Welcome to the Geothermal Resource Research Group:
The Geothermal Resource Research Group is a research programme housed in the School of Earth & Environment and the School of Engineering. Research is focused on gaining insights into the characteristics of geothermal reservoirs (heat source, waters), surface expression of geothermal features, exploration of new geothermal fields / areas of production, and geothermal power generation.
Key Contact:
Postal Address:
Geothermal Research Programme
School of Earth & Environment
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
Collaborative Research:
The School of Earth & Environment in collaboration with the School of Engineering (Civil and Natural Resource Engineering) have over the last five years been developing a research platform in geothermal systems and energy. Through the development of this programme research collaborations have taken place with:
Much of the research in the Geothermal Resource Research Group is of a collaborative nature involving staff or groups of staff working with postgraduate students, senior fellows and research associates within and outside the School of Earth & Environment and the School of Engineering. There is significant external collaboration with international colleagues, local and federal government agencies, geothermal industry, and other research institutions. This pattern of working has come about from the recognition that a multifaceted or multi-disciplinary approach provides a more powerful tool for research.
Bachmann, O., Deering, C., Dufek, J., and Gravley, D. 2012. Rift‐related transition from andesite to rhyolite volcanism in the Taupo Volcanic Zone (New Zealand) controlled by crystalmelt dynamics in mush zones with variable mineral assemblages. United States / New Zealand, Joint Geothermal Workshop. Rotorua, New Zealand. 16-20 April 2012.
Bégué, F., Deering, C., Gravley, D., Kennedy, B., and Chambefort, I. 2012. Volatile transfer from magma sources in the Taupo Volcanic Zone. United States / New Zealand, Joint Geothermal Workshop. Rotorua, New Zealand. 16-20 April 2012.
Bégué, F., Deering, C., Gravley, D., Kennedy, B., and Chambefort, I. 2012. Volatile transfer from magma sources in the Taupo Volcanic Zone. Earth in Evolution, 22nd V.M. Goldschmidt Conference, Montreal, Canada, 24-29 June 2012.
Bloomberg, S., Rissmann, C., Mazot, A., Oze, C., Horton, T., Gravley, D., Kennedy,B., Werner, C., Christenson, B., and Pawson, J. 2012. Soil Gas Flux Exploration at the Rotokawa Geothermal Field and White Island, New Zealand. Proceedings, Thirty-Sixth Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering. Stanford University, Stanford, California, January 30 - February 1, 2012.
Bloomberg. S. 2012. Soil gas flux exploration at the Rotokawa Geothermal Field. United States / New Zealand, Joint Geothermal Workshop. Rotorua, New Zealand. 16-20 April 2012.
Davidson, J., McNamara, D., Gravley, D., Ring, U., Nicol, A., Price, L., and Wallis, I. 2012. Stress distribution at the Rotokawa Geothermal field. United States / New Zealand, Joint Geothermal Workshop. Rotorua, New Zealand. 16-20 April 2012.
Deering, C., Gravley, D., Vogel T., Cole J., and Leonard G. 2012. Origins of cold‐wet‐oxidizing to hot‐dry reducing rhyolite magma distribution in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand. United States / New Zealand, Joint Geothermal Workshop. Rotorua, New Zealand. 16-20 April 2012.
Foote, L., Scheu, B., Kennedy, B., Gravley, D., and Dingwell, D.B. 2012. Experimental calibration of phreatic and hydrothermal explosions: a case study on Lake Okaro, New Zealand. United States / New Zealand, Joint Geothermal Workshop. Rotorua, New Zealand. 16-20 April 2012.
Foote, L. 2012. Experimental calibration of Phreatic and Hydrothermal Explosions: A
case study on Lake Okaro, New Zealand. 33rd New Zealand Geothermal Workshop, Auckland, New Zealand. 21-23 November 2011.
Gravley, D., Cole, J., Deering, C., Hampton, S., Horton, T., Kennedy, B., Oze, C., Powell, T., and Villeneuve, M. 2012. Source to Surface Geothermal Research Programme: University of Canterbury and Mighty River Power Ltd. United States / New Zealand, Joint Geothermal Workshop. Rotorua, New Zealand. 16-20 April 2012.
Horton, T. 2012. Stable isotopic tracers and their application in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand. United States / New Zealand, Joint Geothermal Workshop. Rotorua, New Zealand. 16-20 April 2012.
Horton, T., Atkinson L., and Oze, O. 2012. Hydrothermal Carbonate Geochemistry of the Ngatamariki Subsurface Reservoir, New Zealand. Proceedings, Thirty-Sixth Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering. Stanford University, Stanford, California, January 30 - February 1, 2012.
Kennedy, B., Lavallee, Y., Jellinek, M., Russell, K., Von Aulock, F., and Stix J. 2012. A magma chamber as a sponge for water. United States / New Zealand, Joint Geothermal Workshop. Rotorua, New Zealand. 16-20 April 2012.
Kennedy, B., Bloomberg, S., Rissmann, C., Horton, T., Mazot, A., Gravley, D., and Oze, C. 2012. Soil gas exploration at Rotokawa geothermal field, New Zealand. Earth in Evolution, 22nd V.M. Goldschmidt Conference, Montreal, Canada, 24-29 June 2012.
Masuri, S., Brown, K., Rock, M., Gamman, J., and Sellier, M. 2012. Numerical models of silica colloids
Deposition. United States / New Zealand, Joint Geothermal Workshop. Rotorua, New Zealand. 16-20 April 2012.
Mazot, A., Bloomberg, S., Horton, T., Rissmann, C., Oze, C., Gravley, D., and Kennedy, B. 2012. Carbon dioxide degassing and estimation of thermal energy release from White Island volcano, New Zealand.Earth in Evolution, 22nd V.M. Goldschmidt Conference, Montreal, Canada, 24-29 June 2012.
Oze, C., Horton, T., and Atkinson, L. 2012. Magmatism and hydrothermal carbonate formation in the Ngatamariki subsurface reservoir, New Zealand. United States / New Zealand, Joint Geothermal Workshop. Rotorua, New Zealand. 16-20 April 2012.
Sinclair, L., Kokhanenko, P., Jermy, M., Sellier, M., and Brown, K. 2012. Hydrodynamics of silica scaling. United States / New Zealand, Joint Geothermal Workshop. Rotorua, New Zealand. 16-20 April 2012.
Siratovich, P., Davidson, J., Villeneuve, M., Gravley, D., Kennedy, B., and McNamara, D. 2012. Physical, thermal and mechanical properties of the Rotokawa Andesite from Production
Wells RK 27_L2, RK 28 and RK 30. United States / New Zealand, Joint Geothermal Workshop. Rotorua, New Zealand. 16-20 April 2012.
Siratovich, P.A., Sass, I., Homuth, S., Bjornsson, A. (2011) Thermal Stimulation of Geothermal Reservoirs and Laboratory Investigation of Thermally Induced Fractures, Geothermal Resource Council TRANSACTIONS
Much of the research in the Centre for Geothermal Research is of a collaborative nature involving staff or groups of staff working with postgraduate students, senior fellows and research associates within and outside the School of Earth & Environment and Department of Mechanical Engineering.
10 September 2026
Associate Professor
10 September 2026
Senior Teaching Assistant
10 September 2026
Professor
10 September 2026
Professor
Dr Kevin Brown
GEOKEM - Geothermal & Environmental Geochemistry
kevin@geokem.co.nz
Thomas Powell
Powell Geoscience Limited
tomspowell@hotmail.com
Prof Richard Sibson
University of Otago
rick.sibson@otago.ac.nz
Dr Stuart Simmons
Hot Solution Ltd.
stuart@hotsolutions.co.nz
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