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: 19
No Result Found
The publications listed below are associated with the AGGER project.
Filter Total Items: 46
A methodology to assess the historical environmental footprint of in-situ recovery (ISR) of uranium: A demonstration in the Goliad Sand in the Texas Coastal Plain, USA A methodology to assess the historical environmental footprint of in-situ recovery (ISR) of uranium: A demonstration in the Goliad Sand in the Texas Coastal Plain, USA
In-situ recovery (ISR) has been the only technique used to extract uranium from sandstone-hosted uranium deposits in the Pliocene Goliad Sand in the Texas Coastal Plain. Water plays a crucial role throughout the ISR lifecycle of production and groundwater restoration yet neither the water use nor other environmental footprints have been well documented. The goal of this study is to...
Authors
Tanya J. Gallegos, Annie Scott, Victoria G. Stengel, Andrew Teeple
Subsurface hydrocarbon degradation strategies in low- and high-sulfate coal seam communities identified with activity-based metagenomics Subsurface hydrocarbon degradation strategies in low- and high-sulfate coal seam communities identified with activity-based metagenomics
Environmentally relevant metagenomes and BONCAT-FACS derived translationally active metagenomes from Powder River Basin coal seams were investigated to elucidate potential genes and functional groups involved in hydrocarbon degradation to methane in coal seams with high- and low-sulfate levels. An advanced subsurface environmental sampler allowed the establishment of coal-associated...
Authors
Hannah S. Schweitzer, Heidi J. Smith, Elliott Barnhart, Luke J. McKay, Robin Gerlach, Alfred B. Cunningham, Rex R. Malmstrom, Danielle Goudeau, Matthew W. Fields
Molecular mechanisms of solid bitumen and vitrinite reflectance suppression explored using hydrous pyrolysis of artificial source rock Molecular mechanisms of solid bitumen and vitrinite reflectance suppression explored using hydrous pyrolysis of artificial source rock
The most commonly used parameter for thermal maturity calibration in basin modelling is mean random vitrinite reflectance (Ro). However, Ro suppression has been noted in samples containing a high proportion of liptinite macerals. This phenomenon has been demonstrated empirically using hydrous pyrolysis of artificial source rock containing various proportions of thermally immature Wyodak...
Authors
Margaret M. Sanders, Aaron M. Jubb, Paul C. Hackley, Kenneth E. Peters
In situ enhancement and isotopic labeling of biogenic coalbed methane In situ enhancement and isotopic labeling of biogenic coalbed methane
Subsurface microbial (biogenic) methane production is an important part of the global carbon cycle that has resulted in natural gas accumulations in many coal beds worldwide. Laboratory studies suggest that complex carbon-containing nutrients (e.g., yeast or algae extract) can stimulate methane production, yet the effectiveness of these nutrients within coal beds is unknown. Here, we use...
Authors
Elliott Barnhart, Leslie F. Ruppert, Randy Heibert, Heidi J. Smith, Hannah Schweitzer, Arthur Clark, Edwin Weeks, William H. Orem, Matthew S. Varonka, George A. Platt, Jenna L. Shelton, Katherine J Davis, Robert Hyatt, Jennifer C. McIntosh, Kilian Ashley, Shuhei Ono, Anna M. Martini, Keith Hackley, Robin Gerlach, Lee Spangler, Adrienne Phillips, Mark Barry, Alfred B. Cunningham, Matthew W. Fields
Activity-based, genome-resolved metagenomics uncovers key populations and pathways involved in subsurface conversions of coal to methane Activity-based, genome-resolved metagenomics uncovers key populations and pathways involved in subsurface conversions of coal to methane
Microbial metabolisms and interactions that facilitate subsurface conversions of recalcitrant carbon to methane are poorly understood. We deployed an in situ enrichment device in a subsurface coal seam in the Powder River Basin (PRB), USA, and used BONCAT-FACS-Metagenomics to identify translationally active populations involved in methane generation from a variety of coal-derived...
Authors
Luke J. McKay, Heidi J. Smith, Elliott Barnhart, Hannah S. Schweitzer, Rex R. Malmstrom, Danielle Goudeau, Matthew W. Fields
Machine learning can assign geologic basin to produced water samples using major ion geochemistry Machine learning can assign geologic basin to produced water samples using major ion geochemistry
Understanding the geochemistry of waters produced during petroleum extraction is essential to informing the best treatment and reuse options, which can potentially be optimized for a given geologic basin. Here, we used the US Geological Survey’s National Produced Waters Geochemical Database (PWGD) to determine if major ion chemistry could be used to classify accurately a produced water...
Authors
Jenna L. Shelton, Aaron M. Jubb, Samuel Saxe, Emil D. Attanasi, Alexei Milkov, Mark A Engle, Philip A. Freeman, Christopher Shaffer, Madalyn S. Blondes
Effect of an algal amendment on the microbial conversion of coal to methane at different sulfate concentrations from the Powder River Basin, USA Effect of an algal amendment on the microbial conversion of coal to methane at different sulfate concentrations from the Powder River Basin, USA
Biogenic methane is estimated to account for one-fifth of the natural gas worldwide and there is great interest in controlling methane from different sources. Biogenic coalbed methane (CBM) production relies on syntrophic associations between fermentative bacteria and methanogenic archaea to anaerobically degrade recalcitrant coal and produce methanogenic substrates. However, very little...
Authors
Heidi J. Smith, Hannah S. Schweitzer, Elliott Barnhart, William H. Orem, Robin Gerlach, Matthew W. Fields
Compositional evolution of organic matter in Boquillas Shale across a thermal gradient at the single particle level Compositional evolution of organic matter in Boquillas Shale across a thermal gradient at the single particle level
The molecular composition of petroliferous organic matter and its compositional evolution throughout thermal maturation provides insight for understanding petroleum generation. This information is critical for understanding hydrocarbon resources in unconventional reservoirs, as source rock organic matter is highly dispersed, in contact with the surrounding mineral matrix, and may occur...
Authors
Justin E. Birdwell, Aaron M. Jubb, Paul C. Hackley, Javin J. Hatcherian
Insights on the characteristics and sources of gas from an underground coal mine using compositional data analysis Insights on the characteristics and sources of gas from an underground coal mine using compositional data analysis
Coal mine gas originates from the gas emission zone (GEZ) of the mine, as well as the longwall face and pillars. Gas emissions are controlled directly at the sources using horizontal or vertical boreholes drilled from surface or from the entries in advance of mining, or it is captured from the fractured and caved zones (gob) using ventholes during mining. The rest of the gas, especially...
Authors
C. Ozgen Karacan, Josep Antoni Martín-Fernández, Leslie F. Ruppert, Ricardo A. Olea
A review of spatially resolved techniques and applications of organic petrography in shale petroleum systems A review of spatially resolved techniques and applications of organic petrography in shale petroleum systems
This review examines new techniques and applications of organic petrography in source-rock reservoir petroleum systems that have occurred along with development of the global ‘shale revolution’ in energy resources. The review is limited to techniques and instrumentation that provide spatially resolved information, typically at or below microscales, for dispersed organic matter occurring...
Authors
Paul C. Hackley, Aaron M. Jubb, Ryan J. McAleer, Brett J. Valentine, Justin E. Birdwell
Investigating the effects of broad ion beam milling to sedimentary organic matter: Surface flattening or heat-induced aromatization and condensation? Investigating the effects of broad ion beam milling to sedimentary organic matter: Surface flattening or heat-induced aromatization and condensation?
Previous work has proposed transfer of kinetic heat energy from low-energy broad ion beam (BIB) milling causes thermal alteration of sedimentary organic matter, resulting in increases of organic matter reflectance. Whereas, other studies have suggested the organic matter reflectance increase from BIB milling is due to decreased surface roughness. To test if reflectance increases to...
Authors
Paul C. Hackley, Aaron M. Jubb, Brett J. Valentine, Javin J. Hatcherian, Jing-Jiang Yu, William K. Podrazky
Effect of temperature, nitrate concentration, pH and bicarbonate addition on biomass and lipid accumulation in the sporulating green alga PW95 Effect of temperature, nitrate concentration, pH and bicarbonate addition on biomass and lipid accumulation in the sporulating green alga PW95
The mixed effects of temperature (20 °C, 25 °C and 30 °C), nitrate concentration (0.5 mM and 2.0 mM), pH buffer, and bicarbonate addition (trigger) on biomass growth and lipid accumulation were investigated in the environmental alga PW95 during batch experiments in standardized growth medium. PW95 was isolated from coal-bed methane production water and classified as a Chlamydomonas-like...
Authors
Luisa Corredor, Elliott Barnhart, Albert E. Parker, Robin Gerlach, Matthew W. Fields
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: 19
No Result Found
The publications listed below are associated with the AGGER project.
Filter Total Items: 46
A methodology to assess the historical environmental footprint of in-situ recovery (ISR) of uranium: A demonstration in the Goliad Sand in the Texas Coastal Plain, USA A methodology to assess the historical environmental footprint of in-situ recovery (ISR) of uranium: A demonstration in the Goliad Sand in the Texas Coastal Plain, USA
In-situ recovery (ISR) has been the only technique used to extract uranium from sandstone-hosted uranium deposits in the Pliocene Goliad Sand in the Texas Coastal Plain. Water plays a crucial role throughout the ISR lifecycle of production and groundwater restoration yet neither the water use nor other environmental footprints have been well documented. The goal of this study is to...
Authors
Tanya J. Gallegos, Annie Scott, Victoria G. Stengel, Andrew Teeple
Subsurface hydrocarbon degradation strategies in low- and high-sulfate coal seam communities identified with activity-based metagenomics Subsurface hydrocarbon degradation strategies in low- and high-sulfate coal seam communities identified with activity-based metagenomics
Environmentally relevant metagenomes and BONCAT-FACS derived translationally active metagenomes from Powder River Basin coal seams were investigated to elucidate potential genes and functional groups involved in hydrocarbon degradation to methane in coal seams with high- and low-sulfate levels. An advanced subsurface environmental sampler allowed the establishment of coal-associated...
Authors
Hannah S. Schweitzer, Heidi J. Smith, Elliott Barnhart, Luke J. McKay, Robin Gerlach, Alfred B. Cunningham, Rex R. Malmstrom, Danielle Goudeau, Matthew W. Fields
Molecular mechanisms of solid bitumen and vitrinite reflectance suppression explored using hydrous pyrolysis of artificial source rock Molecular mechanisms of solid bitumen and vitrinite reflectance suppression explored using hydrous pyrolysis of artificial source rock
The most commonly used parameter for thermal maturity calibration in basin modelling is mean random vitrinite reflectance (Ro). However, Ro suppression has been noted in samples containing a high proportion of liptinite macerals. This phenomenon has been demonstrated empirically using hydrous pyrolysis of artificial source rock containing various proportions of thermally immature Wyodak...
Authors
Margaret M. Sanders, Aaron M. Jubb, Paul C. Hackley, Kenneth E. Peters
In situ enhancement and isotopic labeling of biogenic coalbed methane In situ enhancement and isotopic labeling of biogenic coalbed methane
Subsurface microbial (biogenic) methane production is an important part of the global carbon cycle that has resulted in natural gas accumulations in many coal beds worldwide. Laboratory studies suggest that complex carbon-containing nutrients (e.g., yeast or algae extract) can stimulate methane production, yet the effectiveness of these nutrients within coal beds is unknown. Here, we use...
Authors
Elliott Barnhart, Leslie F. Ruppert, Randy Heibert, Heidi J. Smith, Hannah Schweitzer, Arthur Clark, Edwin Weeks, William H. Orem, Matthew S. Varonka, George A. Platt, Jenna L. Shelton, Katherine J Davis, Robert Hyatt, Jennifer C. McIntosh, Kilian Ashley, Shuhei Ono, Anna M. Martini, Keith Hackley, Robin Gerlach, Lee Spangler, Adrienne Phillips, Mark Barry, Alfred B. Cunningham, Matthew W. Fields
Activity-based, genome-resolved metagenomics uncovers key populations and pathways involved in subsurface conversions of coal to methane Activity-based, genome-resolved metagenomics uncovers key populations and pathways involved in subsurface conversions of coal to methane
Microbial metabolisms and interactions that facilitate subsurface conversions of recalcitrant carbon to methane are poorly understood. We deployed an in situ enrichment device in a subsurface coal seam in the Powder River Basin (PRB), USA, and used BONCAT-FACS-Metagenomics to identify translationally active populations involved in methane generation from a variety of coal-derived...
Authors
Luke J. McKay, Heidi J. Smith, Elliott Barnhart, Hannah S. Schweitzer, Rex R. Malmstrom, Danielle Goudeau, Matthew W. Fields
Machine learning can assign geologic basin to produced water samples using major ion geochemistry Machine learning can assign geologic basin to produced water samples using major ion geochemistry
Understanding the geochemistry of waters produced during petroleum extraction is essential to informing the best treatment and reuse options, which can potentially be optimized for a given geologic basin. Here, we used the US Geological Survey’s National Produced Waters Geochemical Database (PWGD) to determine if major ion chemistry could be used to classify accurately a produced water...
Authors
Jenna L. Shelton, Aaron M. Jubb, Samuel Saxe, Emil D. Attanasi, Alexei Milkov, Mark A Engle, Philip A. Freeman, Christopher Shaffer, Madalyn S. Blondes
Effect of an algal amendment on the microbial conversion of coal to methane at different sulfate concentrations from the Powder River Basin, USA Effect of an algal amendment on the microbial conversion of coal to methane at different sulfate concentrations from the Powder River Basin, USA
Biogenic methane is estimated to account for one-fifth of the natural gas worldwide and there is great interest in controlling methane from different sources. Biogenic coalbed methane (CBM) production relies on syntrophic associations between fermentative bacteria and methanogenic archaea to anaerobically degrade recalcitrant coal and produce methanogenic substrates. However, very little...
Authors
Heidi J. Smith, Hannah S. Schweitzer, Elliott Barnhart, William H. Orem, Robin Gerlach, Matthew W. Fields
Compositional evolution of organic matter in Boquillas Shale across a thermal gradient at the single particle level Compositional evolution of organic matter in Boquillas Shale across a thermal gradient at the single particle level
The molecular composition of petroliferous organic matter and its compositional evolution throughout thermal maturation provides insight for understanding petroleum generation. This information is critical for understanding hydrocarbon resources in unconventional reservoirs, as source rock organic matter is highly dispersed, in contact with the surrounding mineral matrix, and may occur...
Authors
Justin E. Birdwell, Aaron M. Jubb, Paul C. Hackley, Javin J. Hatcherian
Insights on the characteristics and sources of gas from an underground coal mine using compositional data analysis Insights on the characteristics and sources of gas from an underground coal mine using compositional data analysis
Coal mine gas originates from the gas emission zone (GEZ) of the mine, as well as the longwall face and pillars. Gas emissions are controlled directly at the sources using horizontal or vertical boreholes drilled from surface or from the entries in advance of mining, or it is captured from the fractured and caved zones (gob) using ventholes during mining. The rest of the gas, especially...
Authors
C. Ozgen Karacan, Josep Antoni Martín-Fernández, Leslie F. Ruppert, Ricardo A. Olea
A review of spatially resolved techniques and applications of organic petrography in shale petroleum systems A review of spatially resolved techniques and applications of organic petrography in shale petroleum systems
This review examines new techniques and applications of organic petrography in source-rock reservoir petroleum systems that have occurred along with development of the global ‘shale revolution’ in energy resources. The review is limited to techniques and instrumentation that provide spatially resolved information, typically at or below microscales, for dispersed organic matter occurring...
Authors
Paul C. Hackley, Aaron M. Jubb, Ryan J. McAleer, Brett J. Valentine, Justin E. Birdwell
Investigating the effects of broad ion beam milling to sedimentary organic matter: Surface flattening or heat-induced aromatization and condensation? Investigating the effects of broad ion beam milling to sedimentary organic matter: Surface flattening or heat-induced aromatization and condensation?
Previous work has proposed transfer of kinetic heat energy from low-energy broad ion beam (BIB) milling causes thermal alteration of sedimentary organic matter, resulting in increases of organic matter reflectance. Whereas, other studies have suggested the organic matter reflectance increase from BIB milling is due to decreased surface roughness. To test if reflectance increases to...
Authors
Paul C. Hackley, Aaron M. Jubb, Brett J. Valentine, Javin J. Hatcherian, Jing-Jiang Yu, William K. Podrazky
Effect of temperature, nitrate concentration, pH and bicarbonate addition on biomass and lipid accumulation in the sporulating green alga PW95 Effect of temperature, nitrate concentration, pH and bicarbonate addition on biomass and lipid accumulation in the sporulating green alga PW95
The mixed effects of temperature (20 °C, 25 °C and 30 °C), nitrate concentration (0.5 mM and 2.0 mM), pH buffer, and bicarbonate addition (trigger) on biomass growth and lipid accumulation were investigated in the environmental alga PW95 during batch experiments in standardized growth medium. PW95 was isolated from coal-bed methane production water and classified as a Chlamydomonas-like...
Authors
Luisa Corredor, Elliott Barnhart, Albert E. Parker, Robin Gerlach, Matthew W. Fields