Michael J Stephens
Biography
Michael is a hydrogeologist in the California Water Science Center. He works on the California Oil, Gas, and Groundwater program, where the goal is to answer questions about the impacts of oil and gas development on water resources in the state. He focuses on using geophysics, geochemistry, and geostatistics to map groundwater salinity in and around oil fields to indentify groundwater resources.
Science and Products
A novel method for the extraction, purification and characterization of noble gases in produced fluids
Hydrocarbon systems with declining or viscous oil production are often stimulated using enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques, such as the injection of water, steam and CO2, in order to increase oil and gas production. As EOR and other methods of enhancing production such as hydraulic fracturing have become more prevalent, environmental concerns...
Tyne, Rebecca L.; Barry, Peter H; Hillegonds, D J; Hunt, Andrew; Kulongoski, Justin T.; Stephens, Michael J.; Byrne, D.J.; Ballentine, C.J. Groundwater salinity and the effects of produced water disposal in the Lost Hills-Belridge oilfields, Kern County, California
Increased oil and gas production in many areas has led to concerns over the effects these activities may be having on nearby groundwater quality. In this study we determine the lateral and vertical extent of groundwater with less than 10,000 milligrams per liter (mg/l) total dissolved solids (TDS) near the Lost Hills-Belridge oilfields in...
Gillespie, Janice M.; Davis, Tracy; Stephens, Michael J.; Ball, Lyndsay B.; Landon, Matthew K. Groundwater salinity mapping using geophysical log analysis within the Fruitvale and Rosedale Ranch oil fields, Kern County, California, USA
A method is presented for deriving a volume model of groundwater total dissolved solids (TDS) from borehole geophysical and aqueous geochemical measurements. While previous TDS mapping techniques have proved useful in the hydrogeologic setting in which they were developed, they may yield poor results in settings with lithological heterogeneity,...
Stephens, Michael J.; Shimabukuro, David H.; Gillespie, Janice M.; Chang, Will Tracing enhanced oil recovery signatures in casing gases from the Lost Hills oil field using noble gases
Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and hydraulic fracturing practices are commonly used methods to improve hydrocarbon extraction efficiency; however the environmental impacts of such practices remain poorly understood. EOR is particularly prevalent in oil fields throughout California where water resources are in high demand and disposal of high volumes...
Barry, Peter H.; Kulongoski, Justin T.; Landon, Matthew K.; Tyne, R.L.; Gillespie, Janice M.; Stephens, Michael J.; Hillegonds, D.J.; Byrne, D.J.; Ballentine, C.J.