Herber, Prof. Rien

Rien Herber has been a full-time professor of geo-energy at the University of Groningen since September 2009. After studying geophysics in Utrecht, his jobs included deputy head of the Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM) and European head of Exploration with Shell. At the University of Groningen, Herber is involved in the optimization of the extraction of fossil fuels and searching for new, sustainable energy sources in the earth. Mining activities underground need to be better coordinated, according to Herber. ‘It’s getting pretty busy underground’, he observes. ‘Sometimes the activities can dovetail, but sometimes they rule each other out. Then you have to make choices.’

Herber has received the 2011 IBM Faculty Award for extraordinary achievements in the field of IT research and innovation. He was awarded the prize for his research into predicting vibrations with an eye to gas extraction. According to Herber, shale gas extraction in the Netherlands would just be a drop in the ocean of energy provision. Although there is probably a huge amount of shale gas trapped in Dutch rock formations, one estimate gives 500,000 billion cubic metres, with 3,000 billion cubic metres normal gas under Slochteren, only a tiny proportion can be extracted.

Previously in the news

What happens if you fall through a hole in the earth? (Eva zoekt uit, Dutch video)
What should Groningen expect? (in Dutch)
Shale gas: looking for an opinion (article in Dutch)
IBM FAculty Award for Rien Herber

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Publications

2022

van Ginkel, J., Ruigrok, E., Wentinck, R., & Herber, R. (2022). Amplification Behaviour of Compressional Waves in Unconsolidated Sediments. Frontiers in Earth Science, 10, [812658]. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.812658

Van Ginkel, J., Ruigrok, E., Stafleu, J., & Herber, R. (2022). Development of a seismic site-response zonation map for the Netherlands. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 22(1), 41-63. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-41-2022

2021

Kooshknow, A. R. M. M., Herber, R., & Ruzzenenti, F. (2021). Is electricity storage systems in the Netherlands indispensable or doable? Testing electricity storage business models with exploratory agent-based modeling. Manuscript submitted for publication. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021arXiv211211035K

2020

van Ginkel, J., Ruigrok, E., & Herber, R. (2020). How significant is vertical ground motion from low magnitude earthquakes?. 5505. Abstract from EGU General Assembly 2020. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2020EGUGA..22.5505V

van Ginkel, J., Ruigrok, E., & Herber, R. (2020). Using horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios to construct shear-wave velocity profiles. Solid earth, 11(6), 2015-2030. https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2015-2020

2019

van Ginkel, J., Ruigrok, E., & Herber, R. (2019). Assessing soil amplifications in Groningen, the Netherlands. First Break, 37(10), 33-38. https://doi.org/10.3997/1365-2397.2019026

van Ginkel, J., Ruigrok, E., & Herber, R. (2019). The Vertical Component of Low Magnitude Earthquakes, Why Do We Care? In AGU Fall Meeting 2019 (Vol. 41, pp. S41F-0601). AGU FM. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019AGUFM.S41F0601V

van Ginkel, J., Ruigrok, E., & Herber, R. (2019). Using Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio's to characterize subsurface seismic properties in Groningen, the Netherlands. In 21st EGU General Assembly, EGU2019: Proceedings from the conference held 7-12 April, 2019 in Vienna, Austria, id.4344 (Vol. 21, pp. EGU2019-4344-1). Geophysical Research Abstracts. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019EGUGA..21.4344V

2017

Baritantonaki, A., Bolourinejad, P., & Herber, R. (2017). An experimental study of dolomite dissolution kinetics at conditions relevant to CO2 geological storage. Petroleum geoscience, 23(3), 353-362. https://doi.org/10.1144/petgeo2016-048

Daniilidis, A., Scholten, T., Hooghiem, J., Persis, C. D., & Herber, R. (2017). Geochemical implications of production and storage control by coupling a direct-use geothermal system with heat networks. Applied Energy, 204, 254-270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.06.056

Daniilidis, A., Alpsoy, B., & Herber, R. (2017). Impact of technical and economic uncertainties on the economic performance of a deep geothermal heat system. Renewable Energy, 114(B), 805-816. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.07.090

van Os, H., Herber, R., & Scholtens, B. (2017). Modular evaluation method for subsurface activities (MEMSA). A novel approach for integrating social acceptance in a permit decision-making process for subsurface activities. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 64, 97-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2017.03.004

Jansen, J-D., & Herber, R. (2017). Research into induced seismicity in the Groningen field: further studies. Netherlands journal of geosciences-Geologie en mijnbouw, 96(5), S279-S284. https://doi.org/10.1017/njg.2017.21

Daniilidis, A., & Herber, R. (2017). Salt intrusions providing a new geothermal exploration target for higher energy recovery at shallower depths. Energy, 118, 658-670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2016.10.094

2016

Daniilidis, A., Doddema, L., & Herber, R. (2016). Risk assessment of the Groningen geothermal potential: From seismic to reservoir uncertainty using a discrete parameter analysis. Geothermics, 64, 271-288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2016.06.014

van Os, H. W. A., Herber, R., & Scholtens, B. (2016). Subsurface activities and decision support systems: An analysis of the requirements for a social acceptance-motivated decision support system. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 60, 176-185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2016.06.002

2015

Bolourinejad, P., & Herber, R. (2015). Chemical effects of sulfur dioxide co-injection with carbon dioxide on the reservoir and caprock mineralogy and permeability in depleted gas fields. Applied Geochemistry, 59, 11-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2015.03.003

Daniilidis, A., & Herber, M. (2015). Fractured Anhydrite as a Geothermal Source in a Low Enthalpy Context (Southern Permian Basin, Netherlands). In Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2015 (pp. 1).

2014

van Os, H., Herber, R., & Scholtens, B. (2014). Designing a Decision Support System for subsurface activities: A meta analysis of the design of a social acceptance motivated decision support system for subsurface activities in the Netherlands. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 22, 12-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proenv.2014.11.002

Bolourinejad, P., Omrani, P. S., & Herber, R. (2014). Effect of reactive surface area of minerals on mineralization and carbon dioxide trapping in a depleted gas reservoir. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 21, 11-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2013.11.020

van Os, H. W. A., Herber, R., & Scholtens, B. (2014). Not Under Our Back Yards? A case study of social acceptance of the Northern Netherlands CCS initiative. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 30, 923-942. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.11.037

Daniilidis, A., Herber, R., & Vermaas, D. A. (2014). Upscale potential and financial feasibility of a reverse electrodialysis power plant. Applied Energy, 119, 257-265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.12.066

2013

Daniilidis, A., Vermaas, D. A., Herber, R., & Nijmeijer, K. (2014). Experimentally obtainable energy from mixing river water, seawater or brines with reverse electrodialysis. Renewable Energy, 64, 123-131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2013.11.001

Manohar, S. N., Meijer, H. A. J., & Herber, M. A. (2013). Radon flux maps for the Netherlands and Europe using terrestrial gamma radiation derived from soil radionuclides. Atmospheric environment, 81, 399-412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.09.005

2010

Herber, R., & de Jager, J. (2010). Oil and Gas in the Netherlands - Is there a future? Netherlands journal of geosciences-Geologie en mijnbouw, 89(2), 91-107.

Hoekstra, P., Grootjans, A. P., Herber, M. A., Lammerts, E. J., & Oost, A. P. (2010). Storm surges, barrier islands and coastal overwash: curse or blessing?

Last modified:

24 January 2023 1.48 p.m.

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