Cevat O. Karacan, Ph.D.
Dr. C. Özgen Karacan is a Research Petroleum Engineer with the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.
Dr. Karacan conducts research related to CO2-EOR, CO2 sequestration, reservoir engineering of petroleum system, and coal mine and abandoned mine methane emissions and resources. Before joining the USGS in 2017, Dr. Karacan worked for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) Pittsburgh Mining Research Division for 13 years, where he managed research projects related to ventilation, and sources of gob gas and its control in coal mines.
Dr. Karacan has served as one of the Editors of International Journal of Coal Geology (2009-2021), and the Editor of Results in Geophysical Sciences (2020-2022). He is a Bureau member and vice chair of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s (UNECE) Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane and Just Transition, and a U.S. delegate for Global Methane Initiative’s (GMI) Coal Mines Subcommittee. He holds associate professor of petroleum engineering accreditation in Turkey and adjunct professor positions at China University of Geosciences (Wuhan and Beijing). Dr. Karacan was awarded NIOSH Alice Hamilton Awards in 2013 and 2016.
Dr. Karacan received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in petroleum and natural gas engineering from Middle East Technical University, in Ankara, Turkey and worked for the Pennsylvania State University between 1998 and 2003 as a research associate.
Professional Experience
2017-present: USGS, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston VA
2003-2017: CDC/NIOSH, Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, Pittsburgh PA
1998-2003: The Pennsylvania State University, University Park PA
1991-1998: Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, 1998
M.S. Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, 1993
B.S. Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, 1991
Science and Products
Zone identification and oil saturation prediction in a waterflooded field: Residual oil zone, East Seminole Field, Texas, Permian Basin
Mapping of compositional properties of coal using isometric log-ratio transformation and sequential Gaussian simulation – A comparative study for spatial ultimate analyses data
Stochastic reservoir simulation for the modeling of uncertainty in coal seam degasification
Inference of strata separation and gas emission paths in longwall overburden using continuous wavelet transform of well logs and geostatistical simulation
Time-lapse analysis of methane quantity in Mary Lee group of coal seams using filter-based multiple-point geostatistical simulation
Sequential Gaussian co-simulation of rate decline parameters of longwall gob gas ventholes
Geostatistical modeling of the gas emission zone and its in-place gas content for Pittsburgh-seam mines using sequential Gaussian simulation
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 31
Zone identification and oil saturation prediction in a waterflooded field: Residual oil zone, East Seminole Field, Texas, Permian Basin
Recently, the miscible CO2-EOR tertiary process used in the main pay zone (MP) of suitable reservoirs has broadened to include exploitation of the underlying residual oil zone (ROZ) where a significant amount of oil may remain. The objective of this study is to identify the ROZ and to assess the remaining oil in a brownfield ROZ by using core data and conventional well logs with probabilistic andAuthorsJacqueline Roueche, C. Özgen KaracanMapping of compositional properties of coal using isometric log-ratio transformation and sequential Gaussian simulation – A comparative study for spatial ultimate analyses data
Chemical properties of coal largely determine coal handling, processing, beneficiation methods, and design of coal-fired power plants. Furthermore, these properties impact coal strength, coal blending during mining, as well as coal's gas content, which is important for mining safety. In order for these processes and quantitative predictions to be successful, safer, and economically feasible, it isAuthorsC. Özgen Karacan, Ricardo A. OleaStochastic reservoir simulation for the modeling of uncertainty in coal seam degasification
Coal seam degasification improves coal mine safety by reducing the gas content of coal seams and also by generating added value as an energy source. Coal seam reservoir simulation is one of the most effective ways to help with these two main objectives. As in all modeling and simulation studies, how the reservoir is defined and whether observed productions can be predicted are important consideratAuthorsC. Özgen Karacan, Ricardo A. OleaInference of strata separation and gas emission paths in longwall overburden using continuous wavelet transform of well logs and geostatistical simulation
Prediction of potential methane emission pathways from various sources into active mine workings or sealed gobs from longwall overburden is important for controlling methane and for improving mining safety. The aim of this paper is to infer strata separation intervals and thus gas emission pathways from standard well log data. The proposed technique was applied to well logs acquired through the MaAuthorsC. Özgen Karacan, Ricardo A. OleaTime-lapse analysis of methane quantity in Mary Lee group of coal seams using filter-based multiple-point geostatistical simulation
Coal seam degasification and its success are important for controlling methane, and thus for the health and safety of coal miners. During the course of degasification, properties of coal seams change. Thus, the changes in coal reservoir conditions and in-place gas content as well as methane emission potential into mines should be evaluated by examining time-dependent changes and the presence of maAuthorsC. Özgen Karacan, Ricardo A. OleaSequential Gaussian co-simulation of rate decline parameters of longwall gob gas ventholes
Gob gas ventholes (GGVs) are used to control methane inflows into a longwall mining operation by capturing the gas within the overlying fractured strata before it enters the work environment. Using geostatistical co-simulation techniques, this paper maps the parameters of their rate decline behaviors across the study area, a longwall mine in the Northern Appalachian basin. Geostatistical gas-in-plAuthorsC. Özgen Karacan, Ricardo A. OleaGeostatistical modeling of the gas emission zone and its in-place gas content for Pittsburgh-seam mines using sequential Gaussian simulation
Determination of the size of the gas emission zone, the locations of gas sources within, and especially the amount of gas retained in those zones is one of the most important steps for designing a successful methane control strategy and an efficient ventilation system in longwall coal mining. The formation of the gas emission zone and the potential amount of gas-in-place (GIP) that might be availaAuthorsCevat O. Karacan, Ricardo A. Olea, G. Goodman - Science
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