The role of salt basins in the race to net zero: a focus on Australian basins and key research topics
Rachelle Kernen
A * , Kathryn J. Amos A , Ingrid Anell B , Sian Evans B and Leticia Rodriguez-Blanco B
A
B
Rachelle Kernen is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Adelaide. She received Industry Fellowships for her MSc (2011) and PhD (2019) and was an exploration geoscientist for the Royal Dutch Shell. Her research focusses on outcrop and subsurface salt–sediment interaction across US and Australian salt basins. |
Kathryn Amos is an Associate Professor of sedimentology, stratigraphy, and geoenergy at the University of Adelaide. Her research is focussed on improving understanding of the controls on sediment transport and deposition processes, from recent deposits to the rock record. |
Ingrid Anell is an Associate Professor in sedimentology, and Deputy Section Lead for Applied Basin Analysis at the University of Oslo, and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University Center in Svalbard. Her research focusses on the fundamental controls of clinoform geometries, sediment partitioning, and influence on CO2 storage. |
Sian Evans is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Oslo as part of the NCCS Research Centre. Her current research focusses on the influence of salt tectonics on site selection and seal integrity for CO2 storage in the Norwegian-Danish Basin, offshore Norway. |
Leticia Rodriguez-Blanco is a PhD Fellow at the University of Oslo. She won a Fulbright scholarship (2014) and Best MS Thesis Prize (2017). Her research focusses on 3D outcrop models as subsurface analogues, investigating controls on clinoform geometries and sediment partitioning in prograding systems. |
Abstract
Globally, many salt basins host highly productive fossil fuel resources and provide excellent opportunities for developing economically viable clean energy systems such as (1) energy storage in salt caverns, including hydrogen, helium, natural gas, and other economic gases; (2) permanent sequestration of carbon dioxide; (3) development of geothermal energy; (4) critical mineral exploration and extraction, and (5) natural hydrogen production. Despite the high potential to deploy financially viable clean energy solutions related to the formation and evolution of salt basins, our current knowledge regarding critical aspects of salt basin characterisation in Australia is limited. New research is necessary to develop these sustainable energy systems and achieve net zero emissions; therefore, it is critical to re-evaluate the geology of salt basins. Key research areas to enable these opportunities relate to the precipitation, deposition, and deformation of salt basins. This paper reviews the potential for a range of energy systems within salt basins, outlines emerging research topics, and demonstrates the value of Australian salt basin outcrop analogues for improved subsurface interpretation globally.
Keywords: carbon capture, energy storage, geothermal, geo-energy, halite, mineral exploration, natural hydrogen, net zero, salt basins, salt tectonics, salt–sediment interaction.
Rachelle Kernen is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Adelaide. She received Industry Fellowships for her MSc (2011) and PhD (2019) and was an exploration geoscientist for the Royal Dutch Shell. Her research focusses on outcrop and subsurface salt–sediment interaction across US and Australian salt basins. |
Kathryn Amos is an Associate Professor of sedimentology, stratigraphy, and geoenergy at the University of Adelaide. Her research is focussed on improving understanding of the controls on sediment transport and deposition processes, from recent deposits to the rock record. |
Ingrid Anell is an Associate Professor in sedimentology, and Deputy Section Lead for Applied Basin Analysis at the University of Oslo, and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University Center in Svalbard. Her research focusses on the fundamental controls of clinoform geometries, sediment partitioning, and influence on CO2 storage. |
Sian Evans is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Oslo as part of the NCCS Research Centre. Her current research focusses on the influence of salt tectonics on site selection and seal integrity for CO2 storage in the Norwegian-Danish Basin, offshore Norway. |
Leticia Rodriguez-Blanco is a PhD Fellow at the University of Oslo. She won a Fulbright scholarship (2014) and Best MS Thesis Prize (2017). Her research focusses on 3D outcrop models as subsurface analogues, investigating controls on clinoform geometries and sediment partitioning in prograding systems. |
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