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Using Omics Techniques for Hydrocarbon Prospecting

Project description

Next-generation sequencing powers hydrocarbon prospecting

Hydrocarbons derived from fossil fuels – primarily petroleum, natural gas and coal – are our main source of energy. Although the world is gradually transitioning to cleaner and more sustainable resources, this process takes time. In the short- and midterm, we need better ways to identify fossil fuel reserves given the dwindling supply of fossil fuels buried deep in the ground and the time, expense and risk currently associated with prospecting. The EU-funded PROSPECTOMICS project will take a radically different approach, harnessing the power of next-generation sequencing that has revolutionised molecular biology to identify hydrocarbon reserves.

Objective

The proposed PROSPECTOMICS project intends to develop a radically new approach to Hydrocarbon (HC) prospecting based on molecular biological techniques. PROSPECTOMICS is the first project that utilizes the full potential of recent advances in so-called next-generation sequencing (NGS) with respect to hydrocarbon prospecting. Only the very recent developments in sequencing technology and the massive reduction in cost allow such a project to be carried out at an informative scale, which would have been unthinkable less than 10 years ago. PROSPECTOMICS brings together vastly different fields (Biogeochemistry, Metagenomics, Metatranscriptomics, Metaproteomics, Bioinformatics, Machine Learning) and uses their individual strengths to complement each other in order to develop a completely novel approach that has the potential to challenge current technical paradigms. The PROSPECTOMICS consortium consists of six groups from four countries, each an expert for one specific technology. Partnership with a petroleum exploration company guarantees a direct connection to real world conditions and uniquely offers the opportunities to immediately to field-test the hypotheses generated.
Despite ongoing efforts to increase the percentage of renewable energy resources, HC will remain an important energy source for several decades. One of the key factors to reach EU’s ambitious goals in reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is the replacement of coal by other energy sources, mainly natural gas. Additionally, increasing global competition for resources and rising energy prices as well as price differentials between the European Union and its competitors requires energy which is sustainable, affordable and with a secure and reliable supply. Exploration for new resources within the EU are a key factor for reaching these goals. PROSPECTOMICS will help to meet these challenges by paving the way for completely novel approaches to HC prospecting.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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RIA - Research and Innovation action

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2020

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Coordinator

GFZ HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR GEOFORSCHUNG
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 316 998,71
Address
TELEGRAFENBERG
14473 POTSDAM
Germany

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Region
Brandenburg Brandenburg Potsdam
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 316 998,71

Participants (5)

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