Matthew S. Varonka, Ph.D.
Matthew Varonka is a Research Chemist with the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.
Matthew works in the Eastern Energy and Environmental Laboratory (EEEL), which is involved in a variety of research goals relating energy and the environment. Matt graduated from Penn State University with a B.S. in chemistry and went on to earn a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from Georgetown University before joining the USGS in 2010.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 22
Injection of Deuterium and Yeast Extract at USGS Birney Field Site, Powder River Basin, Montana, USA, 2016-2020 Injection of Deuterium and Yeast Extract at USGS Birney Field Site, Powder River Basin, Montana, USA, 2016-2020
Subsurface microbial (biogenic) methane production is an important part of the global carbon cycle and has resulted in natural gas accumulations in many coal beds worldwide. Laboratory experiments indicate coal beds can act as natural geobioreactors and produce additional low carbon renewable natural gas with algal or yeast compounds, yet the effectiveness of these nutrients in situ are...
Data on the Effects of Oil and Gas Wastewater Components on Microbial Community Structure and Function Data on the Effects of Oil and Gas Wastewater Components on Microbial Community Structure and Function
Oil and gas (OG) wastewaters are commonly disposed of by underground injection and previous research showed that activities at a disposal facility in West Virginia affected stream biogeochemistry and sediment microbial communities downstream from the facility. Microorganisms can control the fate and transport of organic and inorganic components of OG wastewater highlighting the need to
Chemistry Data from Southern Florida Canals Collected in Support of the Aquatic Cycling of Mercury in the Everglades Project Chemistry Data from Southern Florida Canals Collected in Support of the Aquatic Cycling of Mercury in the Everglades Project
Several canals in southern Florida run from Lake Okeechobee through the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) and feed water to the northern Everglades. Agricultural and water-management practices affect the water quality of these canals. Fertilizers added in the EAA flow into the canals and are transported to treatment areas which remove much of the phosphorous in the water, but are not as...
Organic Analysis of Oilfield Wastewater from the Williston Basin, North Dakota Organic Analysis of Oilfield Wastewater from the Williston Basin, North Dakota
The organic composition of produced waters (flowback and formation waters) from the Bakken Formation and the Three Forks Formation in the Williston Basin, North Dakota were examined in this study in order to aid in the remediation of surface contamination due to spills during transport and help develop treatment methods for recycling. Twelve produced water samples were collected from...
Filter Total Items: 23
Geochemistry of formation waters from the Wolfcamp and “Cline” shales: Insights into brine origin, reservoir connectivity, and fluid flow in the Permian Basin, USA Geochemistry of formation waters from the Wolfcamp and “Cline” shales: Insights into brine origin, reservoir connectivity, and fluid flow in the Permian Basin, USA
Despite being one of the most important oil producing provinces in the United States, information on basinal hydrogeology and fluid flow in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico is lacking. The source and geochemistry of brines from the basin were investigated (Ordovician- to Guadalupian-age reservoirs) by combining previously published data from conventional reservoirs with...
Authors
Mark A. Engle, Francisco R. Reyes, Matthew S. Varonka, William H. Orem, Ma Lin, Adam J. Ianno, Tiffani M. Westphal, Pei Xu, Kenneth C. Carroll
Atmospheric particulate matter in proximity to mountaintop coal mines: Sources and potential environmental and human health impacts Atmospheric particulate matter in proximity to mountaintop coal mines: Sources and potential environmental and human health impacts
Mountaintop removal mining (MTM) is a widely used approach to surface coal mining in the US Appalachian region whereby large volumes of coal overburden are excavated using explosives, removed, and transferred to nearby drainages below MTM operations. To investigate the air quality impact of MTM, the geochemical characteristics of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) from five surface...
Authors
Laura Kurth, Allan Kolker, Mark A. Engle, Nicholas J. Geboy, Michael Hendryx, William H. Orem, Michael McCawley, Lynn M. Crosby, Calin A. Tatu, Matthew S. Varonka, Christina A. DeVera
Relationships between water and gas chemistry in mature coalbed methane reservoirs of the Black Warrior Basin Relationships between water and gas chemistry in mature coalbed methane reservoirs of the Black Warrior Basin
Water and gas chemistry in coalbed methane reservoirs of the Black Warrior Basin reflects a complex interplay among burial processes, basin hydrodynamics, thermogenesis, and late-stage microbial methanogenesis. These factors are all important considerations for developing production and water management strategies. Produced water ranges from nearly potable sodium-bicarbonate water to...
Authors
Jack C. Pashin, Marcella R. McIntyre-Redden, Steven D. Mann, David C. Kopaska-Merkel, Matthew S. Varonka, William H. Orem
Organic substances in produced and formation water from unconventional natural gas extraction in coal and shale Organic substances in produced and formation water from unconventional natural gas extraction in coal and shale
Organic substances in produced and formation water from coalbed methane (CBM) and gas shale plays from across the USA were examined in this study. Disposal of produced waters from gas extraction in coal and shale is an important environmental issue because of the large volumes of water involved and the variable quality of this water. Organic substances in produced water may be...
Authors
William H. Orem, Calin A. Tatu, Matthew S. Varonka, Harry E. Lerch, Anne L. Bates, Mark A. Engle, Lynn M. Crosby, Jennifer McIntosh
The effect of coal bed dewatering and partial oxidation on biogenic methane potential The effect of coal bed dewatering and partial oxidation on biogenic methane potential
Coal formation dewatering at a site in the Powder River Basin was associated with enhanced potential for secondary biogenic methane determined by using a bioassay. We hypothesized that dewatering can stimulate microbial activity and increase the bioavailability of coal. We analyzed one dewatered and two water-saturated coals to examine possible ways in which dewatering influences coal...
Authors
Elizabeth Jones, Steve H. Harris, Elliott P. Barnhart, William H. Orem, Arthur C. Clark, M.D. Corum, Julie D. Kirshtein, Matthew S. Varonka, Mary A. Voytek
Non-USGS Publications**
Orem, W.; Varonka, M.; Crosby, L.; Haase, K.; Loftin, K.; Hladik, M.; Akob, D.M.; Tatu, C.; Mumford, A.; Jaeschke, J.; Bates, A.; Schell, T. Organic geochemistry and toxicology of a stream impacted by unconventional oil and gas wastewater disposal operations, Appl. Geochem., 2017, 80, 155-167.
Barnhart, E.P.; Davis, K.J.; Varonka, M.; Orem, W.; Cunningham, A.B.; Ramsay, B.D.; Fields, M.W. Enhanced coal-dependent methanogenesis coupled with algal biofuels: Potential water recycle and carbon capture, Int. J. of Coal Geol., 2017, 171, 69-75.
Hall, M. D.; Brimacombe, K. R.; Varonka, M. S.; Pluchino, K. M.; Monda, J. K.; Li, J.; Walsh, M. J.; Boxer, M. B.; Warren, T. H.; Fales, H. M.; Gottesman, M. M. Synthesis and Structure-Activity Evalution of Isatin-β-thiosemicarbazones with Improved Selective Activity toward Multidrug-Resistant Cells Expressing P-Glycoprotein, J. Med. Chem., 2011, 54(16), 5878-5889.
Wiese, S.; Badiei, Y. M.; Gephart, R. T.; Mossin, S.; Varonka, M. S.; Melzer, M. M.; Meyer, K.; Cundari, T. R.; Warren, T. H. Catalytic C-H Amination with Unactivated Amines through Copper(II) Amides, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2010, 49(47), 8850-8855.
Varonka, M. S.; Warren, T. H. Three-Coordinate N-Heterocyclic Carbene Nickel Nitrosyl Complexes, Organometallics, 2010, 29(4), 717-720.
Varonka, Matthew S.; Warren, Timothy H.; Dugan, Thomas R.; Cowley, Ryan E.; Holland, Patrick L. “β-diketiminate Precursors HLMe,Me3 and TlLMe,Me3 (LMe,Me3 = 2,4-bis(2,6-mesitylimido)pentyl),” Complexes of Bulky β-Diketiminate Ligands, in Inorg. Synth. 2010, 35, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, USA.
Varonka, M. S.; Warren, T. H. S-Nitrosothiol and Nitric Oxide Reactivity at Zinc Thiolates, Inorg. Chem., 2009, 48(13), 5605-5607.
Varonka, M.S.; Warren, T.H. S-nitrosothiol and nitric oxide reactivity at β-diketiminato zinc thiolates, Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2007, 360(1), 317-328.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 22
Injection of Deuterium and Yeast Extract at USGS Birney Field Site, Powder River Basin, Montana, USA, 2016-2020 Injection of Deuterium and Yeast Extract at USGS Birney Field Site, Powder River Basin, Montana, USA, 2016-2020
Subsurface microbial (biogenic) methane production is an important part of the global carbon cycle and has resulted in natural gas accumulations in many coal beds worldwide. Laboratory experiments indicate coal beds can act as natural geobioreactors and produce additional low carbon renewable natural gas with algal or yeast compounds, yet the effectiveness of these nutrients in situ are...
Data on the Effects of Oil and Gas Wastewater Components on Microbial Community Structure and Function Data on the Effects of Oil and Gas Wastewater Components on Microbial Community Structure and Function
Oil and gas (OG) wastewaters are commonly disposed of by underground injection and previous research showed that activities at a disposal facility in West Virginia affected stream biogeochemistry and sediment microbial communities downstream from the facility. Microorganisms can control the fate and transport of organic and inorganic components of OG wastewater highlighting the need to
Chemistry Data from Southern Florida Canals Collected in Support of the Aquatic Cycling of Mercury in the Everglades Project Chemistry Data from Southern Florida Canals Collected in Support of the Aquatic Cycling of Mercury in the Everglades Project
Several canals in southern Florida run from Lake Okeechobee through the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) and feed water to the northern Everglades. Agricultural and water-management practices affect the water quality of these canals. Fertilizers added in the EAA flow into the canals and are transported to treatment areas which remove much of the phosphorous in the water, but are not as...
Organic Analysis of Oilfield Wastewater from the Williston Basin, North Dakota Organic Analysis of Oilfield Wastewater from the Williston Basin, North Dakota
The organic composition of produced waters (flowback and formation waters) from the Bakken Formation and the Three Forks Formation in the Williston Basin, North Dakota were examined in this study in order to aid in the remediation of surface contamination due to spills during transport and help develop treatment methods for recycling. Twelve produced water samples were collected from...
Filter Total Items: 23
Geochemistry of formation waters from the Wolfcamp and “Cline” shales: Insights into brine origin, reservoir connectivity, and fluid flow in the Permian Basin, USA Geochemistry of formation waters from the Wolfcamp and “Cline” shales: Insights into brine origin, reservoir connectivity, and fluid flow in the Permian Basin, USA
Despite being one of the most important oil producing provinces in the United States, information on basinal hydrogeology and fluid flow in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico is lacking. The source and geochemistry of brines from the basin were investigated (Ordovician- to Guadalupian-age reservoirs) by combining previously published data from conventional reservoirs with...
Authors
Mark A. Engle, Francisco R. Reyes, Matthew S. Varonka, William H. Orem, Ma Lin, Adam J. Ianno, Tiffani M. Westphal, Pei Xu, Kenneth C. Carroll
Atmospheric particulate matter in proximity to mountaintop coal mines: Sources and potential environmental and human health impacts Atmospheric particulate matter in proximity to mountaintop coal mines: Sources and potential environmental and human health impacts
Mountaintop removal mining (MTM) is a widely used approach to surface coal mining in the US Appalachian region whereby large volumes of coal overburden are excavated using explosives, removed, and transferred to nearby drainages below MTM operations. To investigate the air quality impact of MTM, the geochemical characteristics of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) from five surface...
Authors
Laura Kurth, Allan Kolker, Mark A. Engle, Nicholas J. Geboy, Michael Hendryx, William H. Orem, Michael McCawley, Lynn M. Crosby, Calin A. Tatu, Matthew S. Varonka, Christina A. DeVera
Relationships between water and gas chemistry in mature coalbed methane reservoirs of the Black Warrior Basin Relationships between water and gas chemistry in mature coalbed methane reservoirs of the Black Warrior Basin
Water and gas chemistry in coalbed methane reservoirs of the Black Warrior Basin reflects a complex interplay among burial processes, basin hydrodynamics, thermogenesis, and late-stage microbial methanogenesis. These factors are all important considerations for developing production and water management strategies. Produced water ranges from nearly potable sodium-bicarbonate water to...
Authors
Jack C. Pashin, Marcella R. McIntyre-Redden, Steven D. Mann, David C. Kopaska-Merkel, Matthew S. Varonka, William H. Orem
Organic substances in produced and formation water from unconventional natural gas extraction in coal and shale Organic substances in produced and formation water from unconventional natural gas extraction in coal and shale
Organic substances in produced and formation water from coalbed methane (CBM) and gas shale plays from across the USA were examined in this study. Disposal of produced waters from gas extraction in coal and shale is an important environmental issue because of the large volumes of water involved and the variable quality of this water. Organic substances in produced water may be...
Authors
William H. Orem, Calin A. Tatu, Matthew S. Varonka, Harry E. Lerch, Anne L. Bates, Mark A. Engle, Lynn M. Crosby, Jennifer McIntosh
The effect of coal bed dewatering and partial oxidation on biogenic methane potential The effect of coal bed dewatering and partial oxidation on biogenic methane potential
Coal formation dewatering at a site in the Powder River Basin was associated with enhanced potential for secondary biogenic methane determined by using a bioassay. We hypothesized that dewatering can stimulate microbial activity and increase the bioavailability of coal. We analyzed one dewatered and two water-saturated coals to examine possible ways in which dewatering influences coal...
Authors
Elizabeth Jones, Steve H. Harris, Elliott P. Barnhart, William H. Orem, Arthur C. Clark, M.D. Corum, Julie D. Kirshtein, Matthew S. Varonka, Mary A. Voytek
Non-USGS Publications**
Orem, W.; Varonka, M.; Crosby, L.; Haase, K.; Loftin, K.; Hladik, M.; Akob, D.M.; Tatu, C.; Mumford, A.; Jaeschke, J.; Bates, A.; Schell, T. Organic geochemistry and toxicology of a stream impacted by unconventional oil and gas wastewater disposal operations, Appl. Geochem., 2017, 80, 155-167.
Barnhart, E.P.; Davis, K.J.; Varonka, M.; Orem, W.; Cunningham, A.B.; Ramsay, B.D.; Fields, M.W. Enhanced coal-dependent methanogenesis coupled with algal biofuels: Potential water recycle and carbon capture, Int. J. of Coal Geol., 2017, 171, 69-75.
Hall, M. D.; Brimacombe, K. R.; Varonka, M. S.; Pluchino, K. M.; Monda, J. K.; Li, J.; Walsh, M. J.; Boxer, M. B.; Warren, T. H.; Fales, H. M.; Gottesman, M. M. Synthesis and Structure-Activity Evalution of Isatin-β-thiosemicarbazones with Improved Selective Activity toward Multidrug-Resistant Cells Expressing P-Glycoprotein, J. Med. Chem., 2011, 54(16), 5878-5889.
Wiese, S.; Badiei, Y. M.; Gephart, R. T.; Mossin, S.; Varonka, M. S.; Melzer, M. M.; Meyer, K.; Cundari, T. R.; Warren, T. H. Catalytic C-H Amination with Unactivated Amines through Copper(II) Amides, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2010, 49(47), 8850-8855.
Varonka, M. S.; Warren, T. H. Three-Coordinate N-Heterocyclic Carbene Nickel Nitrosyl Complexes, Organometallics, 2010, 29(4), 717-720.
Varonka, Matthew S.; Warren, Timothy H.; Dugan, Thomas R.; Cowley, Ryan E.; Holland, Patrick L. “β-diketiminate Precursors HLMe,Me3 and TlLMe,Me3 (LMe,Me3 = 2,4-bis(2,6-mesitylimido)pentyl),” Complexes of Bulky β-Diketiminate Ligands, in Inorg. Synth. 2010, 35, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, USA.
Varonka, M. S.; Warren, T. H. S-Nitrosothiol and Nitric Oxide Reactivity at Zinc Thiolates, Inorg. Chem., 2009, 48(13), 5605-5607.
Varonka, M.S.; Warren, T.H. S-nitrosothiol and nitric oxide reactivity at β-diketiminato zinc thiolates, Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2007, 360(1), 317-328.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.