![Katherine Daniels MSci (Hons), PhD](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/4225?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Katherine Daniels
(she/her)
MSci (Hons), PhD
Lecturer in Sustainable Earth Resources
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
I am an experienced geologist with a keen interest in understanding dynamical, fluid-driven Earth processes. My research focusses on experimental measurement of low permeability materials that can be used as barriers to flow, and aims to understand under what conditions these materials can be used for waste disposal (e.g. radioactive waste, landfill, carbon dioxide). I am also interested in energy storage within salts because I am passionate about renewable and low carbon energy technologies.
I have worked on underground carbon storage and the interaction between two different fluids in a geological reservoir, studying mixing, the dissolution of carbon dioxide into reservoir brines and the effect of reservoir permeability heterogeneity. I have also worked on heat flow problems and crustal rheology changes as a consequence of dyke injection. Most recently, I have been studying the Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical (THM) behaviour of clays, mudrocks and shales to understand their ability to contain waste products in our subsurface environment. I use experimental methods, computational and analogue modelling of geological phenomena, and apply observations made in the field and the laboratory with those predicted by models.
In addition to my ongoing research activities, I am strongly committed to ethical research practices and good research integrity, and am a member of the School's Research Ethics Committee.
Publication
2024
- Daniels, K. A., Graham, C. C., Wiseall, A. C., Harrington, J. F. and Sellin, P. 2024. Bentonite homogenisation and swelling: The effect of salinity. Applied Clay Science 247, article number: 107200. (10.1016/j.clay.2023.107200)
2023
- Daniels, K. A., Harrington, J. F., Wiseall, A. C., Shoemark-Banks, E., Hough, E., Wallis, H. C. and Paling, S. M. 2023. Battery Earth: using the subsurface at Boulby underground laboratory to investigate energy storage technologies. Frontiers of Physics 11, article number: 1249458. (10.3389/fphy.2023.1249458)
2021
- Daniels, K. A., Harrington, J. F., Sellin, P. and Norris, S. 2021. Closing repository void spaces using bentonite: does heat make a difference?. Applied Clay Science 210, article number: 106124. (10.1016/j.clay.2021.106124)
- Daniels, K. A., Harrington, J. F., Milodowski, A. E., Kemp, S. J., Mounteney, I. and Sellin, P. 2021. Gel formation at the front of expanding calcium bentonites. Minerals 11(2), article number: 215. (10.3390/min11020215)
2020
- Harrington, J., Daniels, K., Wiseall, A. and Sellin, P. 2020. Bentonite homogenisation during the closure of void spaces. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 136, pp. 17., article number: 104535. (10.1016/j.ijrmms.2020.104535)
2017
- Pegler, S. S., Maskell, A. S., Daniels, K. A. and Bickle, M. J. 2017. Fluid transport in geological reservoirs with background flow. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 827, pp. 536-571. (10.1017/jfm.2017.501)
- Daniels, K. A., Harrington, J. F., Zihms, S. G. and Wiseall, A. C. 2017. Bentonite permeability at elevated temperature. Geosciences 7(1) (10.3390/geosciences7010003)
2015
- Daniels, K. and Menand, T. 2015. An experimental investigation of dyke injection under regional extensional stress. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 120(3), pp. 2014-2035. (10.1002/2014JB011627)
2013
- Daniels, K., Bastow, I., Keir, D., Sparks, R. and Menand, T. 2013. Thermal models of dyke intrusion during development of continent-ocean transition. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 385, pp. 145-153. (10.1016/j.epsl.2013.09.018)
- Phillips, J., Humphreys, M., Daniels, K., Brown, R. and Witham, F. 2013. The formation of columnar joints produced by cooling in basalt at Staffa, Scotland. Bulletin of Volcanology 75(6), pp. 1-17., article number: 715. (10.1007/s00445-013-0715-4)
- Kavanagh, J., Menand, T. and Daniels, K. 2013. Gelatine as a crustal analogue: Determining elastic properties for modelling magmatic intrusions. Tectonophysics 582, pp. 101-111. (10.1016/j.tecto.2012.09.032)
2012
- Daniels, K. A., Kavanagh, J. L., Menand, T. and Stephen, J. S. R. 2012. The shapes of dikes: Evidence for the influence of cooling and inelastic deformation. Geological Society of America Bulletin 124(7-8), pp. 1102-1112. (10.1130/B30537.1)
2010
- Menand, T., Daniels, K. and Benghiat, P. 2010. Dyke propagation and sill formation in a compressive tectonic environment. Journal of Geophysical Research (Solid Earth) 115(8) (10.1029/2009JB006791)
Articles
- Daniels, K. A., Graham, C. C., Wiseall, A. C., Harrington, J. F. and Sellin, P. 2024. Bentonite homogenisation and swelling: The effect of salinity. Applied Clay Science 247, article number: 107200. (10.1016/j.clay.2023.107200)
- Daniels, K. A., Harrington, J. F., Wiseall, A. C., Shoemark-Banks, E., Hough, E., Wallis, H. C. and Paling, S. M. 2023. Battery Earth: using the subsurface at Boulby underground laboratory to investigate energy storage technologies. Frontiers of Physics 11, article number: 1249458. (10.3389/fphy.2023.1249458)
- Daniels, K. A., Harrington, J. F., Sellin, P. and Norris, S. 2021. Closing repository void spaces using bentonite: does heat make a difference?. Applied Clay Science 210, article number: 106124. (10.1016/j.clay.2021.106124)
- Daniels, K. A., Harrington, J. F., Milodowski, A. E., Kemp, S. J., Mounteney, I. and Sellin, P. 2021. Gel formation at the front of expanding calcium bentonites. Minerals 11(2), article number: 215. (10.3390/min11020215)
- Harrington, J., Daniels, K., Wiseall, A. and Sellin, P. 2020. Bentonite homogenisation during the closure of void spaces. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 136, pp. 17., article number: 104535. (10.1016/j.ijrmms.2020.104535)
- Pegler, S. S., Maskell, A. S., Daniels, K. A. and Bickle, M. J. 2017. Fluid transport in geological reservoirs with background flow. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 827, pp. 536-571. (10.1017/jfm.2017.501)
- Daniels, K. A., Harrington, J. F., Zihms, S. G. and Wiseall, A. C. 2017. Bentonite permeability at elevated temperature. Geosciences 7(1) (10.3390/geosciences7010003)
- Daniels, K. and Menand, T. 2015. An experimental investigation of dyke injection under regional extensional stress. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 120(3), pp. 2014-2035. (10.1002/2014JB011627)
- Daniels, K., Bastow, I., Keir, D., Sparks, R. and Menand, T. 2013. Thermal models of dyke intrusion during development of continent-ocean transition. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 385, pp. 145-153. (10.1016/j.epsl.2013.09.018)
- Phillips, J., Humphreys, M., Daniels, K., Brown, R. and Witham, F. 2013. The formation of columnar joints produced by cooling in basalt at Staffa, Scotland. Bulletin of Volcanology 75(6), pp. 1-17., article number: 715. (10.1007/s00445-013-0715-4)
- Kavanagh, J., Menand, T. and Daniels, K. 2013. Gelatine as a crustal analogue: Determining elastic properties for modelling magmatic intrusions. Tectonophysics 582, pp. 101-111. (10.1016/j.tecto.2012.09.032)
- Daniels, K. A., Kavanagh, J. L., Menand, T. and Stephen, J. S. R. 2012. The shapes of dikes: Evidence for the influence of cooling and inelastic deformation. Geological Society of America Bulletin 124(7-8), pp. 1102-1112. (10.1130/B30537.1)
- Menand, T., Daniels, K. and Benghiat, P. 2010. Dyke propagation and sill formation in a compressive tectonic environment. Journal of Geophysical Research (Solid Earth) 115(8) (10.1029/2009JB006791)
Research
- The Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical (THM) behaviour of low permeability materials (mudrocks, shales, engineered clays, limestones)
- High pressure, low volume experimental measurement of material proerties including permeability and swelling pressure development
- Geo-energy related problems including disposal of waste (landfill, carbon dioxide, radioactive waste) and geological energy storage
- Fluid flow through geological media, two-phase flow and porous media flow
- Heat and mass transport, dyke injection processes
Teaching
I teach in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences on topics related to sustainable earth resources, radioactive waste disposal, energy storage, carbon sequestration and landfill. I lead fieldwork to Rudry Mountain, Pembrokeshire and Cornwall, and I supervise undergraduate mapping projects,
Biography
2023 - present: Cardiff University - Lecturer in Sustainable Earth Resources.
2015 - 2022: British Geological Survey - Experimental Research Scientist in the Fluids Processes Group and Transport Properties Research Laboratories. Supervisor: Dr. J. Harrington.
2013 - 2015: Unversity of Cambridge - Postdoctoral Research Associate. Supervisors: Prof. M. Bickle and Prof. J. Neufeld. Modelling the propagation and dissolution of CO2 into reservoir brines: implications for CO2 sequestration.
2012 - 2013: University of Cambridge - Postdoctoral Research Associate. Supervisor: Dr. N. Vriend. Segregation in snow avalanches.
2008 - 2013: University of Bristol - PhD in Geology. Supervisors: Prof. R. S. J. Sparks and Dr. T. Menand. Modelling magma transport: a study of dyke injection.
2012: University of Cambridge - Postdoctoral Research Assistant. Supervisors: Prof. H. Huppert, Prof. J. Neufeld and Prof. D. Reiner. The current state of CCS, Ongoing research at the University of Cambridge with application to the UK policy framework.
2011: The Research Service, National Assembly for Wales - NERC Policy Internship. Supervisor: Nia Seaton, Environment and Economy Team.
2004 - 2008: University of Bristol - MSci in Geology (1st class hons.), 2008. Supervisor: Prof. J. Phillips. Columnar jointing in basalt: field observations and laboratory analogue experiments.
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Geophysical and environmental fluid flows
- Experimental methods in fluid flow, heat and mass transfer
- Geological Energy Storage
- Low Permeability Materials