Catherine Breislin

I am currently undertaking a NERC DTP-CASE funded PhD studentship within the School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Science at the University of Manchester. The primary focus of my research is to determine whether a reconstruction of (Carboniferous - Permian) palaeofluid flow paths in an intensely dolomitised carbonate platform margin can provide insight into the extent of hydrocarbon migration out of adjacent clay-rich successions in adjacent hanging wall basins. This could have important implications for contributing to future refinement of shale gas reserve calculations as well as a deeper understanding of the relationship between organic maturation, clastic diagenesis, basinal fluid flux and porosity modification on adjacent carbonate platforms.

As a NERC-CASE funded postgraduate researcher I am collaborating with the British Geological Survey (BGS) and Royal Dutch Shell, with the project being facilitated by the provision of dolomitized limestone core from a site investigation for four wind turbine sites in the Derbyshire Peak District from the BGS. Working with industrial partners will give me to opportunity to use my research skills on real-world problems outside of the academic setting, and to gain an insight into research collaboration.

During my PhD to date, I have been able to attend several training workshops, conferences and meetings; these have allowed me to network with other researchers in the field and oil industry practitioners. I have attended and presented my work at two conferences- a postgraduate research conference at the University of Manchester, and the British Sedimentary Research Group AGM, Nottingham.