UQ hosts international energy discussions

UQ hosts international energy discussions

Six representatives of Japanese and United Arab Emirates' energy groups have visited the University of Queensland to discuss sophisticated oil geochemistry technologies.

Head of the Earth Sciences Department and director of the University's Isotope and Trace Element Geochemistry Laboratories Professor Ken Collerson hosted the discussions.

They involved the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and the Japan Energy Development Company, groups which have invested about $250,000 into research projects involving the Radiogenic Isotope Laboratory. The projects aim to improve knowledge of the strontium isotope stratigraphy of Abu Dhabi.

Professor Collerson said group members selected the University over three or four other similar research groups internationally. They were attracted by the $7 million radiogenic isotope and trace element laboratory, the best of its kind in the world.

"Our facilities here are clearly superior to anything else on the planet, and that's why we're able to resolve aspects of the chemical evolution of the Earth which other people simply can't do," he said.

"We have instruments that enable us to measure the chemistry and isotopic composition of nearly any substance with greater precision, and faster, than anyone else. A new mass spectrometer will arrive soon which will allow us to develop completely new techniques for dating minerals using a laser. We'll be able to date rocks and minerals less than one thousand years old to ones 4.5 billion years old.

"We're on a roll: once you have the facilities, you can attract the world's leading researchers, and they help attract funding to keep the whole thing moving on."

Professor Collerson said the laboratory had been established in the past six years largely through Australian Research Council, and mining company support.

Applications of istopic data include basic earth science research, mineral and fossil fuel exploration, forensic, environmental and medical investigations.

Media contact: Professor Collerson, telephone 3365 1180