Research Overview

Zheng is a geochemist interested in applying isotope techniques to increase our understanding of the processes that control subsurface crustal fluid systems.

His work is intensively lab-based, using and developing methods of mass spectrometers to measure carbon, hydrogen and noble gas isotopes, such as He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe.

Isotopic and elemental fractionation of these isotopes enable models to be generated, so that migration and accumulation processes of oil, gas and groundwater in the underground environment can be described and quantified.

While the principles of the isotope tools are long established, there is huge potential for the application of them in energy, environmental and water resources management. For example, CO₂ geological sequestration and enhanced oil recovery, fracking and shale gas exploration, and groundwater age dating.

Current Research

Zheng’s current research include:

• CRIUS (Carbon Research into Underground Storage) – predicting CO₂ EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) and geological sequestration processes with artificial noble gas tracers.
• Conventional and unconventional oil and gas – tracing basinal fluid dynamics with geochemical signatures preserved in hydrocarbon reservoirs.
• Water resources management – tracing pollution and sea water intrusion in groundwater systems of the Pearl River Basin, China

Roles

Zheng is Year 4 Director of Studies for undergraduate programmes at the Lancaster Environment Centre

Zheng is on LEC PhD monitoring panel

Zheng is currently a member of:

• The European Association of Geochemistry
• The American Geophysical Union
• The American Association of Petroleum Geologists

Teaching

Zheng’s teaching includes three undergraduate modules:

• LEC.281 Earth’s Natural Resources
• LEC.381 Environmental Applications of Isotope Geochemistry
• LEC.270 Carrock Fell Environmental Field Course

Activities in China

Zheng helps to develop and manage partnerships with Chinese research and teaching institutions and with businesses, collaborating in particular with experts in energy, environmental sciences and technology. He is also involved in organising events, conferences, workshops and visits to create networking opportunities and explore research possibilities. Key collaborators include colleagues based at Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

PhD Students

Miss Carmen Zwahlen

Mr. Lee Chambers

Mr. Yan Li