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Legacy BGS geothermal models: theoretical potential 'identified resources' (recoverable heat) for the Permian sedimentary aquifers in the Cheshire (Collyhurst Sandstone Formation) and Worcester (Bridgnorth Sandstone Formation) basins

This vector contour dataset represents the distribution of the theoretical potential calculated 'identified resources' (in GJ/m2 or PJ/km2) for the hot sedimentary aquifers in Permian formations in the Cheshire Basin (Collyhurst Sandstone Formation) and Worcester Basin (Bridgnorth Sandstone Formation), for resource temperatures greater than 40 °C. The theoretical potential for 'identified resources' represents the estimated proportion of the geothermal resource that is available for development. For consistency with other legacy estimations, additional columns are added to the original layers to include the converted value of 'identified resource' to 'recoverable heat' in MW/km2, for equivalence to the method used by D J.R. Jones, T. Randles, T. Kearsey, T.C. Pharaoh, A. Newell (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2023.102649. This dataset is derived from Rollin, K. E., G. A. Kirby, and W. J. Rowley. Atlas of geothermal resources in Europe: UK revision. British Geological Survey technical report WK/95/7, Regional Geophysics Group, 1995: https://webapps.bgs.ac.uk/data/publications/publication.html?id=21735106 and the European Geothermal Atlas (https://op.europa.eu/publication-detail/-/publication/9003d463-03ed-4b0e-87e8-61325a2d4456).
Nenalezeno https://resources.bgs.ac.uk/images/geonetworkThumbs/2fac35fe-8c60-0a6d-e063-0937940ab71c.png
dataset
UK Geothermal Platform Web Map - An interactive Web map for exploring geothermal energy potential, assessing constraints, and making informed exploration decisions.
UK Geothermal Platform - An online platform for exploring geothermal energy potential, assessing constraints, and making informed exploration decisions.
: http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13608380
English
Geoscientific information
GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0:
BGS Thesaurus of Geosciences:
Permian
Heat recovery
Aquifers
Geothermal energy
Geothermal maps
Sandstone reservoirs
Free:
NERC_DDC
-3.151, 51.418, -0.884, 53.721
Cheshire Basin [id=1000427], Worcestershire County [id=2993]
publication: 1995
1978 - 2025
vector
British Geological Survey
Enquiries
The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South, EDINBURGH, EH14 4AP, United Kingdom
tel: 0115 936 3142
Role: distributor
British Geological Survey
Enquiries
The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South, EDINBURGH, EH14 4AP, United Kingdom
tel: 0115 936 3142
Role: point of contact

Data Quality

These theoretical potential 'identified resource' maps were developed as part of a reappraisal of the low enthalpy geothermal resources for the Mesozoic basins of England by Rollin et al. (1995). Rollin, K. E., G. A. Kirby, and W. J. Rowley. Atlas of geothermal resources in Europe: UK revision. British Geological Survey technical report WK/95/7, Regional Geophysics Group, 1995: https://webapps.bgs.ac.uk/data/publications/publication.html?id=21735106. The 'identified resources' were calculated for the Permian formations in the Cheshire Basin (Collyhurst Sandstone Formation) and Worcester Basin (Bridgnorth Sandstone Formation). They are defined as a function of the 'heat-in-place', the hydraulic properties of the aquifer, the method of abstraction or recovery factor (F = 0.33) and the reject temperature of the disposal fluid (Tj = 25 °C). As part of the 2025 UK Geothermal Platform project, the maps for each basin were merged into a single layer. For consistency with other legacy estimations, the theoretical potential 'recoverable heat' (MW/km2) was calculated from the 'identified resources' layer using a conversion factor of 0.287, accounting for a recovery factor of 0.1, a plant factor of 0.95, a conversion efficiency factor of 0.85 and a plant operational lifetime of 30 years, for equivalence to the 3DHIP method used in the more recent BGS geothermal resource assessment studies (Jones et al., 2023; Kearsey et al., 2024).
Minimal Distance: 100 urn:ogc:def:uom:EPSG::9001
INSPIRE Implementing rules laying down technical arrangements for the interoperability and harmonisation of Geology
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services

Constraints

The copyright of materials derived from the British Geological Survey's work is vested in the Natural Environment Research Council [NERC]. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the prior permission of the copyright holder, via the BGS Intellectual Property Rights Manager. Use by customers of information provided by the BGS, is at the customer's own risk. In view of the disparate sources of information at BGS's disposal, including such material donated to BGS, that BGS accepts in good faith as being accurate, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the quality or accuracy of the information supplied, or to the information's suitability for any use. NERC/BGS accepts no liability whatever in respect of loss, damage, injury or other occurence however caused.
Available under the Open Government Licence subject to the following acknowledgement accompanying the reproduced NERC materials "Contains NERC materials ©NERC [year]"
The dataset is made available to external clients under BGS Digital Data Licence terms and conditions. Revert to the IPR Section ([email protected]) if further advice is required with regard to permitted usage.
The dataset is made freely available for access, e.g. via the Internet. Either no third party data / information is contained in the dataset or BGS has secured written permission from the owner(s) of any third party data / information contained in the dataset to make the dataset freely accessible.

Metadata about metadata

2fac35fe-8c60-0a6d-e063-0937940ab71c
British Geological Survey
The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South, EDINBURGH, EH14 4AP, United Kingdom
tel: +44 131 667 1000
Role: point of contact
2026-09-01

Coupled Resource