Christina A. DeVera
Christina DeVera is a Physical Scientist with the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.
Christina received a B.S. in Biology concentrating in Environmental and Conservation Biology from George Mason University in 2010 and a Professional Career Certificate in Geographic Information Systems from Northern Virginia Community College in 2011. Since joining the USGS in 2009 as an undergraduate student intern, Christina has been a part of numerous research efforts including microbial methanogenesis studies, hydraulic fracturing and effects on human health, CO2 sequestration and carbon mineralization, microbial community characterization in natural CO2 systems, source rock characterization in North Slope Alaska, and more recently, geoheritage. Currently, she leads the Geoheritage Sites of the Nation Project focused on understanding the intersection of geology and societal values to provide educational and outreach resources making geoscience topics and geologic mapping more relevant for the public.
Professional Experience
March 2016 - Present: Physical Scientist, USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA
December 2011 - March 2016: Physical Science Technician, USGS Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, Reston, VA
May 2010 - December 2011: Student Career Experience Program, USGS Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, Reston, VA
December 2009 - May 2010: Student Temporary Experience Program, USGS Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, Reston, VA
Education and Certifications
Certificate in Geographic Information Systems, Northern Virginia Community College, 2011
B.S. Biology, College of Science, George Mason University, 2010
Honors and Awards
2023 Unit Award for Excellence of Service – Energy and Minerals Resources Mission Area Quality Management System Team
2017 USGS Group Safety and Occupational Heath Award of Excellence – The Midwest Region Passive Vehicle Visibility and Conspicuity Guidance
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 25
Chemostratigraphy of the Cretaceous Hue Shale in Arctic Alaska: Exploring paleoceanographic controls on trace element enrichment, organic matter accumulation, and source-rock evolution Chemostratigraphy of the Cretaceous Hue Shale in Arctic Alaska: Exploring paleoceanographic controls on trace element enrichment, organic matter accumulation, and source-rock evolution
We document chemostratigraphy in an outcrop of late Albian to early Campanian (∼103–82 Ma) marine source rocks to better understand paleoenvironmental controls on trace element (TE) enrichment and organic matter accumulation in the distal Colville foreland basin of Arctic Alaska and how those drivers are linked to arc volcanism and successions of Cretaceous oceanographic and climatic...
Authors
Palma J. Botterell, Margaret M. Sanders, David W. Houseknecht, Richard O. Lease, William A. Rouse, Katherine J. Whidden, Julie A. Dumoulin, Rebecca A. Smith, Christina A. DeVera, Brett J. Valentine
Produced water geochemistry from hydraulically stimulated Niobrara Formation petroleum wells: Origin of salinity and temporal perspectives on treatment and reuse Produced water geochemistry from hydraulically stimulated Niobrara Formation petroleum wells: Origin of salinity and temporal perspectives on treatment and reuse
Produced water (i.e., a mixture of returned injection fluids and geologic formation brines) represents the largest volumetric waste stream associated with petroleum production in the United States. As such, produced water has been the focus of intense study with emphasis on understanding the geologic origin of the fluids, environmental impacts of unintended or intentional release...
Authors
Aaron M. Jubb, Jenna L. Shelton, Bonnie McDevitt, Kaela K. Amundson, Amanda Sha Herzberg, Jessica Chenault, Andrew Laurence Masterson, Matthew S. Varonka, Glenn D. Jolly, Christina A. DeVera, Elliott Barnhart, Michael J. Wilkins, Madalyn S. Blondes
Facies variation within outcrops of the Triassic Shublik Formation, northeastern Alaska Facies variation within outcrops of the Triassic Shublik Formation, northeastern Alaska
The Shublik Formation (Middle to Upper Triassic) is a heterogeneous unit that is a major hydrocarbon source rock in northern Alaska and the largest known Triassic phosphate accumulation in the world. This formation, which occurs in the subsurface and crops out within the Arctic Alaska basin, was deposited on a gently sloping ramp along the northwestern Laurentian margin. In this study...
Authors
Julie A. Dumoulin, Katherine J. Whidden, William A. Rouse, Christina A. DeVera
Arctic Alaska deepwater organic carbon burial and environmental changes during the late Albian–early Campanian (103–82 Ma) Arctic Alaska deepwater organic carbon burial and environmental changes during the late Albian–early Campanian (103–82 Ma)
The middle Cretaceous greenhouse period experienced profound environmental change including episodes of enhanced global burial of organic carbon marked by carbon isotopic excursions (CIEs). However, the role and response of polar regions like the newly formed, partially enclosed Arctic Ocean Basin during middle Cretaceous carbon burial remains enigmatic. We present the first Arctic...
Authors
Richard O. Lease, Katherine J. Whidden, Julie A. Dumoulin, David W. Houseknecht, Palma J. Botterell, Mark F. Dreier, Neil Patrick Griffis, Roland Mundil, Andrew Kylander-Clark, Margaret M. Sanders, John W. Counts, Jean Self-Trail, Jared T. Gooley, William A. Rouse, Rebecca A. Smith, Christina A. DeVera
Assessment of undiscovered gas resources in Upper Devonian to Lower Cretaceous strata of the western North Slope, Alaska, 2021 Assessment of undiscovered gas resources in Upper Devonian to Lower Cretaceous strata of the western North Slope, Alaska, 2021
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated a mean of 1,407 billion (1.4 trillion) cubic feet of gas in conventional accumulations in Upper Devonian to Lower Cretaceous strata of the western North Slope, Alaska.
Authors
David W. Houseknecht, Tracey J. Mercier, Christopher J. Schenk, Thomas E. Moore, William A. Rouse, Julie A. Dumoulin, William H. Craddock, Richard O. Lease, Palma J. Botterell, Margaret M. Sanders, Rebecca A. Smith, Christopher D. Connors, Christopher P. Garrity, Katherine J. Whidden, Jared T. Gooley, John W. Counts, Joshua H. Long, Christina A. DeVera
Repetitive sampling and control threshold improve 16S rRNA results from produced waters associated with hydraulically fractured shales Repetitive sampling and control threshold improve 16S rRNA results from produced waters associated with hydraulically fractured shales
Sequencing microbial DNA from deep subsurface environments is complicated by a number of issues ranging from contamination to non-reproducible results. Many samples obtained from these environments - which are of great interest due to the potential to stimulate microbial methane generation - contain low biomass. Therefore, samples from these environments are difficult to study as...
Authors
Jenna L. Shelton, Elliott Barnhart, Leslie F. Ruppert, Aaron M. Jubb, Madalyn S. Blondes, Christina A. DeVera
Compositional analysis of formation water geochemistry and microbiology of commercial and carbon dioxide-rich wells in the southwestern United States Compositional analysis of formation water geochemistry and microbiology of commercial and carbon dioxide-rich wells in the southwestern United States
Studies of naturally occurring subsurface carbon dioxide (CO2) accumulations can provide useful information for potential CO2 injection projects; however, the microbial communities and formation water geochemistry of most reservoirs are understudied. Formation water and microbial biomass were sampled at four CO2-rich reservoir sites: two within Bravo Dome, a commercial CO2 field in New...
Authors
Jenna L. Shelton, Robert S. Andrews, Denise M. Akob, Christina A. DeVera, Adam C. Mumford, Mark Engle, Michelle R. Plampin, Sean T. Brennan
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Central North Slope of Alaska, 2020 Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Central North Slope of Alaska, 2020
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 3.6 billion barrels of oil and 8.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas (associated and nonassociated) in conventional accumulations in Mississippian through Paleogene strata in the central North Slope of Alaska.
Authors
David W. Houseknecht, Katherine J. Whidden, Christopher D. Connors, Richard O. Lease, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, William A. Rouse, Palma J. Botterell, Rebecca A. Smith, Margaret M. Sanders, William H. Craddock, Christina A. DeVera, Christopher P. Garrity, Marc L. Buursink, C. Özgen Karacan, Samuel J. Heller, Thomas E. Moore, Julie A. Dumoulin, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Katherine L. French, Cheryl A. Woodall, Ronald M. Drake, Kristen R. Marra, Thomas M. Finn, Scott A. Kinney, Chilisa M. Shorten
Carbon dioxide mineralization feasibility in the United States Carbon dioxide mineralization feasibility in the United States
Geologic carbon dioxide (CO2) storage is one of many methods for stabilizing the increasing concentration of CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere. The injection of CO2 in deep subsurface sedimentary reservoirs is the most commonly discussed method; however, the potential for CO2 leakage can create long-term stability concerns. This report discusses the feasibility of an alternative form of...
Authors
Madalyn S. Blondes, Matthew D. Merrill, Steven T. Anderson, Christina A. DeVera
Microbial community composition of a hydrocarbon reservoir 40 years after a CO2 enhanced oil recovery flood Microbial community composition of a hydrocarbon reservoir 40 years after a CO2 enhanced oil recovery flood
Injecting CO2 into depleted oil reservoirs to extract additional crude oil is a common enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) technique. However, little is known about how in situ microbial communities may be impacted by CO2 flooding, or if any permanent microbiological changes occur after flooding has ceased. Formation water was collected from an oil field that was flooded for CO2-EOR in the...
Authors
Jenna L. Shelton, Robert S. Andrews, Denise M. Akob, Christina A. DeVera, Adam C. Mumford, John E. McCray, Jennifer C. McIntosh
Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources—Atlantic Coastal Plain and Eastern Mesozoic Rift Basins Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources—Atlantic Coastal Plain and Eastern Mesozoic Rift Basins
This chapter presents information pertinent to the geologic carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration potential within saline aquifers located in the Atlantic Coastal Plain and Eastern Mesozoic Rift Basins of the Eastern United States. The Atlantic Coastal Plain is underlain by a Jurassic to Quaternary succession of sedimentary strata that onlap westward onto strata of the Appalachian Piedmont...
Authors
William H. Craddock, Matthew D. Merrill, Tina L. Roberts-Ashby, Sean T. Brennan, Marc L. Buursink, Ronald M. Drake, Peter D. Warwick, Steven M. Cahan, Christina A. DeVera, Philip A. Freeman, Mayur A. Gosai, Celeste D. Lohr
Mantle and crustal gases of the Colorado Plateau: Geochemistry, sources, and migration pathways Mantle and crustal gases of the Colorado Plateau: Geochemistry, sources, and migration pathways
The Colorado Plateau hosts several large accumulations of naturally occurring, non-hydrocarbon gases, including CO2, N2, and the noble gases, making it a good field location to study the fluxes of these gases within the crust and to the atmosphere. In this study, we present a compilation of 1252 published gas-composition measurements. The data reveal at least three natural gas...
Authors
William H. Craddock, Madalyn S. Blondes, Christina A. DeVera, Andrew G. Hunt
Geoheritage Sites of the Nation
Geoheritage is a value-laden term that is applied to features and landforms of geologic significance and includes the scientific, educational, cultural, economic, and aesthetic values that society places on them (Brilha, 2018; GSA, 2017; NASEM, 2021; NPS and AGI, 2015). The goal of the Geoheritage Sites of the Nation project is to develop an inventory of geoheritage sites that showcase the...
Carbon Mineralization
Carbon dioxide (CO2) can react with silicate rocks that are rich in magnesium, calcium, and iron to precipitate carbonate minerals. This natural process, called CO2 mineralization, can be engineered as a method for permanent geologic CO2 removal. The reaction has the additional potential to liberate critical minerals, such as nickel and cobalt, as extractable byproducts. Since 2023, the United...
Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources - California Basins: Chapter Q, Spatial Data Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources - California Basins: Chapter Q, Spatial Data
This data release provides shapefiles that represent storage assessment units (SAUs) and drilling-density cells in the Central California Coast, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Ventura Basins of California in the United States. The SAU is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment of Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources project for the assessment of geologic CO2...
Total organic carbon, programmed temperature pyrolysis, vitrinite reflectance, organic carbon isotopes, elemental, and spectral gamma-ray data from the Cretaceous Hue Shale (Jago River outcrop), Arctic Alaska, USA Total organic carbon, programmed temperature pyrolysis, vitrinite reflectance, organic carbon isotopes, elemental, and spectral gamma-ray data from the Cretaceous Hue Shale (Jago River outcrop), Arctic Alaska, USA
Chemostratigraphic signatures were recorded in a 113 m thick outcrop of late Albian to early Campanian (~103–82 Ma) Hue Shale exposed on the bank of the Jago River in the coastal plain (“1002 Area”) of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), Alaska. Spectral gamma-ray (SGR) data was collected in situ across the Jago River section. A total of 250 samples consisting of predominantly...
Produced water major ion geochemistry, water isotopes, radium content, and field parameters and gas compositions from Niobrara Formation petroleum wells in the Denver-Julesburg Basin Produced water major ion geochemistry, water isotopes, radium content, and field parameters and gas compositions from Niobrara Formation petroleum wells in the Denver-Julesburg Basin
This data release includes field parameters (pH and specific conductance), major ion geochemistry (B, Ba, Br, Cl, Ca, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Si, SO4, Sr), total dissolved solids, specific gravity, water isotopes (delta-2H and delta-18O), and radium isotopes (226Ra and 228Ra) from produced water samples taken from petroleum wells producing from the Niobrara Formation in the Denver...
Geoheritage Sites of the Nation Data Release v.1 Geoheritage Sites of the Nation Data Release v.1
Geoheritage is a term which lies at the intersection of science, society, and sustainability and is applied to significant geologic features and landforms that have scientific, educational, cultural, economic, and aesthetic value. Many geologic sites have enriched society through the geoheritage values: scientific research and education, cultural significance, economic opportunities, and...
Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources-Anadarko and Southern Oklahoma Basins: Chapter R. Spatial Data Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources-Anadarko and Southern Oklahoma Basins: Chapter R. Spatial Data
This data release provides shapefiles that represent storage assessment units (SAUs) and drilling-density cells in the Anadarko and Southern Oklahoma Basins of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas in the United States. The SAU is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment of Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources project for the assessment of geologic CO2 storage resources...
Carbon Isotopes, Total Organic Carbon, Programmed Pyrolysis, Volcanic Zircon U-Pb, and Geochemistry Data from the Hue Shale, Arctic Alaska - 2024 Carbon Isotopes, Total Organic Carbon, Programmed Pyrolysis, Volcanic Zircon U-Pb, and Geochemistry Data from the Hue Shale, Arctic Alaska - 2024
This dataset contains results from a stratigraphic section of the Hue Shale located along the Jago River in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge at 69.9099, -143.3947 (WGS84). Sample heights were measured with a tape measure in a continuous succession. Zircon grains from volcanic ashes were analyzed via laser ablation at either the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) or the...
Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources - Appalachian Basin, Black Warrior Basin, Illinois Basin, and Michigan Basin: Chapter P, Spatial Data Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources - Appalachian Basin, Black Warrior Basin, Illinois Basin, and Michigan Basin: Chapter P, Spatial Data
The storage assessment unit (SAU) is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment of Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources project for the assessment of geologic CO2 storage resources. The SAU is shown here as a geographic boundary interpreted, defined, and mapped by the geologist responsible for the assessment interval. Individual SAUs are defined on the basis of common...
Geochemical Data from Selected Triassic Rock Samples in Northeastern Alaska Geochemical Data from Selected Triassic Rock Samples in Northeastern Alaska
This set of data files contains analyses of samples representing Triassic units (Shublik and Ivishak Formations and Karen Creek Sandstone) in Alaska. The samples were collected from 20 outcrop localities in northeastern Alaska. The data set includes total organic carbon (TOC) and geochemical data from inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy-mass spectroscopy (ICP-OES-MS)...
Geologic formations and mine locations for potential CO2 mineralization Geologic formations and mine locations for potential CO2 mineralization
This geodatabase contains geologic unit boundaries and asbestos site locations shown in "Carbon dioxide mineralization feasibility in the United States" (Blondes and others, 2019). Data was compiled from source material at a scale range of 1:100,000 to 1:5,000,000 and is not intended for any greater detail.
Microbial Communities Associated with Hot Springs and other CO2-rich Waters, Rocky Mountain Plateau Microbial Communities Associated with Hot Springs and other CO2-rich Waters, Rocky Mountain Plateau
The Colorado Plateau is associated with several different commercial sources of natural CO2 and other non-hydrocarbon gases, such as noble gases. Twenty-five different hot springs, warm springs, cold springs, and/or rivers across the Utah region of the Colorado Plateau were sampled for microbial biomass. These different locations were associated with some concentration of dissolved or...
Low biomass microbiology samples collected from a hydraulically fractured well producing from the Niobrara Shale in Colorado Low biomass microbiology samples collected from a hydraulically fractured well producing from the Niobrara Shale in Colorado
Low biomass waters provide a unique challenge in the field of microbial ecology. It is difficult to determine, when biomass concentrations are extremely low, whether or not the sequencing data received are of good quality and representative of the waters sampled. Fifty-nine samples including 8 blanks were collected from a low biomass hydraulically fractured well producing from the...
Microbiology of the greater Bravo Dome region Microbiology of the greater Bravo Dome region
Bravo Dome is a commercial natural CO2 field that supplies the gas to depleted oil fields for enhanced oil recovery. In order to understand the distribution of CO2 across the greater Bravo Dome region, including southeastern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico, and to assess the impacts of high CO2 concentrations on microbes in the subsurface, 7 samples were collected from sites...
Geoheritage Sites of the Nation Explorer Geoheritage Sites of the Nation Explorer
Geoheritage lies at the intersection of science and society and is a term applied to significant or unique geologic features representing the values that we as a Nation place on them. These geologic features are recognized for their scientific, educational, cultural, economic, and aesthetic values.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 25
Chemostratigraphy of the Cretaceous Hue Shale in Arctic Alaska: Exploring paleoceanographic controls on trace element enrichment, organic matter accumulation, and source-rock evolution Chemostratigraphy of the Cretaceous Hue Shale in Arctic Alaska: Exploring paleoceanographic controls on trace element enrichment, organic matter accumulation, and source-rock evolution
We document chemostratigraphy in an outcrop of late Albian to early Campanian (∼103–82 Ma) marine source rocks to better understand paleoenvironmental controls on trace element (TE) enrichment and organic matter accumulation in the distal Colville foreland basin of Arctic Alaska and how those drivers are linked to arc volcanism and successions of Cretaceous oceanographic and climatic...
Authors
Palma J. Botterell, Margaret M. Sanders, David W. Houseknecht, Richard O. Lease, William A. Rouse, Katherine J. Whidden, Julie A. Dumoulin, Rebecca A. Smith, Christina A. DeVera, Brett J. Valentine
Produced water geochemistry from hydraulically stimulated Niobrara Formation petroleum wells: Origin of salinity and temporal perspectives on treatment and reuse Produced water geochemistry from hydraulically stimulated Niobrara Formation petroleum wells: Origin of salinity and temporal perspectives on treatment and reuse
Produced water (i.e., a mixture of returned injection fluids and geologic formation brines) represents the largest volumetric waste stream associated with petroleum production in the United States. As such, produced water has been the focus of intense study with emphasis on understanding the geologic origin of the fluids, environmental impacts of unintended or intentional release...
Authors
Aaron M. Jubb, Jenna L. Shelton, Bonnie McDevitt, Kaela K. Amundson, Amanda Sha Herzberg, Jessica Chenault, Andrew Laurence Masterson, Matthew S. Varonka, Glenn D. Jolly, Christina A. DeVera, Elliott Barnhart, Michael J. Wilkins, Madalyn S. Blondes
Facies variation within outcrops of the Triassic Shublik Formation, northeastern Alaska Facies variation within outcrops of the Triassic Shublik Formation, northeastern Alaska
The Shublik Formation (Middle to Upper Triassic) is a heterogeneous unit that is a major hydrocarbon source rock in northern Alaska and the largest known Triassic phosphate accumulation in the world. This formation, which occurs in the subsurface and crops out within the Arctic Alaska basin, was deposited on a gently sloping ramp along the northwestern Laurentian margin. In this study...
Authors
Julie A. Dumoulin, Katherine J. Whidden, William A. Rouse, Christina A. DeVera
Arctic Alaska deepwater organic carbon burial and environmental changes during the late Albian–early Campanian (103–82 Ma) Arctic Alaska deepwater organic carbon burial and environmental changes during the late Albian–early Campanian (103–82 Ma)
The middle Cretaceous greenhouse period experienced profound environmental change including episodes of enhanced global burial of organic carbon marked by carbon isotopic excursions (CIEs). However, the role and response of polar regions like the newly formed, partially enclosed Arctic Ocean Basin during middle Cretaceous carbon burial remains enigmatic. We present the first Arctic...
Authors
Richard O. Lease, Katherine J. Whidden, Julie A. Dumoulin, David W. Houseknecht, Palma J. Botterell, Mark F. Dreier, Neil Patrick Griffis, Roland Mundil, Andrew Kylander-Clark, Margaret M. Sanders, John W. Counts, Jean Self-Trail, Jared T. Gooley, William A. Rouse, Rebecca A. Smith, Christina A. DeVera
Assessment of undiscovered gas resources in Upper Devonian to Lower Cretaceous strata of the western North Slope, Alaska, 2021 Assessment of undiscovered gas resources in Upper Devonian to Lower Cretaceous strata of the western North Slope, Alaska, 2021
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated a mean of 1,407 billion (1.4 trillion) cubic feet of gas in conventional accumulations in Upper Devonian to Lower Cretaceous strata of the western North Slope, Alaska.
Authors
David W. Houseknecht, Tracey J. Mercier, Christopher J. Schenk, Thomas E. Moore, William A. Rouse, Julie A. Dumoulin, William H. Craddock, Richard O. Lease, Palma J. Botterell, Margaret M. Sanders, Rebecca A. Smith, Christopher D. Connors, Christopher P. Garrity, Katherine J. Whidden, Jared T. Gooley, John W. Counts, Joshua H. Long, Christina A. DeVera
Repetitive sampling and control threshold improve 16S rRNA results from produced waters associated with hydraulically fractured shales Repetitive sampling and control threshold improve 16S rRNA results from produced waters associated with hydraulically fractured shales
Sequencing microbial DNA from deep subsurface environments is complicated by a number of issues ranging from contamination to non-reproducible results. Many samples obtained from these environments - which are of great interest due to the potential to stimulate microbial methane generation - contain low biomass. Therefore, samples from these environments are difficult to study as...
Authors
Jenna L. Shelton, Elliott Barnhart, Leslie F. Ruppert, Aaron M. Jubb, Madalyn S. Blondes, Christina A. DeVera
Compositional analysis of formation water geochemistry and microbiology of commercial and carbon dioxide-rich wells in the southwestern United States Compositional analysis of formation water geochemistry and microbiology of commercial and carbon dioxide-rich wells in the southwestern United States
Studies of naturally occurring subsurface carbon dioxide (CO2) accumulations can provide useful information for potential CO2 injection projects; however, the microbial communities and formation water geochemistry of most reservoirs are understudied. Formation water and microbial biomass were sampled at four CO2-rich reservoir sites: two within Bravo Dome, a commercial CO2 field in New...
Authors
Jenna L. Shelton, Robert S. Andrews, Denise M. Akob, Christina A. DeVera, Adam C. Mumford, Mark Engle, Michelle R. Plampin, Sean T. Brennan
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Central North Slope of Alaska, 2020 Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Central North Slope of Alaska, 2020
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 3.6 billion barrels of oil and 8.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas (associated and nonassociated) in conventional accumulations in Mississippian through Paleogene strata in the central North Slope of Alaska.
Authors
David W. Houseknecht, Katherine J. Whidden, Christopher D. Connors, Richard O. Lease, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, William A. Rouse, Palma J. Botterell, Rebecca A. Smith, Margaret M. Sanders, William H. Craddock, Christina A. DeVera, Christopher P. Garrity, Marc L. Buursink, C. Özgen Karacan, Samuel J. Heller, Thomas E. Moore, Julie A. Dumoulin, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Katherine L. French, Cheryl A. Woodall, Ronald M. Drake, Kristen R. Marra, Thomas M. Finn, Scott A. Kinney, Chilisa M. Shorten
Carbon dioxide mineralization feasibility in the United States Carbon dioxide mineralization feasibility in the United States
Geologic carbon dioxide (CO2) storage is one of many methods for stabilizing the increasing concentration of CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere. The injection of CO2 in deep subsurface sedimentary reservoirs is the most commonly discussed method; however, the potential for CO2 leakage can create long-term stability concerns. This report discusses the feasibility of an alternative form of...
Authors
Madalyn S. Blondes, Matthew D. Merrill, Steven T. Anderson, Christina A. DeVera
Microbial community composition of a hydrocarbon reservoir 40 years after a CO2 enhanced oil recovery flood Microbial community composition of a hydrocarbon reservoir 40 years after a CO2 enhanced oil recovery flood
Injecting CO2 into depleted oil reservoirs to extract additional crude oil is a common enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) technique. However, little is known about how in situ microbial communities may be impacted by CO2 flooding, or if any permanent microbiological changes occur after flooding has ceased. Formation water was collected from an oil field that was flooded for CO2-EOR in the...
Authors
Jenna L. Shelton, Robert S. Andrews, Denise M. Akob, Christina A. DeVera, Adam C. Mumford, John E. McCray, Jennifer C. McIntosh
Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources—Atlantic Coastal Plain and Eastern Mesozoic Rift Basins Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources—Atlantic Coastal Plain and Eastern Mesozoic Rift Basins
This chapter presents information pertinent to the geologic carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration potential within saline aquifers located in the Atlantic Coastal Plain and Eastern Mesozoic Rift Basins of the Eastern United States. The Atlantic Coastal Plain is underlain by a Jurassic to Quaternary succession of sedimentary strata that onlap westward onto strata of the Appalachian Piedmont...
Authors
William H. Craddock, Matthew D. Merrill, Tina L. Roberts-Ashby, Sean T. Brennan, Marc L. Buursink, Ronald M. Drake, Peter D. Warwick, Steven M. Cahan, Christina A. DeVera, Philip A. Freeman, Mayur A. Gosai, Celeste D. Lohr
Mantle and crustal gases of the Colorado Plateau: Geochemistry, sources, and migration pathways Mantle and crustal gases of the Colorado Plateau: Geochemistry, sources, and migration pathways
The Colorado Plateau hosts several large accumulations of naturally occurring, non-hydrocarbon gases, including CO2, N2, and the noble gases, making it a good field location to study the fluxes of these gases within the crust and to the atmosphere. In this study, we present a compilation of 1252 published gas-composition measurements. The data reveal at least three natural gas...
Authors
William H. Craddock, Madalyn S. Blondes, Christina A. DeVera, Andrew G. Hunt
Geoheritage Sites of the Nation
Geoheritage is a value-laden term that is applied to features and landforms of geologic significance and includes the scientific, educational, cultural, economic, and aesthetic values that society places on them (Brilha, 2018; GSA, 2017; NASEM, 2021; NPS and AGI, 2015). The goal of the Geoheritage Sites of the Nation project is to develop an inventory of geoheritage sites that showcase the...
Carbon Mineralization
Carbon dioxide (CO2) can react with silicate rocks that are rich in magnesium, calcium, and iron to precipitate carbonate minerals. This natural process, called CO2 mineralization, can be engineered as a method for permanent geologic CO2 removal. The reaction has the additional potential to liberate critical minerals, such as nickel and cobalt, as extractable byproducts. Since 2023, the United...
Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources - California Basins: Chapter Q, Spatial Data Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources - California Basins: Chapter Q, Spatial Data
This data release provides shapefiles that represent storage assessment units (SAUs) and drilling-density cells in the Central California Coast, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Ventura Basins of California in the United States. The SAU is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment of Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources project for the assessment of geologic CO2...
Total organic carbon, programmed temperature pyrolysis, vitrinite reflectance, organic carbon isotopes, elemental, and spectral gamma-ray data from the Cretaceous Hue Shale (Jago River outcrop), Arctic Alaska, USA Total organic carbon, programmed temperature pyrolysis, vitrinite reflectance, organic carbon isotopes, elemental, and spectral gamma-ray data from the Cretaceous Hue Shale (Jago River outcrop), Arctic Alaska, USA
Chemostratigraphic signatures were recorded in a 113 m thick outcrop of late Albian to early Campanian (~103–82 Ma) Hue Shale exposed on the bank of the Jago River in the coastal plain (“1002 Area”) of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), Alaska. Spectral gamma-ray (SGR) data was collected in situ across the Jago River section. A total of 250 samples consisting of predominantly...
Produced water major ion geochemistry, water isotopes, radium content, and field parameters and gas compositions from Niobrara Formation petroleum wells in the Denver-Julesburg Basin Produced water major ion geochemistry, water isotopes, radium content, and field parameters and gas compositions from Niobrara Formation petroleum wells in the Denver-Julesburg Basin
This data release includes field parameters (pH and specific conductance), major ion geochemistry (B, Ba, Br, Cl, Ca, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Si, SO4, Sr), total dissolved solids, specific gravity, water isotopes (delta-2H and delta-18O), and radium isotopes (226Ra and 228Ra) from produced water samples taken from petroleum wells producing from the Niobrara Formation in the Denver...
Geoheritage Sites of the Nation Data Release v.1 Geoheritage Sites of the Nation Data Release v.1
Geoheritage is a term which lies at the intersection of science, society, and sustainability and is applied to significant geologic features and landforms that have scientific, educational, cultural, economic, and aesthetic value. Many geologic sites have enriched society through the geoheritage values: scientific research and education, cultural significance, economic opportunities, and...
Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources-Anadarko and Southern Oklahoma Basins: Chapter R. Spatial Data Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources-Anadarko and Southern Oklahoma Basins: Chapter R. Spatial Data
This data release provides shapefiles that represent storage assessment units (SAUs) and drilling-density cells in the Anadarko and Southern Oklahoma Basins of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas in the United States. The SAU is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment of Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources project for the assessment of geologic CO2 storage resources...
Carbon Isotopes, Total Organic Carbon, Programmed Pyrolysis, Volcanic Zircon U-Pb, and Geochemistry Data from the Hue Shale, Arctic Alaska - 2024 Carbon Isotopes, Total Organic Carbon, Programmed Pyrolysis, Volcanic Zircon U-Pb, and Geochemistry Data from the Hue Shale, Arctic Alaska - 2024
This dataset contains results from a stratigraphic section of the Hue Shale located along the Jago River in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge at 69.9099, -143.3947 (WGS84). Sample heights were measured with a tape measure in a continuous succession. Zircon grains from volcanic ashes were analyzed via laser ablation at either the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) or the...
Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources - Appalachian Basin, Black Warrior Basin, Illinois Basin, and Michigan Basin: Chapter P, Spatial Data Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources - Appalachian Basin, Black Warrior Basin, Illinois Basin, and Michigan Basin: Chapter P, Spatial Data
The storage assessment unit (SAU) is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment of Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources project for the assessment of geologic CO2 storage resources. The SAU is shown here as a geographic boundary interpreted, defined, and mapped by the geologist responsible for the assessment interval. Individual SAUs are defined on the basis of common...
Geochemical Data from Selected Triassic Rock Samples in Northeastern Alaska Geochemical Data from Selected Triassic Rock Samples in Northeastern Alaska
This set of data files contains analyses of samples representing Triassic units (Shublik and Ivishak Formations and Karen Creek Sandstone) in Alaska. The samples were collected from 20 outcrop localities in northeastern Alaska. The data set includes total organic carbon (TOC) and geochemical data from inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy-mass spectroscopy (ICP-OES-MS)...
Geologic formations and mine locations for potential CO2 mineralization Geologic formations and mine locations for potential CO2 mineralization
This geodatabase contains geologic unit boundaries and asbestos site locations shown in "Carbon dioxide mineralization feasibility in the United States" (Blondes and others, 2019). Data was compiled from source material at a scale range of 1:100,000 to 1:5,000,000 and is not intended for any greater detail.
Microbial Communities Associated with Hot Springs and other CO2-rich Waters, Rocky Mountain Plateau Microbial Communities Associated with Hot Springs and other CO2-rich Waters, Rocky Mountain Plateau
The Colorado Plateau is associated with several different commercial sources of natural CO2 and other non-hydrocarbon gases, such as noble gases. Twenty-five different hot springs, warm springs, cold springs, and/or rivers across the Utah region of the Colorado Plateau were sampled for microbial biomass. These different locations were associated with some concentration of dissolved or...
Low biomass microbiology samples collected from a hydraulically fractured well producing from the Niobrara Shale in Colorado Low biomass microbiology samples collected from a hydraulically fractured well producing from the Niobrara Shale in Colorado
Low biomass waters provide a unique challenge in the field of microbial ecology. It is difficult to determine, when biomass concentrations are extremely low, whether or not the sequencing data received are of good quality and representative of the waters sampled. Fifty-nine samples including 8 blanks were collected from a low biomass hydraulically fractured well producing from the...
Microbiology of the greater Bravo Dome region Microbiology of the greater Bravo Dome region
Bravo Dome is a commercial natural CO2 field that supplies the gas to depleted oil fields for enhanced oil recovery. In order to understand the distribution of CO2 across the greater Bravo Dome region, including southeastern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico, and to assess the impacts of high CO2 concentrations on microbes in the subsurface, 7 samples were collected from sites...
Geoheritage Sites of the Nation Explorer Geoheritage Sites of the Nation Explorer
Geoheritage lies at the intersection of science and society and is a term applied to significant or unique geologic features representing the values that we as a Nation place on them. These geologic features are recognized for their scientific, educational, cultural, economic, and aesthetic values.