John Underhill

Professor John Underhill is chief scientist at Heriot-Watt University in the UK.

He heads a team of scientists who warned in August 2017 that UK shale gas is ‘overhyped’ and 'unlikely' to be economically viable. '

Their research found that the country's most promising shale gas reservoirs have been warped by tectonic shifts millions of years ago which could thwart efforts to tap the gas reserves trapped within layers of shale.

'The science shows that our country's geology is simply unsuitable for shale oil and gas production,' said chief scientist Professor John Underhill.