Professor David Healy

Biography

• Personal Chair, University of Aberdeen, UK (2021 – )
• Visiting Academic, University of Manchester, UK (2020 –)
• Reader, University of Aberdeen, UK (2016 – 2021)
• Senior Lecturer, University of Aberdeen, UK (2011 – 2016)
• Lecturer, University of Aberdeen, UK (2009 – 2011)
• Research Fellow, Curtin University, Perth, Australia (2007 – 2009)
• Fixed-Term Lecturer, Durham University, UK (2006 – 2007)
• NERC-funded Postdoctoral Research Associate, Liverpool University, UK (2004 – 2006)
• PhD student (& EPSRC-funded Postgraduate Research Assistant), Liverpool University, UK (2000 – 2004)
• Independent software consultant (1988 – 2000)
• Analyst/Programmer (1987 – 1988)
• Technical Assistant (1985 – 1987)

Research Overview

I am fascinated by deformed and deforming rocks.  I enjoy fundamental research designed to understand, and then explain, deformation through quantitative, physical models. And I enjoy applying theory to applied problems in renewables and subsurface storage.  My research interests span structural geology, rock physics and geomechanics with a focus on fluid flow in fractured rocks.  I use probabilistic approaches and data science methods to constrain risks and rewards.

I tackle problems through field work, laboratory experiments, theoretical analysis and numerical modelling.  I use numerical models to integrate observations with, and explore the consequences of, physical theory.  I strongly believe that models should be directed at investigation rather than simulation – i.e. based on a rigorous simplification of the physical processes involved to focus on the heart of the problem.

I use my commercial experience of software development to build robust and tested open source code.

Collaborations

• University of Manchester - Prof Cathy Hollis, Dr Julian Mecklenburgh, Prof Ernie Rutter
• Curtin University, Australia - Dr Nick Timms, Prof Chris Clark
• University College London - Prof Tom Mitchell, Prof Phil Meredith
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile - Dr John Browning, Dr Gloria Arancibia, Prof Jose Cembrano
• University of Portsmouth - Dr Phil Benson
• University of Strasbourg, France - Prof Mike Heap

Funding and Grants

• International Partner – Fluid flow in a variably fractured system – FONDECYT Regular (Chile); £250k
• PI – Listening to the Sound of the City – NERC Discipline Hopping; £10k
• PI – Quantifying the Anisotropy of Poroelasticity in Stressed Rock – NERC (UK); £354k (Aberdeen; £814k total with UCL)
• PI – Quantifying fracture stiffness in basement reservoirs – BP; £8.5k
• PI – Quantifying fracture patterns in basement reservoir analogues – Petrolia NOCO; £11.5k
• Co-I – Assessment of Mesozoic sandstone units as possible reservoirs in the Mandawa Basin, Tanzania – EU Capacity Building Grant; €15k
• International Partner – Subsurface Fluid Flow Through Fractures in Sedimentary Basins – ARC (Australia); AU$230k
• PI – Quantifying the Anisotropy of Permeability in Stressed Rock – NERC (UK); £358k (Aberdeen; £834k total with UCL)
• PI – Volcanic Petrophysics: Reservoirs, Seals and Drilling – VBPR (Oslo); £15k
• PI – HP/HT Rock Deformation Apparatus – OGIC (SFC, UK); £587k
• PI – Improving the Odds in Geomechanics – Wintershall (PhD for Sarah Weihmann); £120k
• PI – Integrated Geological and Geophysical Characterisation of Fracture Zones – Hurricane Energy; £36k
• PI – Quantifying Fault Stability – Total E&P UK (PhD for Natalie Farrell); £162k
• PI – Petrophysics of Fractured Carbonates (Co-I Dr Joyce Neilson) – Total E&P UK and BG International, brokered by ITF (PhDs for Emma Michie, Tom Haines); £255k
• PI – Quantifying Patterns of Brittle Damage in Fractured Rock – NERC New Investigator; £60k
• PI – Petrophysics of Fractured Basement – UoA COPS Postgraduate studentship (PhD for Roberto Rizzo); £60k
• PI – Petrophysical Properties of Fractured and Altered Granites - Lundin Petroleum; £13k
• PI – Fluid-saturated Ultrasonic Velocity Measurements on Core Plugs - AFES; £9k
• Co-I – Predicting fracture patterns in sandstones in fold-thrust belts - NERC Open CASE PhD award, with Midland Valley (PhD for Hannah Watkins); £67k
• Co-I – Building 3D Fracture Patterns from 1D Data – Ministry of Higher Education & Research, Kurdistan (PhD for Abdullah Awdal); £100k
• Co-I – Imaging and Characterisation of Salt Diapir Flanks – National Board of Science and Technology & Ministry of Energy, Mexico (PhD for Liliana Vargas Meleza);  £85k
• Co-I – The Influence of Carbonate Depositional and Diagenetic Textures on Faulting in Carbonates – UoA COPS Postgraduate studentship (PhD for Tom Haines); £60k 
  

Teaching Responsibilities

• GL2511 Introduction to Geophysics
• GL3520 Igneous & Metamorphic Petrology
• GL3525 Field Techniques 2
• GL4023 Geological Mapping Project