Advancements in Geochemistry and Geomicrobiology of Energy Resources (AGGER)
Active
By Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center
May 23, 2022
The AGGER project’s purpose is to advance the understanding of geologic energy sources, generation, composition, movement, and production potential, including resource recovery from energy wastes.
This purpose manifests in three broad objectives:
- Assessing subsurface microorganisms in order to stimulate or retard biogenic gas production;
- Linking macroscale geologic energy phenomena (e.g., petroleum recoverability or carbon sequestration) to nanoscale parameters (e.g., pore accessibility); and
- Developing standardized approaches to evaluate both the resource potential and environmental risks of energy related wastes.
Achieving these objectives informs Congress, State and Federal agencies, private organizations, and the public on the U.S. energy endowment.
The AGGER project is currently divided into 7 research tasks, detailed below, and funds three research laboratories.
- Controls on microbial methanogenesis in shale deposits and strategies for enhancement - Task leads: Elliott Barnhart and Matthew Varonka
- Structure and composition of energy materials - Task lead: Aaron Jubb
- NORM products, byproducts and wastes from energy resource life cycles - Task lead: Bonnie McDevitt
- Spectroscopic investigations of energy materials - Task lead: Aaron Jubb
- Remote sensing techniques to quantify energy resources in wastes at abandoned mines - Task lead: Bernard Hubbard
- Scoping innovative approaches in advanced field measurements and data analysis - Task lead: Elisha ‘Eli’ Moore
- Assessing critical minerals and contaminants in coal mine drainage - Task lead: Bonnie McDevitt
The following 3 laboratories are associated with the AGGER project:
- Eastern Energy and Environmental Laboratory (EEEL)
- Raman Spectroscopy Laboratory (RSL)
- Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material Laboratory (NORM)
The data releases listed below are associated with the AGGER project.
Filter Total Items: 20
Geochemical Data for Produced Water and Gas from the Antrim Shale in Michigan, 2024 Geochemical Data for Produced Water and Gas from the Antrim Shale in Michigan, 2024
In 2024, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Riverside Energy Michigan, LLC, conducted an injection experiment to assess the potential for stimulating biogenic methane in the Mortensen A4-24 well which was completed in the Antrim Shale and located in Antrim County, Michigan, United States of America. Approximately 20 barrels (bbl) of produced water was pumped from the well...
Data supporting nanometer-scale relationships between sedimentary organic matter molecular composition, fluorescence, cathodoluminescence, and reflectance Data supporting nanometer-scale relationships between sedimentary organic matter molecular composition, fluorescence, cathodoluminescence, and reflectance
This data release describes optical photothermal infrared (OPTIR) spectroscopy data used to map sedimentary organic matter functional group distributions at 500 nm resolution in a sample from the Lower Cretaceous Sunniland Limestone from the South Florida Basin. Examined fields of view include occurrences of amorphous organic matter (AOM), inertinite, micrinite, solid bitumen...
Geochemical Data for Produced Water and Gas from the Antrim Shale in Michigan, 2023 Geochemical Data for Produced Water and Gas from the Antrim Shale in Michigan, 2023
In 2023, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Riverside Energy Michigan, LLC, conducted an injection experiment to monitor the natural rate of biogenic methane generation in the Mortensen A4-24 well which was completed in the Antrim Shale and located in Antrim County, Michigan, United States of America. Approximately 20 barrels (bbl) of produced water was pumped from the well...
Coal mine drainage effluents and associated solids major, trace, rare earth element and radium concentrations collected from Pennsylvania, USA Coal mine drainage effluents and associated solids major, trace, rare earth element and radium concentrations collected from Pennsylvania, USA
Discharges from abandoned coal mines and associated mine wastes represent historic and persistent sources of pollution in the Appalachian Basin, United States. In this study, we conducted the first-ever survey of radium (Ra) in coal mine drainage (CMD) water and solid samples in the United States. Samples were collected from 4 untreated coal mine discharges and 9 treated coal mine...
Total neutron scattering of methane in Niobrara Formation samples at the wet-gas maturity level Total neutron scattering of methane in Niobrara Formation samples at the wet-gas maturity level
Petroleum within unconventional source-rock reservoirs is hosted in organic matter and mineral pore space as well as in voids and microfractures. Recent work has shown that for source-rock reservoirs in the dry gas window, significant portions of methane (CH4), the main component of petroleum at elevated maturities, can be stored within fine organic matter porosity. However, within...
Evidence for strain induced graphitization across a ductile fault zone Evidence for strain induced graphitization across a ductile fault zone
A suite of slate samples collected along a 2 km transect crossing the Lishan Fault in central Taiwan were evaluated to assess the role of ductile strain energy in natural graphitization at greenschist facies metamorphic conditions. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging documents phyllosilicate and quartz replacement textures consistent cleavage development via dissolution...
The publications listed below are associated with the AGGER project.
Filter Total Items: 46
Nanometer-scale relationships between sedimentary organic matter molecular composition, fluorescence, cathodoluminescence, and reflectance: The importance of oxygen content at low thermal maturities Nanometer-scale relationships between sedimentary organic matter molecular composition, fluorescence, cathodoluminescence, and reflectance: The importance of oxygen content at low thermal maturities
Molecular characterization of sedimentary organic matter (SOM), termed macerals, is a common goal when seeking to understand petroleum generation as well as other geologic processes in deep time. However, unambiguous measurement of discrete macerals is challenging due to the small size of organic particles in sedimentary rocks, the proximity of different organic matter types to one...
Authors
Aaron M. Jubb, Paul C. Hackley, Ryan J. McAleer, Jing Qu
Deep syntectonic burial of the Anthracite belt, Eastern Pennsylvania Deep syntectonic burial of the Anthracite belt, Eastern Pennsylvania
Fluid inclusion microthermometry and Raman spectroscopy of fluid inclusions in quartz veins from the Pennsylvanian rocks of the Anthracite belt, eastern Pennsylvania support a deep burial model of coalification in favor of focused orogenic hot fluid flow. High-temperature (250 to 255 °C) trapping of CH4 ± CO2 saturated aqueous fluids and CH4 ± CO2 inclusions indicate fluid trapping at...
Authors
Mark A. Evans, Aaron M. Jubb
Deformation-induced graphitization and muscovite recrystallization in a ductile fault zone Deformation-induced graphitization and muscovite recrystallization in a ductile fault zone
A suite of slate samples collected along a 2 km transect crossing the Lishan fault in central Taiwan were evaluated to assess the role of ductile deformation in natural graphitization at lower greenschist facies metamorphic conditions. The process of natural aromatization, or graphitization, of an organic precursor is well established as a thermally driven process; however, experimental...
Authors
Martha Stokes, Aaron M. Jubb, Ryan J. McAleer, David Bish, Robert Wintsch
Krumholzibacteriota and Deltaproteobacteria contain rare genetic potential to liberate carbon from monoaromatic compounds in subsurface coal seams Krumholzibacteriota and Deltaproteobacteria contain rare genetic potential to liberate carbon from monoaromatic compounds in subsurface coal seams
Biogenic methane in subsurface coal seam environments is produced by diverse consortia of microbes. Although this methane is useful for global energy security, it remains unclear which microbes can liberate carbon from the coal. Most of this carbon is relatively resistant to biodegradation, as it is contained within aromatic rings. Thus, to explore for coal-degrading taxa in the...
Authors
Bronwyn C. Campbell, Paul Greenfield, Elliott P. Barnhart, Gong, David J. Midgley, Ian T. Paulsen, Simon C. George
Uranium redox and deposition transitions embedded in deep-time geochemical models and mineral chemistry networks Uranium redox and deposition transitions embedded in deep-time geochemical models and mineral chemistry networks
Uranium (U) is an important global energy resource and a redox sensitive trace element that reflects changing environmental conditions and geochemical cycling. The redox evolution of U mineral chemistry can be interrogated to understand the formation and distribution of U deposits and the redox processes involved in U geochemistry throughout Earth history. In this study, geochemical...
Authors
Elisha Kelly Moore, J. Li, Ao Zhang, Jihua Hao, Shaunna M. Morrison, Daniel Hummer, Nathan Yee
Exploring the uncertainty of machine learning models and geostatistical mapping of rare earth element potential in Indiana coals, USA Exploring the uncertainty of machine learning models and geostatistical mapping of rare earth element potential in Indiana coals, USA
Rare earth elements and yttrium (REEs) have a wide range of applications in high- and low-carbon technologies. The strategic significance of REEs has grown due to their expanding applications in manufacturing industries and the constrained availability of these essential resources. This research explores the applicability of machine learning models and their uncertainty for assessing the...
Authors
Snehamoy Chatterjee, C. Ozgen Karacan, Maria Mastalerz
The AGGER project’s purpose is to advance the understanding of geologic energy sources, generation, composition, movement, and production potential, including resource recovery from energy wastes.
This purpose manifests in three broad objectives:
- Assessing subsurface microorganisms in order to stimulate or retard biogenic gas production;
- Linking macroscale geologic energy phenomena (e.g., petroleum recoverability or carbon sequestration) to nanoscale parameters (e.g., pore accessibility); and
- Developing standardized approaches to evaluate both the resource potential and environmental risks of energy related wastes.
Achieving these objectives informs Congress, State and Federal agencies, private organizations, and the public on the U.S. energy endowment.
The AGGER project is currently divided into 7 research tasks, detailed below, and funds three research laboratories.
- Controls on microbial methanogenesis in shale deposits and strategies for enhancement - Task leads: Elliott Barnhart and Matthew Varonka
- Structure and composition of energy materials - Task lead: Aaron Jubb
- NORM products, byproducts and wastes from energy resource life cycles - Task lead: Bonnie McDevitt
- Spectroscopic investigations of energy materials - Task lead: Aaron Jubb
- Remote sensing techniques to quantify energy resources in wastes at abandoned mines - Task lead: Bernard Hubbard
- Scoping innovative approaches in advanced field measurements and data analysis - Task lead: Elisha ‘Eli’ Moore
- Assessing critical minerals and contaminants in coal mine drainage - Task lead: Bonnie McDevitt
The following 3 laboratories are associated with the AGGER project:
- Eastern Energy and Environmental Laboratory (EEEL)
- Raman Spectroscopy Laboratory (RSL)
- Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material Laboratory (NORM)
The data releases listed below are associated with the AGGER project.
Filter Total Items: 20
Geochemical Data for Produced Water and Gas from the Antrim Shale in Michigan, 2024 Geochemical Data for Produced Water and Gas from the Antrim Shale in Michigan, 2024
In 2024, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Riverside Energy Michigan, LLC, conducted an injection experiment to assess the potential for stimulating biogenic methane in the Mortensen A4-24 well which was completed in the Antrim Shale and located in Antrim County, Michigan, United States of America. Approximately 20 barrels (bbl) of produced water was pumped from the well...
Data supporting nanometer-scale relationships between sedimentary organic matter molecular composition, fluorescence, cathodoluminescence, and reflectance Data supporting nanometer-scale relationships between sedimentary organic matter molecular composition, fluorescence, cathodoluminescence, and reflectance
This data release describes optical photothermal infrared (OPTIR) spectroscopy data used to map sedimentary organic matter functional group distributions at 500 nm resolution in a sample from the Lower Cretaceous Sunniland Limestone from the South Florida Basin. Examined fields of view include occurrences of amorphous organic matter (AOM), inertinite, micrinite, solid bitumen...
Geochemical Data for Produced Water and Gas from the Antrim Shale in Michigan, 2023 Geochemical Data for Produced Water and Gas from the Antrim Shale in Michigan, 2023
In 2023, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Riverside Energy Michigan, LLC, conducted an injection experiment to monitor the natural rate of biogenic methane generation in the Mortensen A4-24 well which was completed in the Antrim Shale and located in Antrim County, Michigan, United States of America. Approximately 20 barrels (bbl) of produced water was pumped from the well...
Coal mine drainage effluents and associated solids major, trace, rare earth element and radium concentrations collected from Pennsylvania, USA Coal mine drainage effluents and associated solids major, trace, rare earth element and radium concentrations collected from Pennsylvania, USA
Discharges from abandoned coal mines and associated mine wastes represent historic and persistent sources of pollution in the Appalachian Basin, United States. In this study, we conducted the first-ever survey of radium (Ra) in coal mine drainage (CMD) water and solid samples in the United States. Samples were collected from 4 untreated coal mine discharges and 9 treated coal mine...
Total neutron scattering of methane in Niobrara Formation samples at the wet-gas maturity level Total neutron scattering of methane in Niobrara Formation samples at the wet-gas maturity level
Petroleum within unconventional source-rock reservoirs is hosted in organic matter and mineral pore space as well as in voids and microfractures. Recent work has shown that for source-rock reservoirs in the dry gas window, significant portions of methane (CH4), the main component of petroleum at elevated maturities, can be stored within fine organic matter porosity. However, within...
Evidence for strain induced graphitization across a ductile fault zone Evidence for strain induced graphitization across a ductile fault zone
A suite of slate samples collected along a 2 km transect crossing the Lishan Fault in central Taiwan were evaluated to assess the role of ductile strain energy in natural graphitization at greenschist facies metamorphic conditions. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging documents phyllosilicate and quartz replacement textures consistent cleavage development via dissolution...
The publications listed below are associated with the AGGER project.
Filter Total Items: 46
Nanometer-scale relationships between sedimentary organic matter molecular composition, fluorescence, cathodoluminescence, and reflectance: The importance of oxygen content at low thermal maturities Nanometer-scale relationships between sedimentary organic matter molecular composition, fluorescence, cathodoluminescence, and reflectance: The importance of oxygen content at low thermal maturities
Molecular characterization of sedimentary organic matter (SOM), termed macerals, is a common goal when seeking to understand petroleum generation as well as other geologic processes in deep time. However, unambiguous measurement of discrete macerals is challenging due to the small size of organic particles in sedimentary rocks, the proximity of different organic matter types to one...
Authors
Aaron M. Jubb, Paul C. Hackley, Ryan J. McAleer, Jing Qu
Deep syntectonic burial of the Anthracite belt, Eastern Pennsylvania Deep syntectonic burial of the Anthracite belt, Eastern Pennsylvania
Fluid inclusion microthermometry and Raman spectroscopy of fluid inclusions in quartz veins from the Pennsylvanian rocks of the Anthracite belt, eastern Pennsylvania support a deep burial model of coalification in favor of focused orogenic hot fluid flow. High-temperature (250 to 255 °C) trapping of CH4 ± CO2 saturated aqueous fluids and CH4 ± CO2 inclusions indicate fluid trapping at...
Authors
Mark A. Evans, Aaron M. Jubb
Deformation-induced graphitization and muscovite recrystallization in a ductile fault zone Deformation-induced graphitization and muscovite recrystallization in a ductile fault zone
A suite of slate samples collected along a 2 km transect crossing the Lishan fault in central Taiwan were evaluated to assess the role of ductile deformation in natural graphitization at lower greenschist facies metamorphic conditions. The process of natural aromatization, or graphitization, of an organic precursor is well established as a thermally driven process; however, experimental...
Authors
Martha Stokes, Aaron M. Jubb, Ryan J. McAleer, David Bish, Robert Wintsch
Krumholzibacteriota and Deltaproteobacteria contain rare genetic potential to liberate carbon from monoaromatic compounds in subsurface coal seams Krumholzibacteriota and Deltaproteobacteria contain rare genetic potential to liberate carbon from monoaromatic compounds in subsurface coal seams
Biogenic methane in subsurface coal seam environments is produced by diverse consortia of microbes. Although this methane is useful for global energy security, it remains unclear which microbes can liberate carbon from the coal. Most of this carbon is relatively resistant to biodegradation, as it is contained within aromatic rings. Thus, to explore for coal-degrading taxa in the...
Authors
Bronwyn C. Campbell, Paul Greenfield, Elliott P. Barnhart, Gong, David J. Midgley, Ian T. Paulsen, Simon C. George
Uranium redox and deposition transitions embedded in deep-time geochemical models and mineral chemistry networks Uranium redox and deposition transitions embedded in deep-time geochemical models and mineral chemistry networks
Uranium (U) is an important global energy resource and a redox sensitive trace element that reflects changing environmental conditions and geochemical cycling. The redox evolution of U mineral chemistry can be interrogated to understand the formation and distribution of U deposits and the redox processes involved in U geochemistry throughout Earth history. In this study, geochemical...
Authors
Elisha Kelly Moore, J. Li, Ao Zhang, Jihua Hao, Shaunna M. Morrison, Daniel Hummer, Nathan Yee
Exploring the uncertainty of machine learning models and geostatistical mapping of rare earth element potential in Indiana coals, USA Exploring the uncertainty of machine learning models and geostatistical mapping of rare earth element potential in Indiana coals, USA
Rare earth elements and yttrium (REEs) have a wide range of applications in high- and low-carbon technologies. The strategic significance of REEs has grown due to their expanding applications in manufacturing industries and the constrained availability of these essential resources. This research explores the applicability of machine learning models and their uncertainty for assessing the...
Authors
Snehamoy Chatterjee, C. Ozgen Karacan, Maria Mastalerz