Grant Dawson finished his PhD thesis in 2012, which was entitled “Carbon sequestration in coal: The relationships between coal structure, texture, and mineralogy, and the role of mineral reactivity with carbonic acid.” Grant has also participated in both conventional and bioengineered coal seam gas (a.k.a. coal bed methane) research. Grant’s present research is focused upon laboratory scale studies of carbon dioxide geosequestration in sandstone formations, the physical & chemical conditions of past natural carbonate mineralisation in the Eromanga & Surat Basins in the context of hydrocarbon presence/absence as well as local and regional geology, and methods of artificially accelerating mineral trapping of CO2. Grant’s current work involves whole-rock and individual mineral batch reactor experiments with CO2 in fresh or saline waters, characterisation of samples before and after reactions using techniques such as SEM-EDS and X-ray micro CT scanning, and also natural analogue studies and related laboratory experiments which seek to determine mineral trapping mechanisms that could potentially be engineered or accelerated in sandstone and caprock formations.
Journal Article: Geochemical modelling of experimental O2–SO2–CO2 reactions of reservoir, cap-rock, and overlying cores
Pearce, Julie K., Kirste, Dirk M., Dawson, Grant K. W., Rudolph, Victor and Golding, Suzanne D. (2019) Geochemical modelling of experimental O2–SO2–CO2 reactions of reservoir, cap-rock, and overlying cores. Applied Geochemistry, 109 104400. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2019.104400
Pearce, J.K., Dawson, G.K.W., Golab, A., Knuefing, L., Sommacal, S., Rudolph, V. and Golding, S.D. (2019) A combined geochemical and μCT study on the CO2 reactivity of Surat Basin reservoir and cap-rock cores: porosity changes, mineral dissolution and fines migration. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 80 10-24. doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2018.11.010
Book Chapter: Gas-water-mineral reactivity in caprocks: measurements, estimates, and observations
Pearce, Julie K. and Dawson, Grant K. W. (2019). Gas-water-mineral reactivity in caprocks: measurements, estimates, and observations. In Stéphanie Vialle, Jonathan Ajo‐Franklin and J. William Carey (Ed.), Geological carbon storage: subsurface seals and caprock integrity (pp. 147-165) Washington, DC, United States: American Geophysical Union.
Groundwater geochemistry of the Moolayember Foundation - extension
(2019–2021) Australian National Low Emissions Coal Research and Development
Interaction of CO2 saturated groundwater with Mollayember Formation lithologies
(2017–2019) Australian National Low Emissions Coal Research and Development
(2015–2019) Australian National Low Emissions Coal Research and Development
Gas-water-mineral reactivity in caprocks: measurements, estimates, and observations
Pearce, Julie K. and Dawson, Grant K. W. (2019). Gas-water-mineral reactivity in caprocks: measurements, estimates, and observations. In Stéphanie Vialle, Jonathan Ajo‐Franklin and J. William Carey (Ed.), Geological carbon storage: subsurface seals and caprock integrity (pp. 147-165) Washington, DC, United States: American Geophysical Union.
Gas‐water‐mineral reactivity in caprocks
Pearce, Julie K. and Dawson, Grant K. W. (2018). Gas‐water‐mineral reactivity in caprocks. In Stephanie Vialle, Jonathan Ajo-Franklin and J. William Carey (Ed.), Geological Carbon Storage (pp. 147-165) Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi:10.1002/9781119118657.ch7
Pearce, Julie K., Kirste, Dirk M., Dawson, Grant K. W., Rudolph, Victor and Golding, Suzanne D. (2019) Geochemical modelling of experimental O2–SO2–CO2 reactions of reservoir, cap-rock, and overlying cores. Applied Geochemistry, 109 104400. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2019.104400
Pearce, J.K., Dawson, G.K.W., Golab, A., Knuefing, L., Sommacal, S., Rudolph, V. and Golding, S.D. (2019) A combined geochemical and μCT study on the CO2 reactivity of Surat Basin reservoir and cap-rock cores: porosity changes, mineral dissolution and fines migration. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 80 10-24. doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2018.11.010
Pearce, Julie K. and Dawson, Grant K. W. (2018) Experimental determination of impure CO2 alteration of calcite cemented cap-rock, and long term predictions of cap-rock reactivity. Geosciences, 8 7: 241. doi:10.3390/geosciences8070241
Geochemistry of storing CO2 and NOx in the deep Precipice Sandstone
Pearce, J. K., Altaf, I., Kirste, D., Golding, S. D., Dawson, G. K. W. and Undershultz, J. (2018) Geochemistry of storing CO2 and NOx in the deep Precipice Sandstone. ASEG Extended Abstracts, 2018 1: 1-8. doi:10.1071/aseg2018abw8_4b
Pearce, Julie K., Dawson, Grant K.W., Blach, Tomasz P., Bahadur, Jitendra, Melnichenko, Yuri B. and Golding, Suzanne D. (2017) Impure CO2 reaction of feldspar, clay, and organic matter rich cap-rocks: decreases in the fraction of accessible mesopores measured by SANS. International Journal of Coal Geology, 185 79-90. doi:10.1016/j.coal.2017.11.011
Pearce, Julie K., Golab, Alexandra, Dawson, Grant, Knuefing, Lydia, Goodwin, Carley and Golding, Suzanne D. (2016) Mineralogical controls on porosity and water chemistry during O2-SO2-CO2 reaction of CO2 storage reservoir and cap-rock core. Applied Geochemistry, 75 152-168. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2016.11.002
Reactivity of micas and cap-rock in wet supercritical CO2 with SO2 and O2 at CO2 storage conditions
Pearce, Julie K., Dawson, Grant K. W., Law, Alison C. K., Biddle, Dean and Golding, Suzanne D. (2016) Reactivity of micas and cap-rock in wet supercritical CO2 with SO2 and O2 at CO2 storage conditions. Applied Geochemistry, 72 59-76. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2016.06.010
Great Artesian Basin authigenic carbonates as natural analogues for mineralisation trapping
Golding, S.D., Dawson, G.K.W., Pearce, J.K., Farrajota, F., Mernagh, T., Boreham, C.J., Hall, L.S., Palu, T.J. and Sommacal, S. (2016) Great Artesian Basin authigenic carbonates as natural analogues for mineralisation trapping Melbourne, Australia: Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies
Engineering CO2 storage with co-contaminants
Pearce, J., Dawson, G., Kirste, D. and Golding, S. (2016) Engineering CO2 storage with co-contaminants. Petroleum Abstracts, 56 7: .
SO2-CO2 and pure CO2 reactivity of ferroan carbonates at carbon storage conditions
Pearce, Julie K., Law, Alison C. K., Dawson, Grant K. W. and Golding, Suzanne D. (2015) SO2-CO2 and pure CO2 reactivity of ferroan carbonates at carbon storage conditions. Chemical Geology, 411 112-124. doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2015.07.001
Farquhar, S. M., Pearce, J. K., Dawson, G. K. W., Golab, A., Sommacal, S., Kirste, D., Biddle, D. and Golding, S. D. (2015) A fresh approach to investigating CO2 storage: Experimental CO2-water-rock interactions in a low-salinity reservoir system. Chemical Geology, 399 98-122. doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2014.10.006
Pearce, Julie K., Kirste, Dirk M., Dawson, Grant K. W., Farquhar, Susan M., Biddle, Dean, Golding, Suzanne D. and Rudolph, Victor (2015) SO2 impurity impacts on experimental and simulated CO2-water–reservoir rock reactions at carbon storage conditions. Chemical Geology, 399 65-86. doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2014.10.028
Dawson, G. K. W., Pearce, J. K., Biddle, D. and Golding, S. D. (2015) Experimental mineral dissolution in Berea Sandstone reacted with CO2 or SO2 –CO2 in NaCl brine under CO2 sequestration conditions. Chemical Geology, 399 87-97. doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2014.10.005
Dawson, G. K. W., Golding, S. D., Biddle, D. and Massarotto, P. (2015) Mobilisation of elements from coal due to batch reactor experiments with CO2 and water at 40°C and 9.5MPa. International Journal of Coal Geology, 140 63-70. doi:10.1016/j.coal.2015.01.005
Final Report: Geochemical reactivity and dissolution trapping capacity using Supercritical CO2
Pearce, J. K., Farquhar, S. M., Dawson, G. K. W. and Golding, S. D. (2014) Final Report: Geochemical reactivity and dissolution trapping capacity using Supercritical CO2 St. Lucia, QLD, Australia: UniQuest
Farquhar, S. M., Dawson, G. K. W., Esterle, J. S. and Golding, S. D. (2013) Mineralogical characterisation of a potential reservoir system for CO2 sequestration in the Surat Basin. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 60 1: 91-110. doi:10.1080/08120099.2012.752406
Golding, S. D., Uysal, I. T., Bolhar, R., Boreham, C. J., Dawson, G. K. W., Baublys, K. A. and Esterle, J. S. (2013) Carbon dioxide-rich coals of the Oaky Creek area, central Bowen Basin: a natural analogue for carbon sequestration in coal systems. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 60 1: 125-140. doi:10.1080/08120099.2012.750627
Occurrence of minerals within fractures and matrix of selected Bowen and Ruhr Basin coals
Dawson, G. K. W., Golding, S. D., Esterle, J. S. and Massarotto, P. (2012) Occurrence of minerals within fractures and matrix of selected Bowen and Ruhr Basin coals. International Journal of Coal Geology, 94 150-166. doi:10.1016/j.coal.2012.01.004
Biogenic methane potential for Surat Basin, Queensland coal seams
Papendick, Samuel L., Downs, Kajda R., Vo, Khang D., Hamilton, Stephanie K., Dawson, Grant K. W., Golding, Suzanne D. and Gilcrease, Patrick C. (2011) Biogenic methane potential for Surat Basin, Queensland coal seams. International Journal of Coal Geology, 88 2-3: 123-134. doi:10.1016/j.coal.2011.09.005
Controls on coal cleat spacing
Dawson, G.K.W. and Esterle, J.S. (2010) Controls on coal cleat spacing. International Journal of Coal Geology, 82 3-4: 213-218. doi:10.1016/j.coal.2009.10.004
Pearce, J. K., Dawson, G. K. W. and Golding, S. D. (2019). Interaction of dissolved CO2, SOx and NOx with the Moolayember Formation underlying the Precipice Sandstone. In: GHGT-14. 14th Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies Conference, Melbourne, VIC Australia, (1-12). 21-26 October 2018.
Trace element mobility during CO2 storage: application of reactive transport modelling
Kirste, Dirk, Pearce, Julie K., Golding, Sue D. and Dawson, Grant K. W. (2019). Trace element mobility during CO2 storage: application of reactive transport modelling. In: 16th International Symposium on Water-Rock Interaction (WRI-16) and 13th International Symposium on Applied Isotope Geochemistry (1st IAGC International Conference), Tomsk, Russia, (). 21-26 July 2019. doi:10.1051/e3sconf/20199804007
Pearce, J. K. , Dawson, G. and Golding, S. D. (2018). Interaction of dissolved CO2, SOx and NOx with the Moolayember Formation underlying the Precipice Sandstone. In: IEAGHGT. GHGT 14, Melbourne, Australia, (1-3). 22-25 October 2018.
Pearce, J. K., Dawson, G. K. W., Golding, S. D. and Kirste, D. (2016). Metal and metalloid mobilisation and sequestration during CO2-SO2 and CO2-SO2-O2 reaction of reservoir and cap-rock cores. In: Goldschmidt2016, Yokohama, Japan, (2454). 26 June-1 July 2016.
Engineering CO2 storage with co-contaminants
Pearce, Julie, Dawson, Grant, Kirste, Dirke and Golding, Sue (2015). Engineering CO2 storage with co-contaminants. In: SEG Global Meeting Abstracts. International Conference and Exhibition, Melbourne, Australia, (). 13-16 September 2015. doi:10.1190/ice2015-2209955
Impurity Effects in O2-SO2-CO2-Water-Rock Reactions Relevant to CO2 Storage in the Surat Basin
Pearce, J. K., Dawson, G. K. W., Kirste, D. and Golding, S. D. (2014). Impurity Effects in O2-SO2-CO2-Water-Rock Reactions Relevant to CO2 Storage in the Surat Basin. In: Australian Earth Sciences Convention, Newcastle, NSW, Australia, (). 7-10 July 2014.
Pearce, J. K., Dawson, G. K. W., Law, A. and Golding, S. D. (2014). Sulphate formation as a potential CO2 storage self-sealing mechanism in wet supercritical CO2-caprock reactions. In: Australian Earth Sciences Convention, Newcastle, NSW, Australia, (). 7-10 July 2014.
Berea Sandstone permeability pre and post reaction with supercritical CO2 in 1% NaCl brine
Dawson, G. K. W., Biddle, D, Khan, C, Jiang, X., Golding, S. D. and Rudolph, V. (2013). Berea Sandstone permeability pre and post reaction with supercritical CO2 in 1% NaCl brine. In: Goldschmidt Conference Abstracts 2013. Goldschmidt Conference 2013, Florence, Italy, (952-952). 25-30 August 2013. doi:10.1180/minmag.2013.077.5.4
Farquhar, S. M., Dawson, G. K. W., Pearce, J. K. and Golding, S. D. (2013). Experimental investigation of CO2-water-rock interactions under simulated fresh-water aquifer conditions. In: Goldschmidt Conference Abstracts 2013. Goldschmidt Conference 2013, Florence, Italy, (1066-1066). 25-30 August 2013. doi:10.1180/minmag.2013.077.5.6
SO2 and O2 co-injection with potential carbon storage target sandstone from a fresh-water aquifer
Pearce, J. K., Dawson, G. K. W., Farquhar, S. and Golding, S. D. (2013). SO2 and O2 co-injection with potential carbon storage target sandstone from a fresh-water aquifer. In: Goldschmidt Conference Abstracts 2013. Goldschmidt Conference 2013, Florence, Italy, (1942-1942). 25-30 August 2013. doi:10.1180/minmag.2013.077.5.16
Dawson, G. K. W., Esterle, J. S., Golding, S. D. and Massarotto, P. (2011). Cleat and joint intersections and mineralisation of a coal core from the Bandanna Formation, Bowen Basin, Queensland, Australia. In: The Asia Pacific Coalbed Methane Symposium (3rd, APCBM, 2011), Brisbane, Australia, (). 3-6 May 2011.
Experimental supercritical CO2 and water interactions with coal under simulated in situ conditions
Dawson, G.K.W., Golding, S.D., Massarotto, P. and Esterle, J.S. (2011). Experimental supercritical CO2 and water interactions with coal under simulated in situ conditions. In: Gale, J, Hendriks, C and Turkenberg, W, 10th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, (3139-3146). 19-23 September 2010. doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2011.02.228
Experimental supercritical CO2 and water interactions with Carboniferous coal, Germany
Dawson, Grant Kristofor Wayne, Golding, Suzanne D., Bae, Jun-Seok, Biddle, Dean and Massarotto, Paul (2009). Experimental supercritical CO2 and water interactions with Carboniferous coal, Germany. In: Goldschmidt 2009 - "Challenges to our volatile planet". 19th Annual V.M. Goldschmidt Conference, Davos, Switzerland, (A268-A268). 21-26 June 2009.
Interaction of CO2 saturated groundwater with Moolayember Formation lithologies: Memo report 2
Pearce, J. K., Dawson, G. K. W. and Golding, S. D. (2018) Interaction of CO2 saturated groundwater with Moolayember Formation lithologies: Memo report 2 Barton, ACT, Australia: ANLEC R&D
Mobilisation and fate of metals and metalloids released by the GHG stream: Milestone report 4
Golding, S. D., Pearce, J. K., Dawson, G. K. W. and Kirste, D. (2017) Mobilisation and fate of metals and metalloids released by the GHG stream: Milestone report 4 Barton, ACT, Australia: ANLEC R&D
Golab, Alexandra, Knuefing, Lydia, Goodwin, Carley, Sommacal, Silvano, Carnerup, Anna, Dawson, Grant, Pearce, Julie and Golding, Sue (2015) Maximising the value of digital core analysis for carbon sequestration site assessment: final report on geochemical reactivitiy studies of core material using ScCO2. Technical report for Project 7-0311-0128, Sub-project 5: undertake time series (4D) imaging and conventional experimental studies to measure geochemical reactivity and dissolution trapping capacity of core material using supercritical CO2 Barton, ACT Australia: ANLEC R&D
Geochemical and geomechanical testing of near wellbore CO2 injectivity improvement: Final Report
Dawson, Grant K. W., Biddle, Dean, Farquhar, Susan, Gao, Jinfang, Golding, Suzanne D., Xu, Jiang, Keck, Ryan, Khan, Charwarwan, Law, Alison, Li, Qin, Pearce, Julie, Rudolph, Victor, Watson, Ambrose and Xing, Huilin (2014) Geochemical and geomechanical testing of near wellbore CO2 injectivity improvement: Final Report : The University of Queensland School of Earth Sciences
Golding, S. D., Farquhar, S. M., Pearce, J. K. and Dawson, G. K. W. (2014) Geochemical reactivity and dissolution trapping capacity using supercritical CO2: third milestone report St. Lucia, QLD, Australia: UniQuest
Golding, S. D., Dawson, G. K. W., Boreham, C. J. and Mernagh, T. (2013) ANLEC Project 7-1011-0189: Authigenic carbonates as natural analogues of mineralisation trapping in CO2 sequestration: a desktop study Manuka, ACT, Australia: Australian National Low Emissions Coal Research and Development
Dawson, G. K. W., Sidiq, H., Pearce, J., Gao, J-F., Golding, S. D., Rudolph, V., Li, Q. and Xing, H. (2013) ANLEC Project 3-1110-0101: Review of laboratory-scale geochemical and geomechanical experiments simulating geosequestration of CO2 in sandstone, and associated modelling studies Manuka, ACT, Australia: Australian National Low Emissions Coal Research and Development
Dawson, Grant Kristofor Wayne (2012). Carbon dioxide sequestration in coal: the relationships between coal structure, texture, and mineralogy, and the role of mineral reactivity with carbonic acid PhD Thesis, School of Earth Sciences, The University of Queensland.
Groundwater geochemistry of the Moolayember Foundation - extension
(2019–2021) Australian National Low Emissions Coal Research and Development
Interaction of CO2 saturated groundwater with Mollayember Formation lithologies
(2017–2019) Australian National Low Emissions Coal Research and Development
(2015–2019) Australian National Low Emissions Coal Research and Development
(2009–2010) Go8 Australia - Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme