Research opportunities 

The Warr Environmental Geochem group is always interested in adding to the team to investigate the role of subsurface fluids in society. These projects will use a new portable mass spectrometer to generate time-series data collected in real time and identify exciting samples from key sampling locations in Canada and the USA. Examples of research areas where projects can be developed are:

• Understanding the role that deep quiescent crustal settings, such as the Canadian Shield and Adirondacks region play in the long-term generation, migration and accumulation of helium, a key non-renewable resource used in many medical, academic, and industrial facets in modern society.

• Evaluating and establishing migration of fluids in southwest Ontario, where hydrocarbon-rich fluids intersect shallow sedimentary settings. Significant historic exploration and resultant abandoned wells now pose an environmental challenge and documenting the origin, rates, timing, and ultimately, the impact of fluid migration remains unclear. 

• Understanding groundwater recharge, evolution and migration with respect to drinking water. In Canada, approximately 30% of drinking water is sourced from groundwater. Ensuring this is monitored, measured, managed, and treated safely and responsibly is of paramount priority. However, many sources of groundwater have elevated heavy metal contents, many of which are the primary water supply for First Nations. Documenting the life cycle of these groundwater resources, and the origin and introduction of potential contaminants is critical.

• Developing advanced geochemical models of fluid behaviour in potential nuclear waste repositories to inform policy and develop proactive and safe measures for long-term storage.

• Under the Paris Agreement Canada has recently increased its commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2030 and ultimately achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This requires a two-pronged approach of reducing CO2 emissions by harnessing alternative energy sources and developing a carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) strategy. Alternative energy sources may include developing natural hydrogen resources, which requires understanding the formation, migration and accumulation of hydrogen resources. On the other side, developing safe, reliable, and informed CCUS policies requires understanding of the fundamental fluid-driven biogeochemical processes at work within an underground repository which can be particularly achieved through noble gas and stable isotope studies.

For more information please get in touch!