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Professor of Geoenergy, Carbon Capture and Storage, Durham University

Jon Gluyas is a geologist who began work in the oil industry after completing a PhD. In 2009 he joined Durham University as Professor in Geoenergy, Carbon Capture and Storage. His research interests are in oil, gas, geothermal energy and making better use of non-renewable resources such as helium.

Commercial quantities of helium have always been found by accident when searching for petroleum gas. That was true until December 2015 when, following a research programme sponsored by Statoil, Jon Gluyas, Chris Ballentine (Oxford University) and team confirmed a major discovery of helium in Tanzania’s East African Rift Valley. This followed a programme designed to understand the source, maturation, migration and accumulation of helium in the Earth’s crust.

Other current research includes work on UK energy security and the potential for developing enhanced oil and gas recovery and tight gas sandstones.

Experience

  • 2009–2016
    Professor of Geoenergy & CCS, Durham University
  • 2005–2009
    Head of Business Development, Fairfield Energy
  • 2001–2005
    Geoscience Director, Acorn Oil & Gas