Staff Profile

Mark has broad interests in geosciences and the role of geosciences in decarbonisation of energy systems. My research portfolio covers the interpretation and analysis of geophysical data, with applications across geothermal energy and resources and hydrogen storage. Prior to a career in academia, I spent over 8 years working in upstream oil and gas in a variety of technical roles, including exploration and development, well planning and operations and new business development.

Prior to his career in the energy industry, he completed a PhD in geology at Durham University, using seismic reflection data to investigate the diagenesis and deformation of marine sediments. He has a MESci in Exploration and Resource Geology from Cardiff University.

Mark is Associate Dean for Global Partnerships in the Faculty of Science, Agriculture, and Engineering. He provides leadership and support in the implementation of actions to improve the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering’s global profile and networks. Working across 5 schools, he works to ensure the aims and objectives of the Faculty are integrated with the Global strategy, with a view to increasing national and global reputation and ranking and aligning to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

He is on the Editorial Board for the Geological Society of London's Open Access journal, Earth Science, System and Society and is Vice-Chair of the Energy Group of the Geological Society of London.

Google Scholar Profile - https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?hl=en&user=QGpeT8kAAAAJ

ORCiD - https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9777-0447

His research focuses on subsurface interpretation, tackling fundamental questions regarding deformation, fluid flow, and heat flow within the upper crust at a variety of scales, all of which underpin the exploration and exploitation of natural resources, the disposal of waste in geological materials, and the monitoring of subsurface activities.

Find out more about our research into energy here

Current and Recent Funding

ViTAL Living Lab - RAF - Co-Investigator - The ViTAL Living Lab will conduct and assess experiments to quantify RAF efforts to Net Zero. The project will develop and carry out experiments to understand the impact of a range of technologies to meet Net Zero. Specifically, I lead the work investigating the potential role of geothermal energy. (2021 - 2024)

Net Zero Geothermal Research for District Infrastructure - EPSRC - Co-Investigator - The project will address fundamental challenges in 1) heat abstraction and storage; 2) the engineering challenges of integrating geothermal energy to whole energy systems, and 3) regulatory and legal implications of closed-loop systems and subsequent liabilities. The research sets out to mitigate the technical and economic risks associated with deep UK geothermal energy for heating and cooling, and so to facilitate its future adoption to enable zero carbon targets to be reached. (2020 – 2023)

Developing deep science laboratories from the shale gas legacy - UKUH NERC-ESRC - Principal Investigator - This project, in collaboration with Stirling University, will investigate the potential for repurposing UK shale gas well as research facilities to answer fundamental science questions, as well as to undertake the research required to support geoenergy solutions such as carbon capture storage, geothermal energy, and hydrogen storage. The project will comprise a systematic review of the construction and status of wells and characterize the geology. The project will vitally engage with stakeholders and communities and collate their views on the potential reuse of existing oil and gas infrastructure to advance the science and technology of low carbon energy solutions. (2021)

Geothermal Resource Assessment - NE Local Enterprise Partnership - Principle Investigator - This study used existing data, including legacy data from oil, gas, and coal exploration, to investigate and develop new approaches to modeling heat flow in sedimentary basins. The outputs from this project will help us understand the opportunities for geothermal energy to make a contribution to decarbonizing heating. (2020 – 2021)

Recent Media Contributions 

Ireland, MT., 2023. Poole oil spill expert Q&A: why is there an oil field in Dorset anyway? Link

Ireland, MT., Hawkins, and Brown, R. 2022. Fracking for energy security in the UK: 4 key considerations for government. Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU). Link

Bradshaw, M., Ireland, MT., Brown, R. and Davies, RJ. 2022. Why fracking is not the answer to soaring UK gas prices. The Conversation. Link 

Recent Conference Contributions

Ireland, MT. 2022. Distinguishing initiation mechanisms for layer-bound faults. Tectonics Studies Group

Hart, A., and Ireland, MT. 2021. How can subsurface geoenergy sites support current and future regulation and policy. The role of subsurface resaerch labs in delivering net zero.

Ireland, MT., 2020. A forcing template between bottom water currents and differential compaction. 59th British Sedimentological Research Group Annual General Meeting.

Ireland, MT., 2019. How much do we really know about heat in the UK's onshore sedimentary basins? 7th London Geothermal Symposium, Geological Society London

Ireland, MT., Burrell, R., Randell, P., 2018. Seismic data collaboration: How can we maximize our seismic data and enable greater collaboration? PETEX 2018, London

Ireland, MT., Cottam, MA., 2017. An extended continuum from magma-rich to magma poor margins: Implications for hydrocarbon exploration. AAPG International Conference & Exhibition, London

Ireland, MT., Wilson, RW., Shoulders, S., 2016. Insights into the evolution of the volcanic margin of Western India and associated intracratonic rifts. Geological Society of London, Rifts III: Catching the Wave, London

Current PhD Supervisions

Hector Barnett - Assessing the feasibility of large scale hydrogen storage in salt caverns on the UKCS using 3D seismic data (GeoNetZero CDT)

Gianluca Amicarelli - Multi-scale characterization of fault and fracture networks in granite: implications for the integrity of geological nuclear waste repositories.

Aidan Jaques - The geomicrobiology of hydrogen storage in geological materials (EPSRC ICASE award)

PhD Research Opportunities

Please get in touch directly if you are interested in research opportunities.

Undergraduate Teaching

CEG1602: The Geosphere - Module Leader

CEG1604: Geology and GIS Field Course

CEG3604: Field Course

CEG3607: Subsurface Investigations

• Articles

  • Ireland MT, Guillermo A, Steventon M, Munafò M. How reproducible and reliable is geophysical research?. Seismica 2023, 2(1).
  • Barnett HG, Ireland MT, Van der Land C. Characterising the internal structural complexity of the Southern North Sea Zechstein Supergroup Evaporites. Basin Research 2023, epub ahead of print.
  • Steventon MJ, Jackson CAL, Hall M, Ireland MT, Munafo M, Roberts KJ. Reproducibility in subsurface geoscience. Earth Science, Systems and Society 2022, 2, 10051.
  • Graham SP, Rouainia M, Aplin AC, Ireland MT, Charlton TS, Armitage PJ. New Micromechanical Data and Modelling Framework for the Elastic Response of Calcareous Mudstones. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 2022, 158, 105181.
  • Yang J, Xia Y, Yuan J, Ireland MT, Lu S, Wang M, Yu H, Li Y, Lu M. Depositional model of the Lower Cretaceous Nantun Formation and its implications for oil accumulation in the northern Wuerxun Sag of Hailar Basin, NE China. Sedimentary Geology 2022, epub ahead of print.
  • Ireland MT, Morley CK, Davies RJ. Systematic spacing and topological variations in layer-bound fault systems. Basin Research 2021, 33(5), 2745-2762.
  • Ireland MT, Brown R, Wilson M, Stratesky P, Kingdon A, Davies RJ. Suitability of Legacy Subsurface Data for Nascent Geoenergy Activities Onshore United Kingdom. Frontiers in Earth Sciences 2021, 9, 629960.
  • Yang J, Qi N, Ireland MT, Lua S, Wang M, Lu M, Xia Y. Geological controls on the natural CO2 accumulation in the Surennuoer Oilfield of the Hailar Basin, China. Marine and Petroleum Geology 2021, 133, 105319.
  • Davies RJ, Morales Maqueda MA, Li A, Ireland M. Climatically driven instability of marine methane hydrate along a canyon-incised continental margin. Geology 2021, 49(8), 973-977.
  • Ireland MT, Davies RJ, Goulty NR, Moy DJ. Thick slides dominated by regular-wavelength folds and thrusts in biosiliceous sediments on the Vema Dome offshore of Norway. Marine Geology 2011, 289(1-4), 34-45.
  • Ireland MT, Davies RJ, Goulty NR, Carruthers D. Structure of a silica diagenetic transformation zone: the Gjallar Ridge, offshore Norway. Sedimentology 2011, 58(2), 424-441.
  • Davies RJ, Ireland MT. Initiation and propagation of polygonal fault arrays by thermally triggered volume reduction reactions in siliceous sediment. Marine Geology 2011, 289(1-4), 150-158.
  • Ireland MT, Goulty NR, Davies RJ. Influence of stratigraphic setting and simple shear on layer-bound compaction faults offshore Mauritania. Journal of Structural Geology 2011, 33(4), 487-499.
  • Ireland MT, Goulty NR, Davies RJ. Influence of pore water chemistry on silica diagenesis: evidence from the interaction of diagenetic reaction zones with polygonal fault systems. Journal of the Geological Society 2010, 167, 273-279.
  • Davies RJ, Ireland MT, Cartwright JA. Differential compaction due to the irregular topology of a diagenetic reaction boundary: a new mechanism for the formation of polygonal faults. Basin Research 2009, 21(3), 354-359.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

  • Graham SP, Rouainia M, Ireland MT, Aplin AC, Armitage PJ. Elastic Stiffening of Shale up to 200°C: Insights from High-load Nanoindentation Tests. In: 55th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, Virtual, June 2021. 2021, Virtual.