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Publications

Listed below are publication products directly associated with the Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center:

Filter Total Items: 1270

Units recovery methods in compositional data analysis Units recovery methods in compositional data analysis

Compositional data carry relative information. Hence, their statistical analysis has to be performed on coordinates with respect to a log-ratio basis. Frequently, the modeler is required to back-transform the estimates obtained with the modeling to have them in the original units such as euros, kg or mg/liter. Approaches for recovering original units need to be formally introduced and...
Authors
J. A Martin-Fernandez, Juan Jose Egozcue, Ricardo A. Olea, Vera Pawlowsky-Glahn

Methodology for estimating the prospective CO2 storage resource of residual oil zones at the national and regional scale Methodology for estimating the prospective CO2 storage resource of residual oil zones at the national and regional scale

Residual oil zones (ROZs) are increasingly gaining interest as potential reservoirs for carbon dioxide (CO2) storage. Here, we present a national- and regional-scale methodology for estimating prospective CO2 storage resources in residual oil zones. This methodology uses a volumetric equation that accounts for CO2 storage as a free phase in pore space and as a dissolved phase in oil and...
Authors
Sean Sanguinito, Harpreet Singh, Evgeniy M. Myshakin, Angela L. Goodman, Robert M. Dilmore, Timothy C. Grant, David Morgan, Grant Bromhal, Peter D. Warwick, Sean T. Brennan, Philip A. Freeman, C. Ozgen Karacan, Charles Gorecki, Wesley Peck, Matthew Burton-Kelly, Neil Dotzenrod, Scott Frailey, Rajesh Pawar

Organic compounds in produced waters from the Bakken Formation and Three Forks Formation in the Williston Basin, North Dakota Organic compounds in produced waters from the Bakken Formation and Three Forks Formation in the Williston Basin, North Dakota

The organic composition of produced waters (flowback and formation waters) from the middle member of the Bakken Formation and the Three Forks Formation in the Williston Basin, North Dakota were examined to aid in the remediation of surface contamination and help develop treatment methods for produced-water recycling. Twelve produced water samples were collected from the Bakken and Three...
Authors
Matthew S. Varonka, Tanya Gallegos, Anne L. Bates, Colin A. Doolan, William H. Orem

Oil-source rock correlation studies in the unconventional Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa marine shale (TMS) petroleum system, Mississippi and Louisiana, USA Oil-source rock correlation studies in the unconventional Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa marine shale (TMS) petroleum system, Mississippi and Louisiana, USA

The U.S. Geological Survey assessed undiscovered unconventional hydrocarbon resources reservoired in the Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa marine shale (TMS) of southern Mississippi and adjacent Louisiana in 2018. As part of the assessment, oil-source rock correlations were examined in the TMS play area where operators produce light (38–45° API), sweet oil from horizontal, hydraulically...
Authors
Paul C. Hackley, Kristin Opferkuch Dennen, Daniel Garza, Celeste D. Lohr, Brett Valentine, Javin J. Hatcherian, Catherine B. Enomoto, Frank T. Dulong

Impacts of mineralogical variation on CO2 behavior in small pores from producing intervals of the Marcellus Shale: Results from neutron scattering Impacts of mineralogical variation on CO2 behavior in small pores from producing intervals of the Marcellus Shale: Results from neutron scattering

The Near and InterMediate Range Order Diffractometer (NIMROD) was used to examine the potential impact of shale mineralogy on CO2 behavior within micropores. Two samples with varying mineral compositions were obtained from producing intervals in the dry gas window in the Middle Devonian Marcellus Shale. One of the samples contained relatively high amounts of quartz and clay and low...
Authors
Leslie F. Ruppert, Aaron M. Jubb, Thomas F Headen, Tristan G. A. Youngs, Bryan Bandli

Effect of copper salts on hydrothermal oxidative decarboxylation: A study of phenylacetic acid Effect of copper salts on hydrothermal oxidative decarboxylation: A study of phenylacetic acid

Decarboxylation of carboxylic acids is favored under hydrothermal conditions, and can be influenced by dissolved metals. Here, we use phenylacetic acid as a model compound to study its hydrothermal decarboxylation in the presence of copper(II) salts but no O2. Our results showed a strong oxidizing role of copper in facilitating oxidative decarboxylation.
Authors
Xuan Fu, Megan Jamison, Aaron M. Jubb, Yiju Liao, Alexandria Aspin, Kyle Hayes, Christopher R. Glein, Ziming Yang

Evidence of wildfires and elevated atmospheric oxygen at the Frasnian–Famennian boundary in New York (USA): Implications for the Late Devonian mass extinction Evidence of wildfires and elevated atmospheric oxygen at the Frasnian–Famennian boundary in New York (USA): Implications for the Late Devonian mass extinction

The Devonian Period experienced significant fluctuations of atmospheric oxygen (O2) levels (∼25–13%), for which the extent and timing are debated. Also characteristic of the Devonian Period, at the Frasnian–Famennian (F–F) boundary, is one of the “big five” mass extinction events of the Phanerozoic. Fossilized charcoal (inertinite) provides a record of wildfire events, which in turn can...
Authors
Zeyang Liu, David Selby, Paul C. Hackley, Jeffrey Over

Review of studies of composition, toxicology and human health impacts of wastewater from unconventional oil and gas development from shale Review of studies of composition, toxicology and human health impacts of wastewater from unconventional oil and gas development from shale

Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extractions has produced large economic benefits. However, prudent management of UOG wastes necessitates a thorough understanding of the complex composition, fate, and potential impacts of wastewater releases. UOG production results in large volumes of wastewater. Despite limited re-use of the wastewater, the majority needs to be disposed of, usually by...
Authors
Lynn M. Crosby, William H. Orem

Direct trace element determination in oil and gas produced waters with inductively coupled plasma - Optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES): Advantages of high salinity tolerance Direct trace element determination in oil and gas produced waters with inductively coupled plasma - Optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES): Advantages of high salinity tolerance

Waters co-produced during petroleum extraction are the largest waste stream from oil and gas development. Reuse or disposal of these waters is difficult due to their high salinities and the sheer volumes generated. Produced waters may also contain valuable mineral commodities. While an understanding of produced water trace element composition is required for evaluating the associated...
Authors
Aaron M. Jubb, Mark Engle, Jessica Chenault, Madalyn Blondes, Cloelle G. Danforth, Colin A. Doolan, Tanya Gallegos, Dan Mueller, Jenna Shelton

Applications of correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) to organic matter in the North American shale petroleum systems Applications of correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) to organic matter in the North American shale petroleum systems

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has revolutionized our understanding of shale petroleum systems through microstructural characterization of dispersed organic matter (OM). However, due to the low atomic weight of carbon, all OM appears black in SEM (BSE image) regardless of differences in thermal maturity or OM type (kerogen types or solid bitumen). Traditional petrographic...
Authors
Brett J. Valentine, Paul C. Hackley

Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Central North Slope of Alaska, 2020 Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Central North Slope of Alaska, 2020

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 3.6 billion barrels of oil and 8.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas (associated and nonassociated) in conventional accumulations in Mississippian through Paleogene strata in the central North Slope of Alaska.
Authors
David W. Houseknecht, Katherine J. Whidden, Christopher D. Connors, Richard O. Lease, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, William A. Rouse, Palma J. Botterell, Rebecca A. Smith, Margaret M. Sanders, William H. Craddock, Christina A. DeVera, Christopher P. Garrity, Marc L. Buursink, C. Özgen Karacan, Samuel J. Heller, Thomas E. Moore, Julie A. Dumoulin, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Katherine L. French, Cheryl A. Woodall, Ronald M. Drake, Kristen R. Marra, Thomas M. Finn, Scott A. Kinney, Chilisa M. Shorten

A chemo-mechanical snapshot of in-situ conversion of kerogen to petroleum A chemo-mechanical snapshot of in-situ conversion of kerogen to petroleum

Organic matter (OM) from various biogenic origins converts to solid bitumen in-situ when it undergoes thermal maturation. It is well documented that during this process, the ratios of both hydrogen and oxygen to carbon will decrease, resulting in an increase in OM aromaticity and molecular chemo-mechanical homogeneity. Although there have been extensive efforts to reveal molecular...
Authors
Arash Abarghani, Mehdi Ostadhassan, Paul C. Hackley, Andrew E. Pomerantz, Siamak Nejati
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