List of Speakers

About the Speaker

Jaap Breunese is a physicist and principal consultant at TNO’s unit Energy and Materials Transition. He serves as an advisor to the Dutch ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate. His main focus is on the effective and responsible use of the Dutch subsurface resources, including geothermal energy, storage of hydrogen in salt caverns, and the subsurface sequestration of CO₂.

About the Lecture 

Jaap will present on the current status and perpectives for CCS in the Netherlands, and on the lessons learned so far.

About the Speaker

Michael Buckland-Nicks is a Program Officer with the Marine Programs at Environment and Climate Change Canada. Since 2021, Michael has been working for the National Capital Region on science and policy issues related to CO2 storage in sub-seabed geological formations, marine geoengineering, and the re-use of dredged and excavated materials. Before that, Michael worked for 5 years in Vancouver with the Pacific & Yukon Region as a specialist in Geographic Information Systems and as a permit officer for disposal at sea. Michael received his Masters degree in Applied Science from Saint Mary’s University in 2018 and currently lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

About the Lecture

The London Protocol (1996) is a global treaty that aims to control and prevent marine pollution by prohibiting the disposal of wastes at sea. Canada meets these international obligations through the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) Disposal at Sea provisions. Only a short list of approved substances can be disposed of at sea, and only after they have been assessed and a permit has been issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Currently, the list does not include Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) streams, therefore a regulatory framework is needed to store CO₂ in sub-seabed geological formations in Canadian waters. In recent years, there has also been growing interest in ocean-based carbon dioxide removal techniques, as well as other types of marine geoengineering, which lacks a complete regulatory regime in Canada.

About the Speaker

Maurice Dusseault is a Professor of Geological Engineering at the University of Waterloo.  In his 46-year career, he has published over 190 Journal publications, 500 full-text conference articles, two books and many chapter contributions, received many patents related to subsurface technology, given short courses in over 20 countries, lectured in 35 countries on oil and gas-related issues, and started six companies.  Maurice has authored many consulting reports for over 40 companies.  He served the Alberta government as a special science advisor for seven years, sat on expert panels for hydraulic fracturing, deep well disposal, and other issues for four Canadian provinces, American government agencies, and industry. He holds a BSc (1971) and PhD (1977) from the University of Alberta and is a PEng in Alberta and Ontario.  

About the Lecture

Massive carbon dioxide (CO₂) sequestration in the deep subsurface – “Geostorage” – is proposed for large emissions point sources to reduce the overall input of CO₂ to the atmosphere. At suitable depths (>800 m) and temperatures, CO₂ exists as a relatively dense supercritical fluid (scCO₂) about 75-80% of the density of water (ρ_scCO2 ≈ 0.75-0.80 g/cm³).  Geostorage involves placing this fluid into the pores of suitably porous, permeable strata.  However, because of several physical mechanisms in porous media, only a small fraction of the pore volume (PV) in sediments will be available. PV access is affected by these processes: gravity override, viscous fingering, heterogeneity channelling, capillary blockage, and regional pressurization. Derisking Geostorage projects requires good probabilistic estimates of PV access and injection rates.  To achieve this, good geoscience data are integrated, reservoir engineering studies are carried out, and estimates of the uncertainty are made.  Then, proponents are better equipped to execute technical and economic modeling before expensive drilling is undertaken.  Once initial test wells are drilled, extensive data are collected to further derisk the project before it is designed, permitted, and built.  

See the presentation here

About the Speaker

I am currently working at NORCE – Norwegian Research Centre, as senior advisor and business developer CCUS and within IOR/EOR. I was trained as reservoir engineer and holds PhD degree from The Norwegian Technology and Natural Sciences (NTNU). I have worked within R&D institutions for more than 20 years, but also worked for DISKOS project (1995-2005) for E&P Data Management and as special research engineer at Total E&P Norway (2005-2025). I was director of the National IOR Centre of Norway (2019-2021) and now as deputy director of the National Centre Sustainable Utilization of Subsurface of the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS2030 – www.uis.no/NCS2030 ). In addition, I am working on a number of research projects within CCUS, H2 and IOR.

About the Lecture

This presentation will give a brief description of the NCS2030 research centre and its main research topics related to the Norwegian Continental shelf (NCS). As a matured oil and gas province, NCS is transitioning toward net-zero emission oil and gas production at the same time becoming an important actor for CO2 storage with its large subsurface resources. NCS2030 will contribute to optimise and maximise the subsurface utilization to tackle the future industrial challenges and at the same time minimise the environmental footprint.

About the Speaker

Brad Hayes is President of Petrel Robertson Consulting Ltd., a geoscience and engineering consulting firm providing professional advice to clients working in oil and gas, helium and lithium exploration, water resource management, carbon sequestration and geothermal energy.

Brad holds a PhD in geology from the University of Alberta, and has 40 years of diverse experience applying subsurface geoscience in resource industries. He is Outreach Director for the Canadian Society for Evolving Energy, and a Past-President of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists.  He is a member of the Energy Resources Technical Advisory Committee for Geoscience BC and a Fellow of the Balsillie School for International Affairs.

Brad is an Adjunct Professor in the University of Alberta Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and a sessional lecturer in Earth and Environmental Sciences at Mount Royal University. Leading a team supported by U of A and CSEE, he has developed a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) “21^st Century Energy Transition – How do We Make it Work?” as a product of extensive research and consultation on modern energy issues.

About the Lecture

A high-level assessment of carbon sequestration capacity in the subsurface of northeastern British Columbia was recently completed for Geoscience BC, a provincially-funded organization generating geoscience knowledge to support energy and minerals development in BC. The work built on previously-completed regional mapping and characterization of oil- and gas-bearing aquifers for resource characterization and water and waste disposal assessment. Results will enable future CCS operators to prioritize prospective sequestration sites and stratigraphy.

Hickson has over 40 years’ experience in geothermal development ranging from scientist to technology expert to corporate executive. She has worked in multiple countries undertaking exploration and development projects ranging from low temperature sedimentary environments to high temperature volcanic systems.  Her experience includes 25 years as a Research Scientist for the Canadian Government (Geological Survey of Canada).  She is currently the president of Geothermal Canada as well as CEO of Alberta No.1.  Alberta No. 1 is Alberta’s first conventional geothermal project taking place in the heart of Alberta’s most active hydrocarbon exploration and production region in the vicinity of Grande Prairie. 

About the Speaker

I am a Fellow with Geofirma Engineering in Ottawa and an Adjunct Professor of Earth & Environmental Sciences at the University of Waterloo, where I completed my PhD. Over the past 2 years, I have organized three CCS Workshops at uWaterloo and have just completed a Road Map for NRCan on the R&D required for geological CO2 storage in southern Ontario. In 2019, Cambridge University Press published my textbook: Earth Science for Civil & Environmental Engineers.

About the Lecture

Considers the geological, geomechanical and hydrogeological constraints on developing dedicated geological storage in SW Ontario and the Maritimes. These are considered in the context of the 2030 deadline for the 40% CO2 reduction called for by the Government of Canada in 2021.

About the Speaker

George Kovacic is an energy expert specializing in market entry, above-ground risk minimization and investment attraction.  George has consulted to some of the most well recognized global corporations including ExxonMobil and IHS Markit.  He is currently acting as an advisor to Searcher Seismic on Atlantic Canada projects. George’s work has resulted in dozens of new market entries and has generated over a half of a billion dollars of contracts.   George has an MBA High Honors from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Solvay Business School) in Brussels, Belgium and a BA from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.

About the Lecture

Canada’s global energy peers have heeded the advise of the IEA and IPCC and are taking action to implement CCUS as a key component of their paths to reduce emissions.   Nova Scotia has significant and unrealized natural advantage in the form of offshore resources that offer enough storage capacity to sequester and store all of Canada’s emissions for decades or longer.   This presentation will analyze competitiveness gaps between Canada and other jurisdictions, as well as widening gaps that exist within Canada. A series of actionable solutions that are needed to collaboratively bridge these gaps and co-create a reliable, efficient, stable and sustainable energy future will be outlined.

About the Speaker

With over 25-year experience in subsea development projects within engineering and marine operations (SURF) in the Oil and Gas industry, Cristel has worked both on the Contractor side for over 10 years and for an Energy Company, Equinor for over 16 years. During this time, she has held several positions on a wide range of development projects, from early phase to execution, including decommissioning, in various areas both onshore and offshore, in Europe and West Africa. Cristel holds a master’s degree (Hons) in Marine Engineering from Ecole Centrale Marseille, France.

For four years, Cristel has led the SURF work of the Northern Lights project (for transport and permanent storage of captured CO₂ on the NCS) under the Norwegian Longship project (full scale CCS demonstration project), until 2020 when she took the role of Technical Director in the Northern Lights Joint Venture established between Equinor, Shell and TotalEnergies.

About the Lecture

The Northern Lights presentation is articulated around two axes: First, what is Northern Lights and how does it integrate in Norway’s ambition? What is the status of the project per today and what is its potential? Then a review of the lessons learned from working on a CCS project for the last 6,5 years.

Catherine Martin is an award-winning filmmaker and producer and is the Dalhousie’s first Director of Indigenous Community Engagement, a position aimed at furthering reconciliation through collaboration with Indigenous partners in the region. In this role, Catherine facilitates ongoing communications with people in Mi’kma’ki, fosters partnerships with Mi’kmaw leaders, and works to ensure Indigenous faculty, staff, and students feel welcomed and supported at the university. Catherine holds a Masters in Education from Mount St. Vincent University and a BA in Theatre from Dalhousie, and is the recipient of the 2021 Portia White Arts Award and the 2017 Order of Canada. She was the first Mi’kmaq Professional Careers Coordinator at Dalhousie helping increase access for Indigenous peoples in professional careers, worked as the Native Education Counsellor for the university, and worked closely with Dalhousie Law School to develop and implement the Indigenous Black and Mi’kmaq Law Program.

Jeff Pearson is charged with oversight of Wolf’s Carbon division, which includes responsibility for the Alberta Carbon Trunk Line system, as well as new business development in the carbon space. He joined Wolf in 2018 bringing an engineering background and more than 20 years of diversified experience across the oil and gas sector. Jeff has spent much of his career in commercial, investment and financial roles in both upstream and midstream companies.

Before Wolf, Jeff was Vice President Business Development and Strategy at Veresen Midstream LP where he focused on new project development and financial oversight of the business. Previously, Jeff had been Manager of Business Development at TAQA North, a Vice President at ARC Financial and a Strategy Consultant at McKinsey & Co., starting his career as an engineer in the field.

Jeff earned a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta, an MBA from the Tuck School of Business Dartmouth. Jeff is a Professional Engineer and he holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Directors.

About the Speaker

After 40 years as a geoscientist in the energy industry (mainly with Imperial Oil / Exxon Mobil - including 25 years based in Halifax as a result of the Sable Gas Project) I have combined almost 10 years of mentoring students at Dalhousie University with consulting at the NS DRR. I developed an interest in CCS through the EAGE student competition, mentoring Dalhousie student teams, then judging the competition, and subsequently organising the last two competitions which used  Scotian Shelf data sets.

About the Lecture

I will give an overview of CCS potential onshore and offshore Nova Scotia, focussing on geocellular modeling at the DRR and Dalhousie of a world-class opportunity in deep saline aquifers on the Scotian Shelf. This study forms the basis for a “CCS atlas” similar to products in many jurisdictions worldwide.  

About the Speaker

Karyna Rodriguez is a Petroleum Geoscientist with over 30 years of multidisciplinary technical experience in global exploration-inclined projects. She possesses diverse experience from working at PEMEX, BG and other major oil companies, often working closely with high level management to develop their strategic portfolios. She is currently working at Searcher as part of a high performing team dedicated to Identifying, pursuing, and realizing new ventures to support efforts in optimizing exploration for oil and gas in mature and frontier basins around the globe.

About the Lecture

“Searcher’s datasets to support carbon neutrality” Carbon neutrality can be largely achieved by sequestering and storing carbon emissions. Seismic data is one of the key tools to help us identify the reservoirs and seals required for carbon storage in the subsurface. This presentation will focus on outlining the applicability of Searcher’s global datasets but, focusing on offshore Nova Scotia. The seismic characteristics indicating good reservoir presence and excellent sealing capacity will be presented and discussed.

About the Speaker

Carla Skinner is a Physical Scientist with the Geological Survey of Canada – Atlantic. Her research on CCUS focuses on geological carbon storage, where she works to better understand capacity, containment, and injectivity using numerical models. She believes geoscience will play a critical role in the energy transition and looks for opportunities to contribute. Carla is an advocate for improving IDEA (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) in geoscience and learning how she can do more to actively support others.

About the Lecture

CO₂ Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration (CCUS) is a collection of technologies that could play an essential role in meeting our growing energy demands and increasingly urgent climate goals. CO₂ is captured and either used as feedstock for carbon technologies or is compressed and transported to be permanently sequestered. CCUS supports net-zero pathways through several mechanisms including reducing emissions from existing infrastructure, assisting low-carbon hydrogen production, and removing carbon from the atmosphere. This presentation will briefly review what CCUS is, focussing on geological carbon storage.

About the Speaker

Professor Grant Wach began his career advising worldwide for multinational companies in the energy sector and is now Professor of Geoscience at Dalhousie University. His research includes energy sustainability, geothermal energy, and carbon storage; his research goal is to understand the reservoir component of petroleum, CCUS and geothermal systems; part of the path to Carbon Neutrality, and the steps towards the Energy Transition/ Diversification the World is now undergoing.

Professor Wach is an expert advisor to the Energy Sustainability Committee of the UNECE and the team released their technology brief on CCUS. He has advised the Nova Scotia government on Carbon Storage and Sequestration. Professor Wach co-led the EAGE Workshop on Geothermal in Latin America, with follow-on courses to the EAGE worldwide on Geothermal and CCS.

Professor Wach studied at Western University (Hons. B.A. Geog.); University of South Carolina (M.Sc. Geology) and the University of Oxford (D.Phil. Geology). He was the first recipient of the AAPG Foundation Professor of the Year Award, awarded the prestigious Darcy McGee Beacon Fellowship, and was the recipient of the CSPG Stanley Slipper Gold Medal for outstanding contributions to exploration and development, teaching, and mentorship.

About the Lecture

Professor Wach will be presenting a number of lectures including: Setting the Scene - Carbon Neutrality on Day 1 at 8:30, The Path to Carbon Neutrality on Day 1 at 16:30, and Maritimes Energy Corridor on Day 2 at 14:20.

About the Speaker

Catherine Witt is Head of Technical at Storegga, an independent company pursuing carbon storage, hydrogen and carbon removal solutions, with projects in the UK, Europe, USA and Asia Pacific.  Catherine joined Storegga in March 2021 after over 25 years in BP in a variety of subsurface technical and leadership roles, latterly in BP’s global assurance team, focussing on carbon storage.  She leads a team responsible for the subsurface, wells and engineering evaluation of Storegga’s storage projects.  Catherine joined BP as a Reservoir Engineer in 1994 after doing an MEng in Engineering Science at Oxford University and worked in a variety of locations during that time, in the UK, Norway and Angola. Catherine is a member of the UNFC Injection Storage Working Group.

About the Lecture

The presentation will describe the UK Acorn Carbon Storage project, which is capturing emissions and storing them in a combination of depleted reservoirs and saline aquifers in the UK North Sea.  It will also touch on the lessons learnt from this and other projects that Storegga are incorporating into other projects around the world.