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Professor Andrew Hurst

Professor Andrew Hurst
Professor Andrew Hurst
Professor Andrew Hurst

CGeol - Chartered Geologist, Geological Society of London

Chair Of Energy Geoscience

About
Telephone Number
+44 (0)1224 273713
Office Address
129/131 St. Mary's Building
Old Aberdeen Campus
Elphinstone Road
AB24 3UF

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School/Department
School of Geosciences

Biography

How and why sediment is deposited, the processes by which it consolidates and lithifies, and its micro- and macro-mineralogy fascinate me. I integrate data from global to sub-micro-scale, examining basin evolution, sediment provenance and its relationship to climate change including weathering and erosion and diagenesis. While focussing on understanding process, my research has a strong element of resource evaluation, and its contribution to the inventory of Earth resources.

For more than 25 years, the Sand Injection Research Group (SIRG) studied the natural injection of fluidised sand into actively propagating hydraulic fractures, and their influence on fluid migration and expulsion. This is significant for resource entrapment and recovery, and waste (nuclear, CO2) or resource (hydrogen, CH4) sequestration. Other research includes a) self-sufficient low C energy systems in rural environments, b) the origin, physical characterisation, and climatic significance of loessite, specifically associated with mass extinction events, c) modelling the effect of micro-scale granular features on rock physical characteristics, d) mineral-chemical stratigraphy.

Since 1992 I held the Chair in Production Geoscience (now Energy Geoscience). I am a former Director of MSc IPG and taught MSc IPG, OGEM & Oil & Gas Engineering, as well as level 1 and 4 UG courses. In 2015 I was awarded a Blaustein Professorship at Stanford University.

I was an elected Trustee of the Geological Society of London and served on various GSL committees. I served on senior committees in the AAPG and EAGE and I am an active member of the International Association of Sedimentology. I co-founded and was Chief Editor of Petroleum Geoscience (GSL/EAGE). As part of the Deepwater Horizon Trial between 2011 and 2014, I was engaged as an expert witness for the prosecution during which I was cross examined in court.

Sand Injection Research Group (SIRG)

Sand injectites - Regional development of natural hydraulic fractures in the shallow crust, and concomitant sand fluidisation and injection; their role in the evolution of sedimentary basins.

Loessite – Origin and provenance of loessite and its significance as extra-basinal fill and as an indicator of ancient atmospheric circulation patterns.

Green rural energy – Self-sustainable energy by repurposing domestic waste, integrating agricultural waste with energy crops, and reduction of transport.

Qualifications

  • PhD Geology 
    1981 - University of Reading 
  • BSc Hons Geology & Mineralogy 
    1977 - University of Aberdeen 

Memberships and Affiliations

Internal Memberships

Throughout my career I assiduously avoided serving on University of Aberdeen committees.

External Memberships

I am member of the: Geological Society of London (C Geol), European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE), American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), International Association of Sedimentologists (IAS), and Geoscience Energy Society of Great Britain.

Latest Publications

View My Publications

Prizes and Awards

1993      William Smith Award (Geological Society of London)

2004      Wegener Medal (European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers)

2007      Distinguished Service Award (American Association of Petroleum Geologists)

2012      Grover E Murray Distinguished Educator Award (American Association of Petroleum Geologists)

2015      Blaustein Professor in Geology, Stanford University

Research

Research Areas

Geology and Geophysics

Supervising
View Research Area

Funding and Grants

Since 1998 research on sand injectites became a huge part of my research activity. Chevron UK initiated the first 2-year project in 1998 that in 2000 became the Sand Injection Research Group (SIRG) consortium, which remains active today. Almost 40 energy companies have invested in SIRG consortia

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