Tom Kettlety is the Oxford Net Zero Research Fellow in Geological Carbon Storage, working within the Department of Earth Sciences. Tom studies geological carbon dioxide (CO2) storage, specifically using microseismic (small earthquakes) to image and monitor these projects. He has expertise in CO2 storage projects, earthquakes triggered by fluid injection, and methods to monitor and mitigate induced seismicity. He uses a range of techniques from observational seismology, geomechanical modelling, and earthquake statistics to analyse microseismic datasets from injection operations around the world.
Tom’s work has looked at fluid-fault interaction and the geologic controls of fault activation. His recent research involves using seismological techniques to better quantify the state of stress and seismic hazard around developing and prospective CO2 reservoirs, leading to improved assessment of risks to long term geologic CO2 storage. This has involved the development of novel methods to monitor geological storage projects, and aggregating earthquake information to better understand seismicity near prospective projects. His work has led to frequent interaction with industry and regulatory stakeholders.
He is also currently the PI of an STFC funded project to assess the potential of an Earth science programme of applied research at the Boulby Underground Laboratory, a STFC facility housed with the Boulby mine -- the UK's deepest mine.
He completed his MSci in Physics at the University of Bristol in 2016, and his PhD in Geology at Bristol in 2020. Tom has held an Oxford Net Zero Fellowship since October 2021, and a Linacre College Junior Research Fellowship since October 2022.
