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Chris Potter

Chris Potter has contributed to many projects related to structural geology, crustal structure, and regional tectonics in North America and elsewhere. His work has also addressed oil and gas resources in Alaska and China, uranium resources in Virginia, and a proposed nuclear waste disposal site in Nevada.

Professional Experience

  • USGS Research Geologist since 1989.

    (Central Energy Resources Science Center Director, 2007 to 2013).

  • Assistant Professor, Lafayette College, 1987-1989.

  • Postdoctoral Associate / Research Associate, Cornell University, 1983-1987.

  • Staff Geologist, Law Engineering Testing Company, 1977-1979.

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D., University of Washington, 1983.

  • M.Sc., Brown University, 1976

  • B.A., Williams College, 1974.

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • Geological Society of America (Fellow).

  • American Geophysical Union

Science and Products

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Hydraulic Fracturing and Water Resources: An Assessment of the Potential Effects of Shale Gas Development on Water Resources in the United States

Shale gas is a key source of onshore domestic energy for the United States and production of this resource is increasing rapidly. Development and extraction of shale gas requires hydraulic fracturing, which entails horizontal drilling, perforation of steel casing and cement grout using explosive charges, and expansion of fractures using fluids under high pressure. Concern over potential environmen
By
John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis
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Hydraulic Fracturing and Water Resources: An Assessment of the Potential Effects of Shale Gas Development on Water Resources in the United States

Shale gas is a key source of onshore domestic energy for the United States and production of this resource is increasing rapidly. Development and extraction of shale gas requires hydraulic fracturing, which entails horizontal drilling, perforation of steel casing and cement grout using explosive charges, and expansion of fractures using fluids under high pressure. Concern over potential environmen
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Apatite and zircon fission track data from the western Brooks Range of Arctic Alaska

The attached data are apatite and zircon fission track measurements from rock samples collected across the western Brooks Range. Table 1 contains descriptive information on each sample. Tables 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and 2e contain single grain, apatite fission track age data for samples from each of five datasets that comprise the overall apatite fission track age dataset. Tables 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d contai
By
Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Geologic map of the Yucca Mountain region, Nye County, Nevada

Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nev., has been identified as a potential site for underground storage of high-level radioactive waste. This geologic map compilation, including all of Yucca Mountain and Crater Flat, most of the Calico Hills, western Jackass Flats, Little Skull Mountain, the Striped Hills, the Skeleton Hills, and the northeastern Amargosa Desert, portrays the geologic framework for a s

Hydrostructural maps of the Death Valley regional flow system, Nevada and California

The locations of principal faults and structural zones that may influence ground-water flow were compiled in support of a three-dimensional ground-water model for the Death Valley regional flow system (DVRFS), which covers 80,000 square km in southwestern Nevada and southeastern California. Faults include Neogene extensional and strike-slip faults and pre-Tertiary thrust faults. Emphasis was giv

Bedrock geologic map of the Yucca Mountain area, Nye County, Nevada

Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada, has been identified as a potential site for underground storage of high-level radioactive nuclear waste. Detailed bedrock geologic maps form an integral part of the site characterization program by providing the fundamental framework for research into the geologic hazards and hydrologic behavior of the mountain. This bedrock geologic map provides the geologic fr
By
Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

Bedrock geologic map of the central block area, Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada

Filter Total Items: 52

Three-dimensional shape and structure of the Susitna basin, south-central Alaska, from geophysical data

We use gravity, magnetic, seismic reflection, well, and outcrop data to determine the three-dimensional shape and structural features of south-central Alaska’s Susitna basin. This basin is located within the Aleutian-Alaskan convergent margin region and is expected to show effects of regional subduction zone processes. Aeromagnetic data, when filtered to highlight anomalies associated with sources
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Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

Assessment of tight-oil and tight-gas resources in the Junggar and Santanghu Basins of Northwestern China, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 241 million barrels of tight oil and 10.1 trillion cubic feet of tight gas in the Junggar and Santanghu Basins of northwestern China.
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Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of Paleozoic Shale-Oil and Shale-Gas Resources in the Tarim Basin of China, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 1.4 billion barrels of shale oil and 26.9 trillion cubic feet of shale gas in Paleozoic formations in the Tarim Basin of China.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of Mesozoic tight-oil and tight-gas resources in the Sichuan Basin of China, 2018

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 1.2 billion barrels of tight oil and 29.1 trillion cubic feet of tight gas in Mesozoic formations in the Sichuan Basin of China.
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Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic exhumation of the western Brooks Range, Alaska, revealed from apatite and zircon fission track data

We report data for 112 apatite and 31 zircon fission track (AFT and ZFT) outcrop sandstone samples along a transect that spans the western Brooks Range. Sampling targeted structures that modify the Middle Jurassic‐Early Cretaceous early Brookian orogen. The AFT samples record latest Cretaceous to Eocene in situ exhumational cooling and resolve two kinematic phases. The first phase was focused at 6
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Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Paleozoic shale gas resources in the Sichuan Basin, China

The Sichuan Basin, China, is commonly considered to contain the world’s most abundant shale gas resources. Although its Paleozoic marine shales share many basic characteristics with successful United States gas shales, numerous geologic uncertainties exist, and Sichuan Basin shale gas production is nascent. Gas retention was likely compromised by the age of the shale reservoirs, multiple uplifts a
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources of Upper Cretaceous Shales in the Songliao Basin of China, 2017

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean undiscovered, technically recoverable resources of 3.3 billion barrels of oil and 887 billion cubic feet of gas in shale reservoirs of the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou and Nenjiang Formations in the Songliao Basin of northeastern China.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Susitna Basin, southern Alaska, 2017

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently completed an assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in the Susitna Basin of southern Alaska. Using a geology-based methodology, the USGS estimates that mean undiscovered volumes of about 2 million barrels of oil and nearly 1.7 trillion cubic feet of gas may be found in this area.
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Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources in the Bohaiwan Basin Province, China, 2017

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean undiscovered, technically recoverable continuous resources of 2.0 billion barrels of oil and 20.3 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Bohaiwan Basin Province, China.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Assessment of Permian tight oil and gas resources in the Junggar basin of China, 2016

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 764 million barrels of oil and 3.5 trillion cubic feet of gas in tight reservoirs in the Permian Lucaogou Formation in the Junggar basin of northwestern China.
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Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Late Oligocene to present contractional structure in and around the Susitna basin, Alaska—Geophysical evidence and geological implications

The Cenozoic Susitna basin lies within an enigmatic lowland surrounded by the Central Alaska Range, Western Alaska Range (including the Tordrillo Mountains), and Talkeetna Mountains in south-central Alaska. Some previous interpretations show normal faults as the defining structures of the basin (e.g., Kirschner, 1994). However, analysis of new and existing geophysical data shows predominantly (Lat
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Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Alaska Science Center

Assessment of Paleozoic shale gas resources in the Sichuan Basin of China, 2015

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated a mean of 23.9 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable shale gas resources in Paleozoic formations in the Sichuan Basin of China.
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Science and Products

*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