Matthew D. Merrill
Matthew Merrill is a Research Geologist with the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.
Matt received a masters and a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University in Earth Sciences with focuses in Mars remote sensing and Andean volcanology respectively. Since joining the USGS in 2005 he has focused on numerous energy and minerals issues and specializes in carbon dioxide related topics, such as natural CO2 geochemistry, carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions. Other areas of research include various oil and gas assessments and methodology creation for assessing enhanced oil recovery with CO2 and also the impacts to wildlife from wind turbine facilities.
Professional Experience
2007 - present: Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, USGS
2005 - 2007: Eastern Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center, USGS
Education and Certifications
M.A. Earth Science, Wesleyan University, 2005
B.A. Earth and Environmental Science, Wesleyan University, 2003
Science and Products
Paleocene coal deposits of the Wilcox Group, Northeast Texas
A review of the lignite resources of Arkansas
Chemical analyses in the World Coal Quality Inventory
Geology and assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in Mesozoic (Jurassic and Cretaceous) rocks of the onshore and state waters of the Gulf of Mexico Region, U.S.A
A probabilistic assessment methodology for the evaluation of geologic carbon dioxide storage
Development of a probabilistic assessment methodology for evaluation of carbon dioxide storage
GIS Representation of Coal-Bearing Areas in North, Central, and South America
GIS Representation of Coal-Bearing Areas in Africa
Science and Products
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Paleocene coal deposits of the Wilcox Group, Northeast Texas
The surface exposure of the Paleocene Wilcox Group in northeast Texas varies in width from 9 to 27 mi along an arcuate outcrop that extends southwest approximately 156 mi from the Texas-Arkansas State line to 32° latitude. Parts of Bowie, Camp, Cass, Franklin, Henderson, Hopkins, Morris, Navarro, Rains, Titus, Van Zandt, and Wood Counties are included in this outcrop belt (Figure 1). This area forAuthorsRobert W. Hook, Peter D. Warwick, John R. SanFilipo, Douglas J. Nichols, Sharon M. SwansonA review of the lignite resources of Arkansas
This review of the lignite resources of Arkansas is a part of the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) National Coal Resource Assessment (NCRA) of the Gulf Coastal Plain Coal Province, which also includes coal-bearing areas in the states of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky (see Ruppert et al., 2002; Dennen, 2009; and other chapters of this publication). Lignite mining isAuthorsPaul C. Hackley, Jason C. Willett, Peter D. Warwick, S.J. Law, Douglas J. NicholsChemical analyses in the World Coal Quality Inventory
The main objective of the World Coal Quality Inventory (WoCQI) was to collect and analyze a global set of samples of mined coal during a time period from about 1995 to 2006 (Finkelman and Lovern, 2001). Coal samples were collected by foreign collaborators and submitted to country specialists in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Energy Program. However, samples from certain countries, such as AfghaAuthorsSusan J. Tewalt, Harvey E. Belkin, John R. SanFilipo, Matthew D. Merrill, Curtis A. Palmer, Peter D. Warwick, Alexander W. Karlsen, Robert B. Finkelman, Andy J. ParkGeology and assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in Mesozoic (Jurassic and Cretaceous) rocks of the onshore and state waters of the Gulf of Mexico Region, U.S.A
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is in the final phase of the most recent assessment of the undiscovered technically recoverable oil and gas resources of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coastal plain and state waters. Ongoing geologic, geochemical, and petrophysical framework studies have defined the total petroleum systems and assessment units (AUs) in the Gulf Coast region. Current studies examine theAuthorsRussell F. Dubiel, Peter D. Warwick, Laura R Biewick, Lauri A. Burke, James L. Coleman, Kristin O. Dennen, Colin A. Doolan, Catherine B. Enomoto, Paul C. Hackley, Alexander W. Karlsen, Matthew D. Merrill, Krystal M. Pearson, Ofori N. Pearson, Janet K. Pitman, Richard M. Pollastro, Elisabeth L. Rowan, Sharon M. Swanson, Brett J. ValentineA probabilistic assessment methodology for the evaluation of geologic carbon dioxide storage
In 2007, the Energy Independence and Security Act (Public Law 110-140) authorized the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a national assessment of potential geologic storage resources for carbon dioxide (CO2) in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. The first year of that activity was specified for development of a methodology to estimateAuthorsSean T. Brennan, Robert A. Burruss, Matthew D. Merrill, Philip A. Freeman, Leslie F. RuppertDevelopment of a probabilistic assessment methodology for evaluation of carbon dioxide storage
This report describes a probabilistic assessment methodology developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for evaluation of the resource potential for storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the subsurface of the United States as authorized by the Energy Independence and Security Act (Public Law 110-140, 2007). The methodology is based on USGS assessment methodologies for oil and gas resources createAuthorsRobert A. Burruss, Sean T. Brennan, Philip A. Freeman, Matthew D. Merrill, Leslie F. Ruppert, Mark F. Becker, William N. Herkelrath, Yousif K. Kharaka, Christopher E. Neuzil, Sharon M. Swanson, Troy A. Cook, Timothy R. Klett, Philip H. Nelson, Christopher J. SchenkGIS Representation of Coal-Bearing Areas in North, Central, and South America
Worldwide coal consumption and international coal trade are projected to increase in the next several decades (Energy Information Administration, 2007). A search of existing literature indicates that in the Western Hemisphere, coal resources are known to occur in about 30 countries. The need exists to be able to depict these areas in a digital format for use in Geographic Information System (GIS)AuthorsSusan J. Tewalt, Scott A. Kinney, Matthew D. MerrillGIS Representation of Coal-Bearing Areas in Africa
The African continent contains approximately 5 percent of the world's proven recoverable reserves of coal (World Energy Council, 2007). Energy consumption in Africa is projected to grow at an annual rate of 2.3 percent from 2004 through 2030, while average consumption in first-world nations is expected to rise at 1.4 percent annually (Energy Information Administration, 2007). Coal reserves will uAuthorsMatthew D. Merrill, Susan J. Tewalt - Web Tools
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