1. VoGERA Vulnerability Of shallow Groundwater resources to deep sub-surface Energy Related Activities

2. GeoERA - GROUNDWATER
VoGERA - rationale
Increased pressure on deep sub-surface in Europe for energy related activities
e.g. oil and gas, geothermal, energy storage
Changes sub-surface/introduce new chemicals
Possible impact on groundwater
Concerns have lead to moratoria on or banning of some industries
There is increasing pressure on the use of the deep sub-surface in Europe for energy related activities, such as oil and gas (conventional and unconventional), geothermal and storage (such as nuclear waste and gas disposal).
These activities can introduce changes to the sub-surface structure and introduce or mobilise new chemicals
There are concerns that these hazards may lead to contamination of groundwater. This has received widespread media attention across Europe, resulting in moratoria or even banning of some industries, such as shale gas, in some countries.

3. VoGERA - partners BGS (UKRI) TNO VMM SCK•CEN MBFSZ Geoinform GEUS
GeoERA - GROUNDWATER
VoGERA - partners
BGS (UKRI) TNO VMM SCK•CEN MBFSZ Geoinform GEUS
The Vogera project has participants from 6 different countries, including the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary, Ukraine and Denmark.
We have a total budget of 433 k Euro, received 128 k Euro from the EU. The project started 1st July 2018 and will run for three years
Total budget: € From EU: €
July 2018 – June 2021

4. GeoERA - GROUNDWATER
VoGERA - aim
To improve scientific understanding of the vulnerability of shallow groundwater from deep sub-surface energy-related activities.
Protect vulnerable groundwater
Allow responsible development of the sub-surface
European-wide approach
Consistent across energy activities
The aim of the VoGERA project is to improve scientific understanding of the vulnerability of shallow groundwater (which may be potable, support ecosystems or can be used for other human uses) from deep sub-surface energy-related activities.
In order to best protect valuable and vulnerable groundwater
At the same time as allowing the responsible development of the sub-surface for the benefit of European citizens and the economy

5. VoGERA – Project structure
GeoERA - GROUNDWATER
VoGERA – Project structure
Besides the communication and coordination, VogERA consists of two work packages: one concerning process understanding, one on conceptual modelling for risk assessment. By mutual interaction between these two WP, we would like to come to a process-based risk assessment framework

6. VoGERA – Process understanding
GeoERA - GROUNDWATER
VoGERA – Process understanding
Use evidence to assess possible pathways (e.g. fault zones/abandoned wells) at 4 pilot locations:
Stable isotopes
Dating/residence time indicators
Temperature
Hydraulic head
Groundwater flow data
3D geological models
For gaining insight in the relevant processes, a literature review will be performed. Besides, four pilot sites will be investigated in some more detail. These sites are selected because of data availability. The kind of data that are available vary from site to site, but the available data are at each site very useful for assessing vertical pathways. Data include amongst others stable isotopes, dating indicators, temperature measurements etc. The results from the literature review and the investigations at the pilot sites will be used to build a conceptual model. On the other hand, large uncertainties or data lacks that show up during conceptual model development might steer the literature review and pilot site investigations performed in WP3.

7. VoGERA – Conceptual model
GeoERA - GROUNDWATER
VoGERA – Conceptual model
Develop conceptual models of the sub-surface activities with possible pathways of contamination to groundwater
Example of a conceptual
model showing possible
contamination pathways
from sub-surface energy
activities (oil and gas)
to shallow groundwater
The conceptual model development will not start from scratch, but from previous experience of the project partners. The model will be adjusted and extended based on the literature review, investigations at pilot sites and eventual input from stakeholders.

8. VoGERA – Vulnerability assessment
GeoERA - GROUNDWATER
VoGERA – Vulnerability assessment
Develop framework for assessing vulnerability of shallow groundwater from energy-related activities:
Applicable across a range of European hydrogeological settings
Useful tool for regulators and decision makers
Test vulnerability framework at pilot sites and modify according to results
Based on the conceptual model, a framework for assessing the vulnerability of shallow groundwater will be constructed. That framework must be applicable in various hydrogeological settings that occur in EU. Moreover, it should be made available for stakeholders as a useful tool. We will test the applicability of the framework and evaluate its usefulness at the four pilot sites. Based on this, the framework might be adjusted or extended.

9. VoGERA – stakeholders and outputs
GeoERA - GROUNDWATER
VoGERA – stakeholders and outputs
Stakeholders:
Regional and local authorities, water supply companies, groundwater resource managers, public, academic researchers
Output:
Evidence summarised in report
Tool for assessing groundwater vulnerability
Stakeholders for the VoGERA project will be regional and local authorities, waters supply companies and consultants, groundwater resource managers, the public and academic researchers. Stakeholders are thus identified at two different spatial scales of decision making: local scale and regional scale.
They will benefit from evidence summarised in reports, and the development of a tool for accessing groundwater vulnerability to deep energy related activities to aid in decision making.

10. VoGERA – Current project status and stakeholder involvement
GeoERA - GROUNDWATER
VoGERA – Current project status and stakeholder involvement
Stakeholder involvement: two ‘scales’
Regional/EU: 8-9/10 CIS WG Groundwater, Vienna
Local: First workshop planned on 30/11 in Brussels
Desired input from stakeholders:
Expectations: Societal issues to be included/questions to be answered
Usefulness of ‘end products’: report, data set, tool, …
Currently, the project is in a start-up phase. We are working on the literature review and organising the first contacts with stakeholders. Through the CIS WG Groundwater, we would like to interact with stakeholders working at EU scale on groundwater policy development and subsurface spatial planning. We have also planned a workshop with local stakeholders at the end of November in Brussel. We would like to know from our stakeholders which themes or activities they would like us to consider in our model and tool. Moreover, we’re interested in their expectations or preferences regarding the outputs of the study. For example, would a spreadsheet tool for vulnerability assessment be useful? Or is it better to communicate the findings in a more ‘technical’ way, as data sets and maps.