Rand Gardner
I am a geologist specializing in energy projects.
I grew up in the oil patch and worked for the oil business before joining the USGS in 2021 where I now work on assessments of undiscovered oil and gas resources. I also currently lead several collaborative research initiatives between the USGS, academia, and private industry. The Mexican–American Geologic Investigation Consortium (MAGICO) is a binational initiative that advances the scientific understanding of subsurface geologic energy systems that extend between the United States and Mexico. Finding Undiscovered Energy from Geothermal in the Overburden (FUEGO) is a research initiative focused on identifying, characterizing, and assessing sedimentary geothermal resources within the thick sedimentary overburden of U.S. basins. Lithium Unlocked: Coproduction in Hydrothermal Assets, Deposition, and Origins Research (LUCHADOR) is a USGS-led task force focused on understanding the origin, occurrence, and recoverability of lithium in hydrothermal brine systems. Space and Planetary Energy Assessment Research (SPEAR) is an initiative focused on the evaluation of energy resources on the Moon, Mars, and other planetary bodies.
Professional Experience
Supervisory Geologist, USGS, 2021-Present
Adjunct Faculty, Colorado School of Mines, 2025-Present
Senior Exploration Geoscientist, Total S.A., 2016-2021
Geologist, British Petroleum, 2013-2016
Geologist Intern, British Petroleum, Summer 2012
Geologist Intern, SM Energy, Summer 2011
Geologist Intern, Legend Natural Gas, Summer 2010
Education and Certifications
M.S. Geology, Texas A&M University
B.S. Geology, Brigham Young University
Affiliations and Memberships*
Geological Society of America (GSA)
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM)
Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG)
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists (AEG)
American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG)
International Geoscience Education Organization (IGEO)
Honors and Awards
Eagle Scout Award
Abstracts and Presentations
Aprendizajes Clave del Desarrollo de Lutitas en Estados Unidos y su Aplicación al Futuro Desarrollo de México, El Capítulo Estudiantil de SPE del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, December, 2025
Sedimentary Geothermal Potential of the Colorado Plateau and SW Wyoming, Payne Institute for Public Policy Geothermal Solutions Symposium, December, 2025
Thermal Model of the Contiguous United States, Payne Institute for Public Policy Geothermal Solutions Symposium, December, 2025
Exploring for Lithium Resources in Geothermal Brines, Payne Institute for Public Policy Geothermal Solutions Symposium, December, 2025
Martian Geologic Energy Potential, Payne Institute for Public Policy Geothermal Solutions Symposium, December, 2025
USGS-Colorado School of Mines Collaborative Energy Research, Mudrocks and Tight Oil Characterization Consortium Fall 2025 Meeting, November 20, 2025
Potential for Co-production of Lithium and Geothermal Resources in the U.S. Gulf Coast, 2025 Geothermal Rising Conference, October, 2025
Detecting Hidden Sedimentary Geothermal Systems in the Upper Colorado River Basin, 2025 Geothermal Rising Conference, October, 2025
Exploring Martian geothermal and Liquid Water Potential with Basin Modeling, Geothermal Rising Conference, October, 2025
Repurposing Orphaned Oil and Gas wells for Geothermal, Geothermal Rising Conference, October, 2025
Thermal Model of Sedimentary Basins in the Contiguous United States, Geological Society of America Connects, October, 2025
Exploring Martian Geothermal and Liquid Water Potential with Basin Modeling, Geological Society of America Connects, October, 2025
Evaluación del Potencial de Recursos Energéticos No Petroleros Co-Ubicados en la Costa del Golfo mediante Análisis de Corredores Prospectivos, Geological Society of America Connects, October, 2025
Geologic and Geochemical Yield Factors for Direct Lithium Extraction, AAPG Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, October, 2025
Modeling the Petroleum Systems of the Piceance Basin, AAPG Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, October, 2025
Geothermal Potential of Orphan Wells in the Rocky Mountains, AAPG Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, October, 2025
Analyzing Methane Emission Measurements from Orphan Wells in the Rockies, AAPG Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, October, 2025
Detecting Hidden Sedimentary Geothermal Systems in the Upper Colorado River Basin, AAPG Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, October, 2025
USGS’s First Multi-Resource Assessment, Grounded in Discovery symposium at the Colorado School of Mines, September, 2025
A New Ultra-Overpressured Shale Play in the East Texas Basin, Grounded in Discovery symposium at the Colorado School of Mines, September, 2025
FUEGO: Finding U.S. Energy from Geothermal in the Overburden Project, Grounded in Discovery symposium at the Colorado School of Mines, September, 2025
Thermal Model of the Upper Colorado River Basin, Grounded in Discovery symposium at the Colorado School of Mines, September, 2025
Lithium in Geothermal Resources, Grounded in Discovery symposium at the Colorado School of Mines, September, 2025
Repurposing Orphan Wells, Grounded in Discovery symposium at the Colorado School of Mines, September, 2025
Potential of Co-located Non-Petroleum Energy Resources in the Gulf of Mexico Basin Using Play Fairway Analysis, GeoGulf annual meeting, April, 2025
Methane Emissions from Orphaned Wells in the United States: Quantities, Impacts, and Solutions: Industrial Decarbonization Methane Mitigation America Conference, December, 2024
3D Basin Modeling as a Tool for Geothermal Resource Screening in the Denver Basin: Rocky Mountain Section Society for Sedimentary Geology, October, 2024
Play Fairway Analysis for Regional Screening of Multi-Resource Potential in Sedimentary Basins:, Geological Society of America Connects, September, 2024
Hidden System Identification: Basin Modeling as a Tool for Examining Sedimentary Geothermal Resource Potential, Geothermal Rising Conference, October, 2023
Lateral Continuity of Eagle Ford Strata in Lozier Canyon and Antonio Creek, Terrell County, Texas, AAPG Annual Convention & Exhibition May, 2013
Science and Products
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Haynesville Formation within the onshore United States and State waters of the Gulf Coast Basin, 2024 Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Haynesville Formation within the onshore United States and State waters of the Gulf Coast Basin, 2024
Assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable conventional oil and gas resources in the Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2022 Assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable conventional oil and gas resources in the Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2022
Hidden system identification: Basin modeling as a tool for examining sedimentary geothermal resource potential Hidden system identification: Basin modeling as a tool for examining sedimentary geothermal resource potential
Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in the Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation of the onshore U.S. Gulf Coast, 2022 Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in the Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation of the onshore U.S. Gulf Coast, 2022
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Gulf Coast Mesozoic Province, Haynesville Formation: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Tables, and Fact Sheet Data Tables USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Gulf Coast Mesozoic Province, Haynesville Formation: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Tables, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
Geochemical and mineralogical data for samples from the Blue Road outcrop of the Cretaceous Mancos Shale, Emery County, Utah Geochemical and mineralogical data for samples from the Blue Road outcrop of the Cretaceous Mancos Shale, Emery County, Utah
Science and Products
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Haynesville Formation within the onshore United States and State waters of the Gulf Coast Basin, 2024 Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Haynesville Formation within the onshore United States and State waters of the Gulf Coast Basin, 2024
Assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable conventional oil and gas resources in the Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2022 Assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable conventional oil and gas resources in the Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2022
Hidden system identification: Basin modeling as a tool for examining sedimentary geothermal resource potential Hidden system identification: Basin modeling as a tool for examining sedimentary geothermal resource potential
Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in the Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation of the onshore U.S. Gulf Coast, 2022 Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in the Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation of the onshore U.S. Gulf Coast, 2022
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Gulf Coast Mesozoic Province, Haynesville Formation: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Tables, and Fact Sheet Data Tables USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project—Gulf Coast Mesozoic Province, Haynesville Formation: Assessment Unit Boundaries, Assessment Input Tables, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
Geochemical and mineralogical data for samples from the Blue Road outcrop of the Cretaceous Mancos Shale, Emery County, Utah Geochemical and mineralogical data for samples from the Blue Road outcrop of the Cretaceous Mancos Shale, Emery County, Utah
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government