Geoenergy and geostorage: new frontiers for mining professionals

Leveraging geoscience expertise in the energy transition

As the global journey to net zero accelerates, innovative energy solutions are emerging to bridge the gap between current fossil fuel reliance and a renewable-powered future. One key area gaining significant traction is geoenergy and geostorage—technologies that harness the Earth's natural resources for clean energy production and CO2 sequestration. For mining and resources professionals, this represents not just a parallel industry evolution but a natural extension of existing geological expertise.

An important perspective is that while petroleum engineering may be gradually transitioning, the fundamental geological principles that underpin our work remain constant. The Earth's subsurface structures evolve over geological timeframes, not human ones. The rock formations and fluid pathways that mining and petroleum professionals have long studied are precisely the same domains now being evaluated for geostorage and geoenergy applications.

This geological continuity creates a significant opportunity for mining professionals to transfer and adapt their skills. The core competencies in understanding subsurface structures, fluid dynamics, and resource characterisation that underpin mining operations are directly applicable to geoenergy and geostorage projects, though important distinctions in terminology and approach must be recognised.

From extraction to injection: defining geostorage approaches

It's important to clarify what we mean by "geostorage" as the term carries different connotations across disciplines. In the petroleum engineering context, geostorage primarily refers to the geological storage of fluids – specifically CO2 – in porous formations such as deep saline aquifers or depleted oil and gas reservoirs. This approach involves identifying suitable geological formations with appropriate caprocks, below which CO2 can be injected in a supercritical state that behaves like a gas but possesses a density closer to that of a liquid. Other applications may be the storage of gases at higher pressure for intermittent energy storage or the underground storage of hydrogen.

"From a mining perspective, geostorage encompasses additional pathways that leverage different geological expertise."

However, from a mining perspective, geostorage encompasses additional pathways that leverage different geological expertise. One particularly promising approach involves mineral carbonation – the process by which CO2 reacts with certain minerals to form stable carbonate compounds. This approach has significant potential for utilising mine tailings, particularly those rich in mafic minerals, which can permanently trap CO2 through chemical reactions. Unlike fluid-based storage in porous formations, this mineral-based sequestration leverages geochemical expertise that is a cornerstone of mining geology.

Both approaches require precise understanding of geological structures and processes, but they engage different aspects of our professional knowledge. This distinction highlights the complementary nature of petroleum engineering and mining expertise in addressing climate challenges.

Skills cross-pollination: a two-way exchange

For AusIMM members, the transition toward geoenergy and geostorage represents more than just a one-way transfer of existing skills to new applications – it creates opportunities for valuable cross-pollination between disciplines. The petroleum engineering sector has developed sophisticated techniques for resource estimation and subsurface characterisation that can significantly benefit traditional mining operations.

As mines increasingly target deeper deposits with lower grades, the advanced geostatistical methods, seismic interpretation techniques, advanced formation evaluation, and fluid flow modelling approaches from petroleum engineering become increasingly relevant. These methodologies, designed to characterise complex subsurface environments with limited direct sampling, offer powerful tools for reducing uncertainty in deep mining operations. Particularly noteworthy is how advanced formation evaluation techniques – developed to assess complex reservoir properties through wireline logs, core analysis, and production testing – can enhance understanding of ore body continuity and grade distribution in challenging mining environments.

Conversely, mining professionals bring robust expertise in geochemistry, mineral alteration processes, and tailings management that can revolutionise mineral carbonation approaches to CO2 sequestration. The mining industry's experience with reactive mineral – particularly mafic and ultramafic rocks that readily form carbonate minerals when exposed to CO2 – provides a unique avenue for carbon sequestration that petroleum engineering alone cannot address.

This bidirectional exchange of methodologies creates a synergistic relationship that strengthens both fields:

• advanced geostatistical techniques from petroleum engineering improve confidence in deep resource modelling for mining
• mining expertise in reactive minerals enables innovative CO2 sequestration through mineral carbonation
• reservoir simulation methods inform fluid dynamics in both extraction and injection scenarios
• geochemical expertise from mining enhances understanding of long-term mineral-CO2 interactions.

This cross-disciplinary fertilisation positions resources professionals at a unique advantage—those who can integrate techniques from both worlds will be particularly valuable as the industry evolves.

"Our profession's deep understanding of the Earth's subsurface is a critical asset that positions us at the forefront of these emerging technologies."

Conclusion

As the mining sector continues its own evolution toward sustainable practices, geoenergy and geostorage represent natural extensions of the industry's core capabilities. For AusIMM members and resources professionals, this presents an opportunity to lead in the energy transition space rather than merely adapt to it. Our profession's deep understanding of the Earth's subsurface is a critical asset that positions us at the forefront of these emerging technologies.

The integration of advanced petroleum engineering techniques into mining operations targeting deeper, lower-grade deposits offers immediate practical benefits beyond the energy transition context. Similarly, mining expertise in reactive minerals and tailings management provides crucial pathways for mineral-based carbon sequestration that complement traditional geological storage in porous formations.

This dual approach to geostorage – fluid injection in porous formations and mineral carbonation using reactive mine materials – represents a more comprehensive solution than either discipline could achieve independently. By recognising the distinct terminologies and approaches of both fields while identifying points of convergence, we can develop more robust carbon management strategies.

The journey from traditional extraction to innovative subsurface utilisation for climate solutions requires professionals who can think across disciplinary boundaries while maintaining geological rigor. By leveraging existing expertise while developing specialised skills that bridge the petroleum-mining divide, resources professionals are uniquely positioned to shape the future energy landscape. Far from being left behind in the energy transition, our geological expertise may well prove to be one of its most valuable enablers.

Recognising this opportunity, UNSW Sydney has recently launched new degree programs in geoenergy and geostorage engineering at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. These programs provide a pathway for professionals looking to update their skills or benefit from this disciplinary synergy as the energy transition accelerates.

Images courtesy UNSW.