Applied Geoscience Laboratory | Demo

The Applied Geoscience Laboratory is the University of Edinburgh's specialist experimental research facility dedicated to understanding the behaviour of subsurface materials and engineered systems under representative in-situ subsurface conditions. Through internationally leading research, strategic collaborations and industrial partnerships, we advance the science underpinning the safe, secure and sustainable use of the subsurface in support of the energy transition.

Our bespoke, purpose-built experimental facilities recreate representative subsurface conditions of temperature, pressure, geochemistry, multiphase fluid flow and coupled thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, chemical and biological (THMCB) processes. Integrated with advanced rock, fluid, gas and microbial characterisation capabilities, they enable end-to-end investigations of subsurface systems from the pore scale through to the reservoir scale. Together they enable both fundamental and applied research across underground hydrogen storage, carbon capture and geological storage (CCS), geothermal energy, compressed air energy storage (CAES), underground gas storage, natural hydrogen, well integrity, geological disposal of radioactive waste and wider subsurface energy and environmental systems.

Established in 2009, the Applied Geoscience Laboratory has grown into one of the UK's leading experimental research facilities for subsurface energy systems. Today, the laboratory supports major UK and international research programmes, strategic industrial partnerships and collaborative projects across the energy and environmental sectors. Our multidisciplinary expertise spans geochemistry, geomicrobiology, petrophysics, geomechanics, well integrity, reactive transport and pore-scale imaging, underpinning projects that range from discovery science and technology development through to industrial innovation and regulatory evidence generation.The laboratory forms part of the European research infrastructure ECCSEL (European Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage Laboratory Infrastructure), supporting international collaboration and providing access to world-class experimental research infrastructure for subsurface energy and environmental systems.

Alongside our internationally funded research programmes, we work closely with industry, government and research organisations to deliver collaborative research, specialist laboratory testing, independent technical consultancy and collaborative research. By integrating world-leading research with practical application, we help address both fundamental scientific questions and industry-led technical challenges.

Contact and location

Contact

Professor Katriona Edlmann

kedlmann@ed.ac.uk

+44 (0) 131 650 7238

Chair in Sustainable Energy

View Professor Edlmann's full research profile

Location

Address: Room 236, Grant Institute, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, EDINBURGH EH9 3JW

Please note that parking on campus is strictly by permit only, and parking spaces are subject to availability. Commercial and external users should contact our staff about parking arrangements.

Campus maps and travel information

We welcome enquiries at all stages of project development whether you are seeking access to our experimental facilities, exploring opportunities for collaborative research, developing a new project or requiring specialist laboratory testing or technical consultancy.

Our multidisciplinary team is happy to discuss experimental design, technical feasibility and potential research partnerships.

We welcome enquiries from researchers, industrial partners, government agencies, regulators and funding organisations interested in advancing the safe, secure and sustainable use of the subsurface.

Facilities and equipment

Each facility can be configured as part of bespoke experimental programmes tailored to specific scientific, engineering and operational challenges, enabling collaborative research, technology development and independent laboratory testing.

Reservoir flow and transport

•    High Pressure THMC Multiphase Flow System (formerly THMC Multiphase Flow Rig)
•    Long-Core Gas Transport System (formerly Hydrogen Flow Rig)
•    Low Pressure Soil Column Flow System (new)

High pressure geochemistry and geobiology

•    High Pressure Geochemical Reaction System (formerly Hydrogen Reaction Vessels)
•    High Temperature Batch Reaction System (Parr vessels)
•    Low Pressure Batch Reaction System (new)

Rock mechanics and reservoir integrity

• Large Scale Geomechanical Testing System (formerly Unconfined Loading Rig)
• Thermal Cycling and Freeze-Thaw System (formerly Freeze Thaw Rig)

Pore scale imaging and visualisation

• Multiphase Microfluidic Flow System
• X-ray Transparent Micro-CT Flow System (formerly Micro-CT Hydrogen Flow Cell)

The High Pressure THMC Multiphase Flow System is a bespoke core flooding facility designed to investigate coupled thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, chemical and biological (THMCB) processes under representative subsurface pressure, temperature and geochemical conditions. The system enables controlled single and multiphase flow through reservoir core samples while independently controlling confining stress, pore pressure, effective stress, temperature, fluid composition and flow rate. Integrated fluid sampling and continuous monitoring allow the investigation of reactive transport processes, reservoir behaviour and fluid-rock interactions during dynamic flow experiments.

Key capabilities

Parameter	Capability
Confining pressure	Up to 60 MPa radial confining stress (σ₂ = σ₃)
Pore fluid pressure	Up to 60 MPa
Rock temperature	Up to 80°C
Injection fluid temperature	Up to 80°C
Sample size	38 mm diameter cores up to 80 mm length
Flow regime	Single and multiphase flow
Compatible fluids	Hydrogen, carbon dioxide (gas, liquid and supercritical), methane, nitrogen, oxygen, air, water, representative formation brines and tracers
Flow rate	0.001–20 ml/min (pump dependent)
Pumps	ISCO syringe pumps, CP Class positive displacement pumps, Cetoni dual syringe pumps
Monitoring	Upstream, downstream and differential pressure measurement
Sampling	Continuous fluid sampling during experiments
Materials	316 stainless steel and PEEK wetted components for corrosion resistance
Control	Fully computer-controlled operation and data logging

Example Research applications

Relative permeability and capillary pressure
Multiphase flow behaviour
Reactive transport
Water-rock interaction
Hydrogen-rock interaction
CO₂-rock interaction
Gas-brine interaction
Reservoir injectivity and productivity
Formation damage
Permeability evolution
Wettability alteration
Residual trapping
Cushion gas optimisation
Cyclic gas storage
Contaminant transport
Enhanced geothermal systems
Reservoir analogue studies
Validation of numerical reservoir models

The Long-Core Gas Transport System is a bespoke experimental facility designed to quantify gas transport through porous geological materials under controlled pressure and temperature conditions. Unlike conventional laboratory core flooding systems, the facility accommodates 1 m long rock cores, providing a more representative experimental scale for investigating gas transport through heterogeneous geological formations. Coupled with a Hiden HPR-20 mass spectrometer, the system enables high-resolution, real-time gas composition and breakthrough analysis to investigate gas migration, mixing and transport processes through porous media. The facility enables direct measurement of the fundamental transport parameters—including advective velocity, mechanical dispersion, molecular diffusion and gas sorption—that underpin predictive models of subsurface gas flow. It supports research across underground hydrogen and natural gas storage, carbon capture and geological storage (CCS), geothermal energy, environmental monitoring and reservoir characterisation.

Parameter	Capability
Core size	1 m long × 38 mm diameter sandstone core
Gas pressure	Up to 1 MPa
Rock temperature	Up to 60°C
Injection gas temperature	Up to 60°C
Compatible gases	Hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, nitrogen, air, noble gases, SF₆ and other tracer gases
Flow regime	Single and multiphase gas flow
Flow rate	0.01–10 ml/min
Monitoring	Upstream, downstream and differential pressure measurement
Gas analysis	Hiden HPR-20 mass spectrometer
Construction	Gas-tight foil, resin and stainless-steel core assembly
Control	Continuous monitoring and computerised data acquisition

Example research applications

Gas breakthrough analysis
Advective transport
Mechanical dispersion
Molecular diffusion
Gas sorption and retardation
Tracer gas experiments
Reservoir characterisation
Gas migration studies
Hydrogen transport
Carbon dioxide transport
Methane transport
Gas mixing behaviour
Formation heterogeneity assessment
Effective porosity determination
Transport parameter determination for reservoir simulation
Validation of reactive transport and reservoir models
Monitoring technology development
Gas quality and contaminant transport studies

The Low Pressure Soil Column Flow System is a bespoke experimental facility designed to investigate gas transport, reactive processes and biogeochemical interactions within soils and unconsolidated sediments under controlled laboratory conditions. The instrumented soil columns enable investigation of gas migration, leakage behaviour, soil–gas interactions and microbial processes across a wide range of environmental conditions. Continuous monitoring of gas composition, pH, redox potential, temperature and moisture provides detailed characterisation of coupled physical, chemical and biological processes during gas transport experiments. The facility supports research into environmental impacts, leak detection, near-surface monitoring and reactive transport associated with energy infrastructure and wider environmental systems.

Parameter	Capability
Experimental scale	Instrumented one-dimensional soil columns
Pressure	Atmospheric to low pressure gas flow
Temperature	Ambient and controlled temperature conditions
Compatible gases	Hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, nitrogen, air, noble gases and tracer gases
Materials	Natural soils, engineered soils, unconsolidated sediments, sand packs and synthetic porous media
Experimental conditions	Variable moisture content, porosity, layering and gas injection rates
Gas monitoring	Continuous gas sampling and gas composition analysis
Water chemistry	Periodic pore-water sampling
Geochemical monitoring	Continuous pH and redox (Eh) measurements
Spectrophotometry	UV-Visible spectrophotometric analysis (520 nm and other wavelengths)
Environmental control	Moisture, temperature and gas composition control
Sampling	Gas, pore-water and solid sampling throughout experiments

Typical research applications

Gas migration through soils
Hydrogen leakage from buried infrastructure
Methane migration
Carbon dioxide leakage studies
Tracer gas investigations
Soil-gas interactions
Reactive transport
Soil geochemistry
Soil microbiology
Soil redox evolution
Soil carbon cycling
Environmental monitoring
Leak detection technology development
Soil remediation studies
Contaminant transport
Vadose zone processes
Groundwater recharge investigations
Natural hydrogen investigations
Validation of environmental transport models

The High Pressure Geochemical and Geobiological Reaction Systems comprise a comprehensive suite of more than twelve bespoke batch reaction vessels designed to investigate fluid-rock-gas-microbe interactions under representative subsurface conditions. The facility accommodates a wide range of experimental pressures, temperatures and vessel volumes, providing exceptional flexibility for investigating geological materials, engineered systems and microbial processes across subsurface energy and environmental applications.

The independently operated reaction vessels incorporate controlled heating, magnetic stirring, pressure monitoring and custom sampling systems, allowing liquid and gas samples to be collected throughout an experiment without disturbing reaction conditions. The facility supports both sterile and biologically active experimental programmes through dedicated UV and autoclave sterilisation capabilities, enabling robust comparison of abiotic and microbially mediated processes. Multiple reaction vessels can be operated simultaneously, allowing statistically robust experimental programmes incorporating controls, replicate testing and time-series investigations.

The availability of multiple independently operated reaction vessels with different pressure, temperature and volume capabilities enables bespoke experimental programmes to be designed around specific scientific, engineering and operational questions rather than the constraints of a single reactor configuration.

Parameter	Capability
Reaction systems	More than 12 independently operated high-pressure batch reaction vessels
Vessel volumes	Multiple vessel sizes (including 300 ml and larger/smaller configurations)
Pressure	Atmospheric to 200 bar (20 MPa)*
Temperature	Ambient to 300°C*
Heating	Independently controlled heating systems
Mixing	Magnetic stirring and agitation
Compatible gases	Hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, nitrogen, air, noble gases and bespoke gas mixtures
Compatible fluids	Freshwater, formation brines, geothermal fluids, produced waters and bespoke experimental solutions
Sample materials	Rocks, minerals, sediments, soils, well cements, steels, engineered materials and microbial cultures
Sampling	Time-series liquid and gas sampling via dip tubes without interrupting experiments
Monitoring	Continuous pressure and temperature monitoring
Experimental conditions	Sterile or biologically active (non-sterile) experimental programmes
Sterilisation	UV and autoclave sterilisation for contamination control and experimental preparation
Experimental duration	Hours to many months

Example research applications

Water-rock interaction
Water-gas-rock interaction
Hydrogen-rock interaction
Carbon dioxide-rock interaction
Methane-rock interaction
Oxygen reactivity studies
Mineral dissolution and precipitation
Gas quality evolution
Formation water evolution
Corrosion and materials compatibility
Well cement integrity
Steel degradation
Geomicrobiology
Biogeochemistry
Microbially mediated gas generation and consumption
Redox evolution
Sulphide generation
Carbon mineralisation
Critical mineral recovery
Geothermal fluid chemistry
Geological disposal of radioactive waste
Environmental geochemistry
Long-term ageing experiments
Accelerated reaction studies

The Low Pressure Batch Reaction Systems comprise a suite of four jacketed glass reactor systems designed for controlled geochemical, geomicrobiological and environmental reaction experiments under ambient and low-pressure conditions. The systems provide precise control of temperature, mixing and fluid chemistry, making them ideally suited to rapid experimental screening, kinetic studies and long-duration reaction experiments where representative reservoir pressures are not required.

Each reactor incorporates continuous stirring, temperature control and multiple access ports for fluid and gas sampling, allowing reaction progress to be monitored throughout an experiment without disturbing the system. Their flexible configuration makes them particularly valuable for high-throughput experimental screening, method development and comparative studies. The transparent reaction vessels facilitate direct observation of reaction pathways, complementing quantitative geochemical and microbiological analyses.

The low-pressure systems complement the laboratory’s high-pressure reaction facilities by providing a flexible platform for rapid experimental screening, method development and mechanistic studies prior to high-pressure experimentation.

Parameter	Capability
Reaction systems	Four independently operated jacketed glass batch reactors
Vessel volume	300 ml
Pressure	Atmospheric to low-pressure operation
Temperature	Controlled heated or cooled reaction conditions via external circulating bath
Heating	Double-jacketed temperature-controlled vessels
Mixing	Variable-speed mechanical stirring
Compatible gases	Hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, nitrogen, air and bespoke gas mixtures
Compatible fluids	Freshwater, groundwater, formation brines and bespoke experimental solutions
Sample materials	Rocks, minerals, soils, sediments, well cements, engineered materials and microbial cultures
Sampling	Repeated liquid and gas sampling throughout experiments
Monitoring	Continuous temperature monitoring with optional pH and redox (Eh) measurement
Experimental conditions	Sterile or biologically active (non-sterile) experimental programmes
Sterilisation	UV and autoclave sterilisation for contamination control and experimental preparation
Visual access	Transparent glass vessels enable direct observation of reaction processes
Experimental duration	Hours to many months

Example research applications

Geochemical reaction kinetics
Water-rock interaction
Water-gas-rock interaction
Soil-water interaction
Gas dissolution studies
Mineral dissolution and precipitation
Geomicrobiology
Biogeochemistry
Microbial growth and activity
Environmental geochemistry
Batch adsorption and desorption experiments
Contaminant degradation
Nutrient cycling
Method development
Experimental screening
Comparative testing
Long-duration environmental experiments
Teaching and demonstration experiments

The Large Scale Geomechanical Testing System is a bespoke experimental facility designed to investigate the mechanical behaviour, deformation and long-term integrity of large geological specimens under controlled unconfined loading conditions. Accommodating rock samples up to 200 mm in diameter, the system enables investigation of deformation, creep and hydraulic fracturing at a scale more representative of subsurface rock masses than conventional laboratory core testing. The facility supports research into reservoir geomechanics, rock mechanics and well integrity across a wide range of subsurface energy and environmental applications.

The system provides independent control of axial loading, pore fluid pressure and temperature, together with continuous monitoring of displacement, pore pressure, gas composition and acoustic activity. High-resolution LVDTs provide continuous measurement of sample deformation, while an Itasca Acoustic Emission System and integrated P-wave and S-wave velocity sensors enable the initiation and evolution of micro-fracturing, fracture propagation and changes in elastic properties to be monitored throughout an experiment. The facility is particularly well suited to long-duration creep testing, deformation studies and controlled hydraulic fracturing experiments.

Parameter	Capability
Sample size	Up to 200 mm diameter × 200 mm length
Loading configuration	Unconfined axial loading
Mechanical loading	Up to 700 bar applied load
Pore pressure	Up to 70 MPa
Rock temperature	Up to 60°C
Injection fluid temperature	Up to 60°C
Compatible fluids	Water and formation brines
Compatible gases	Hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, nitrogen, air and bespoke gas mixtures
Displacement monitoring	High-resolution LVDTs
Pore pressure monitoring	Continuous measurement and data logging
Acoustic monitoring	Itasca Acoustic Emission System
Ultrasonic monitoring	Integrated P-wave and S-wave velocity sensors
Gas analysis	Hiden HPR-20 mass spectrometer
Experimental capability	Long-duration creep, deformation and hydraulic fracturing experiments
Experimental duration	Short-term loading through to long-duration testing

Example research applications

Rock deformation
Time-dependent creep
Salt creep
Reservoir geomechanics
Reservoir integrity
Well integrity
Underground hydrogen storage
Carbon capture and geological storage (CCS)
Underground gas storage
Geothermal reservoirs
Geological disposal of radioactive waste
Hydraulic fracturing
Fracture initiation and propagation
Breakdown pressure determination
Injectivity studies
Coupled hydro-mechanical behaviour
Acoustic emission monitoring
P-wave and S-wave velocity evolution
Rock damage characterisation
Constitutive model development and validation

The Thermal Cycling and Freeze-Thaw System is a bespoke experimental facility designed to investigate the thermo-mechanical behaviour of geological materials subjected to repeated heating, cooling and rapid temperature changes. The facility enables controlled thermal cycling and Joule-Thomson cooling experiments to investigate deformation, fracture development and material integrity under representative subsurface conditions.

The system accommodates both laboratory-scale and large-format rock specimens and incorporates integrated thermal, mechanical and geophysical monitoring throughout each experiment. High-resolution fibre optic strain sensing, temperature monitoring, X-ray computed tomography (CT) and three-dimensional fracture surface analysis provide comprehensive characterisation of damage evolution and rock response during thermal cycling. The facility is particularly well suited to investigating freeze-thaw processes, thermal fatigue and coupled thermo-mechanical behaviour associated with subsurface energy and environmental systems.

Parameter	Capability
Sample size	38 mm and 200 mm diameter rock and transparent analogue samples
Heating	Controlled heating up to 80°C
Cooling	Joule-Thomson cooling to -55°C through controlled CO₂ depressurisation
Thermal cycling	Repeated heating and cooling cycles
Strain monitoring	High-resolution distributed fibre optic strain measurements (LUNA ODiSI-B)
Temperature monitoring	Continuous thermal monitoring throughout experiments
Gas analysis	Hiden HPR-20 mass spectrometer
Imaging	X-ray Computed Tomography (CT)
Surface characterisation	High-resolution 3D fracture surface scanning (GOM ATOS III)
Experimental capability	Long-duration thermal cycling and freeze-thaw testing

Example research applications

Freeze-thaw behaviour
Joule-Thomson cooling
Thermal cycling
Thermal fatigue
Rock deformation
Fracture initiation and propagation
Thermally induced damage
Reservoir integrity
Well integrity
Underground hydrogen storage
Carbon capture and geological storage (CCS)
Underground gas storage
Geothermal systems
Thermal energy storage
Mechanical property evolution
Crack growth monitoring
Fibre optic sensing validation
Numerical model validation

The Multiphase Microfluidic Flow System is a bespoke experimental facility designed to visualise and quantify single and multiphase fluid flow processes at the pore scale under controlled pressure and temperature conditions. Using optically transparent microfluidic flow cells that replicate representative pore network geometries, the system enables direct observation of fluid displacement, gas migration, fluid-rock interactions and microbial processes that cannot be observed within conventional rock core experiments.

The facility combines high-resolution optical imaging with precise control of pressure, flow rate, fluid composition and temperature, enabling real-time investigation of coupled thermal, hydraulic, chemical and biological (THCB) processes at the pore scale. A wide range of interchangeable micromodel geometries and surface wettabilities allows systematic investigation of the influence of pore structure, wettability, fluid properties and microbial activity on multiphase flow behaviour. The system is particularly well suited to investigating pore-scale transport, reactive processes, biofilm development and validation of pore-network and reservoir simulation models.

Parameter	Capability
Pressure	Up to 100 bar (10 MPa)
Temperature	Ambient to 80°C
Flow regime	Single and multiphase flow
Compatible fluids	Water, formation brines and bespoke experimental solutions
Compatible gases	Hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, nitrogen, air and bespoke gas mixtures
Flow control	ISCO, Cetoni and InfusionONE syringe pumps
Flow rate	0.001–20 ml/min (pump dependent)
Micromodels	Glass microfluidic flow cells with variable pore geometries and wettability characteristics
Imaging	High-resolution optical imaging and video capture
Illumination	White light and UV illumination
Monitoring	Upstream, downstream and differential pressure measurement
Flow capability	Steady-state and pulsed flow experiments
Biological capability	Sterile and biologically active flow experiments, including microbial transport and biofilm growth
Sampling	Effluent fluid sampling
Control	Fully computer-controlled operation and data logging

Example research applications

Single and multiphase flow
Pore-scale displacement processes
Hydrogen migration
Carbon dioxide migration
Methane migration
Gas mixing
Residual and capillary trapping
Wettability alteration
Fluid-fluid interactions
Fluid-rock interactions
Haines jumps and pore-filling mechanisms
Bubble mobilisation
Fingering phenomena
Reactive transport
Contaminant transport
Microbial transport
Biofilm growth and development
Microbial attachment and detachment
Microbe-fluid-rock interactions
Biogeochemical processes
Surface chemistry
Validation of pore-network models
Reservoir simulation validation

The X-ray Transparent Micro-CT Flow System is a bespoke experimental facility developed by the Applied Geoscience Laboratory to enable real-time visualisation of multiphase fluid flow within natural rock samples under representative subsurface conditions. Originally designed for pore-scale investigations of underground hydrogen storage, the system combines controlled fluid injection with high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (micro-CT) to quantify dynamic flow processes that cannot be observed using conventional laboratory techniques.

The heart of the system is a bespoke carbon fibre-reinforced PEEK pressure vessel that is fully compatible with laboratory micro-CT scanners and national synchrotron facilities, including the Diamond Light Source, where it has been successfully deployed to perform time-resolved (4D) imaging of hydrogen displacement, trapping and connectivity within porous sandstones. These experiments provided the first direct observations of hydrogen displacement mechanisms, Haines jumps and intermittent pore-scale flow during geological hydrogen storage.

The facility enables continuous imaging during fluid injection without interrupting flow, allowing dynamic displacement processes, residual trapping, pore connectivity and fluid distribution to be quantified in three dimensions. Combined with advanced image analysis, the system provides unique insight into the physical processes governing multiphase flow within porous geological materials.

Parameter	Capability
Sample size	Approximately 5 mm diameter × up to 60 mm length rock cores
Confining pressure	Up to 10 MPa
Pore pressure	Up to 10 MPa
Temperature	Ambient to 80°C
Flow regime	Single and multiphase flow
Compatible fluids	Water, formation brines and bespoke experimental solutions
Compatible gases	Hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, nitrogen, air and bespoke gas mixtures
Flow control	ISCO, Cetoni and InfusionONE syringe pumps
Flow rate	0.001–20 ml/min (pump dependent)
Pressure monitoring	Upstream, downstream and differential pressure measurement
Sampling	Effluent fluid sampling
Imaging	Laboratory X-ray micro-CT and synchrotron X-ray CT compatible
Image analysis	3D and 4D image reconstruction, segmentation and quantitative pore-scale analysis
Control	Fully computer-controlled operation and data logging

Example research applications

Underground hydrogen storage
Carbon capture and geological storage (CCS)
Underground gas storage
Geothermal systems
Pore-scale multiphase flow
Hydrogen displacement and recovery
Carbon dioxide displacement
Methane displacement
Residual and capillary trapping
Relative permeability studies
Wettability characterisation
Pore-scale connectivity
Haines jumps
Intermittent flow behaviour
Bubble mobilisation
Fluid distribution and phase evolution
Reactive transport
Reservoir simulation validation
Digital rock physics
Image-based numerical modelling

You can also read Professor Edlmann's blog for further information about the Applied Geoscience Laboratory

View Professor Edlmann's blog

This article was published on Friday 17 July 2026