energy or nuclear waste disposal. Therefore, understanding the microbiology could be valuable in improving the effectiveness of these technologies.

Subsurface heating, cooling and groundwater circulation systems will be controlled via a building management system in the site plant room. Work on the plant room and data centre is progressing well together with work on concrete plinths around the boreholes and wellhead cabinets. Additionally, a galvanised steel gantry has been built to accommodate the large volume of pipes and cables.

Final steps to delivery

The Cheshire Observatory is a complex, at-scale research facility that will soon be open to provide scientists, researchers and developers with the data that will help derisk geoenergy technology.

It will support the development of one of the most comprehensive datasets in the world on the geological environment, with data free and open to the public, public bodies, researchers and industry.

“The Cheshire borehole infrastructure is complete and development of the surface control and monitoring systems is well underway. In the new year we will begin full-scale testing of the control and monitoring systems with a view to first use of the Observatory in Spring 2024. Findings from the testing of individual systems has highlighted the wealth of science and innovation opportunities that will soon be available to the research and innovation community.”

Dr Mike Spence, Director of Science, UK Geoenergy Observatories

The observatory will be available to the whole of the UK science community for research, innovation and training activities. It will operate in the same way as the Natural Environment Research Council’s other services and facilities. Research studies funded through any source are welcome, including outside UKRI and industry-led research.

To find out more about the Cheshire Observatory, visit www.ukgeos.ac.uk or contact ukgeosenquiries@bgs.ac.uk.