The bipolarity of Late Palaeozoic marine faunal distributions: origin, processes and implications for modern global marine biogeography. The fossil record of 'deep-time' ecological processes provides the only tangible tool and material to probe into the dynamics of past biotic responses to global environmental perturbations at a temporal scale extending well beyond the human impact. It is in this context that the project is linked to the National Research Priority Goal 1.5 (Australia's biodivers ....The bipolarity of Late Palaeozoic marine faunal distributions: origin, processes and implications for modern global marine biogeography. The fossil record of 'deep-time' ecological processes provides the only tangible tool and material to probe into the dynamics of past biotic responses to global environmental perturbations at a temporal scale extending well beyond the human impact. It is in this context that the project is linked to the National Research Priority Goal 1.5 (Australia's biodiversity), Goal 1.7 (climate change and variability) and Goal 3.1 (breakthrough new knowledge). In addition, the project will enhance Australia's global research profile through multinational and multidisciplinary research collaborations, and, importantly, also provide a crucial training opportunity for the next generation of Australian palaeobiologists.Read moreRead less
Theoretical and experimental study of elastic properties of porous media permeated by aligned fractures. The aim of the project is to develop a theoretical model for the elastic properties of fractured porous reservoir rocks, taking into account the wave-induced fluid flow between pores and fractures. This will be done by theoretical analysis based on the model of fractures as planes of discontinuity in porous rock, and on the theory of wave propagation in anisotropic porous media. The theoretic ....Theoretical and experimental study of elastic properties of porous media permeated by aligned fractures. The aim of the project is to develop a theoretical model for the elastic properties of fractured porous reservoir rocks, taking into account the wave-induced fluid flow between pores and fractures. This will be done by theoretical analysis based on the model of fractures as planes of discontinuity in porous rock, and on the theory of wave propagation in anisotropic porous media. The theoretical model will be verified using numerical simulations and ultrasonic measurements made on synthetic porous and fractured samples. The results are expected to benefit seismic exploration and the production of oil and gas in fractured reservoirs.Read moreRead less
Understanding mass extinctions and deep-time climate change: International Timescale Calibration of the Late Permian-Early Triassic of Australia. The project will enhance Australia's research strength as world leaders in isotope geochronology, geological timescale calibration, and global biological evolution studies, and will expand knowledge and provide a long overdue robust chronostratigraphic framework for a critical part of Earth's history that is a particular focus for energy resources in A ....Understanding mass extinctions and deep-time climate change: International Timescale Calibration of the Late Permian-Early Triassic of Australia. The project will enhance Australia's research strength as world leaders in isotope geochronology, geological timescale calibration, and global biological evolution studies, and will expand knowledge and provide a long overdue robust chronostratigraphic framework for a critical part of Earth's history that is a particular focus for energy resources in Australia. Our work will provide vital input to enhanced models for deep-time biotic turnover, climate change and global warming that will aid prediction of modern global atmospheric and climate changes due to human impact and provide vital data and information for Australian policy makers.Read moreRead less
Anisotropic behaviour of coal for coalbed methane recovery and CO2 geosequestration. Amongst the cheapest and safest options for clean energy are to use natural gas from coal seams for electricity and fuel production and then permanently store carbon dioxide within the depleted seams. This requires information about the underground behaviour of coal at a level of detail which is not available. In particular, the directional and dynamic response of coal to changes in pressure, stress and gas in ....Anisotropic behaviour of coal for coalbed methane recovery and CO2 geosequestration. Amongst the cheapest and safest options for clean energy are to use natural gas from coal seams for electricity and fuel production and then permanently store carbon dioxide within the depleted seams. This requires information about the underground behaviour of coal at a level of detail which is not available. In particular, the directional and dynamic response of coal to changes in pressure, stress and gas interactions is required, which is the subject of this project. Coal bed methane is rapidly growing into a multi-billion dollar industry for Australia. The geosequestration of carbon dioxide in deep coal is widely recognised presenting a secure and economical opportunity for greenhouse gas control. Read moreRead less
Dynamic behaviour of foams. Foam flow occurs in many industrial processes such as the fractionation of proteins and coal flotation. The proposed research will investigate transient behaviour at start-up of such processes and how the method of foam production affects process efficiency. The dispersion of liquid tracers in foam and a newly discovered phenomenon of ?upwards rippling? will be studied as it is likely that these could illuminate the physical processes that lay behind foam flow. Remova ....Dynamic behaviour of foams. Foam flow occurs in many industrial processes such as the fractionation of proteins and coal flotation. The proposed research will investigate transient behaviour at start-up of such processes and how the method of foam production affects process efficiency. The dispersion of liquid tracers in foam and a newly discovered phenomenon of ?upwards rippling? will be studied as it is likely that these could illuminate the physical processes that lay behind foam flow. Removal of unwanted material from a pipeline is often a major industrial problem and the ability of foams to perform this role will be assessed.Read moreRead less