Seth is a Research Geophysicist with the USGS Central Energy Resources Science Center. His areas of work include seismic characterization of gas hydrates, and the quantification of the potential impacts of oil and gas development (including hydraulic fracturing, produced waters, habitat impacts).
Recent Research
Gas hydrate characterization with seismic methods, with main focus on the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska
Water issues related to hydrocarbon production, including quantifying water use for hydraulic fracturing and water produced with oil and gas
Broader impacts of oil and gas development, including habitat and related topics
Shear-wave seismic methods for near-surface applications (focus of Mendenhall Post-doc, 2005-200)
Seismoelectric methods for near-surface applications (dissertation topic)
Education and Certifications
B.A. (1997) Middlebury College (Geology and Physics)
M.Sc. (2001) Stanford University (Geophysics)
Ph.D. (2005) Stanford University (Geophysics)
Science and Products
Geophysical Analysis of Energy Resources
Quantifying broader impacts of oil and gas development
Quantities of water associated with oil and gas development
Oil and Gas Waters Project
Science Team about Energy and Plains and Potholes Environments (STEPPE)
Gas Hydrates
Developing the next generation of USGS resource assessments
Eight Multichannel Seismic Reflection Lines Acquired as Part of a Seismic Evaluation of the Oil and Gas Resource Assessment of the Naval Oil Shale Reserve 2 (NOSR 2), Utah
Data to Estimate Water Use Associated with Continuous Oil and Gas Development, Permian Basin, United States, 1980-2019.
Input forms for 2019 water and proppant assessment of the Eagle Ford Group, Gulf Coast, Texas
Water Use Data for Hydraulic Fracturing Treatments in and near the Williston Basin, United States, 2000-2015
Input forms for 2016 water and proppant assessment of the Bakken and Three Forks Formations, Williston Basin, USA
Assessment of water and proppant quantities associated with petroleum production from the Eagle Ford Group, Gulf Coast, Texas, 2019
Rocky Mountain Region Science Exchange 2020—EarthMAP and the Colorado River Basin
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Upper Cretaceous Austin Chalk and Tokio and Eutaw Formations, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2019
Alaska North Slope 2018 Hydrate-01 Stratigraphic Test Well: Technical results
Gas hydrate saturation estimation from acoustic log data in the 2018 Alaska North Slope Hydrate-01 stratigraphic test well
Estimates of water use associated with continuous oil and gas development in the Williston Basin, North Dakota and Montana, 2007–17
Assessment of undiscovered gas hydrate resources in the North Slope of Alaska, 2018
Assessment of undiscovered continuous tight-gas resources in the Mesaverde Group and Wasatch Formation, Uinta-Piceance Province, Utah and Colorado, 2018
U.S. Geological Survey input-data forms for the assessment of the Upper Jurassic Haynesville Formation, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2016
U.S. Geological Survey input-data forms for the assessment of the Upper Jurassic Bossier Formation, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2016
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Eagle Ford Group and associated Cenomanian–Turonian Strata, U.S. Gulf Coast, Texas, 2018
Science and Products
- Science
Geophysical Analysis of Energy Resources
The Geophysical Analysis of Energy Resources Project (also called the Geophysical Analysis Project) meets the need within the USGS and the Energy Resources Program to conduct advanced theoretical and applied research in reflection seismology to improve the delineation and characterization of both conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon resources. The scientists of the project fulfill these...Quantifying broader impacts of oil and gas development
Work in this task of the Oil and Gas Waters project focuses on quantifying the effects of developing oil and gas resources. The approach is probabilistic, and it builds directly from USGS oil and gas assessment methods and geological studies. Efforts to date have revolved around quantifying habitat loss and land-use change and estimating soil loss. We are working on quantifying other types of...Quantities of water associated with oil and gas development
Work in this task of the Oil and Gas Waters Project focuses on quantifying the water used during hydrocarbon development and the water produced along with oil and gas. Hydraulic fracturing is an integral part of oil and gas development in many areas, and water use for this purpose has increased considerably in the last decade. Water produced from petroleum reservoirs includes hydraulic fracturing...Oil and Gas Waters Project
The primary objective of this project is to provide information on the volume, quality, impacts, and possible uses of water produced during generation and development of energy resources (particularly hydrocarbons) as well as related fluids injected into reservoirs for energy development and associated waste disposal. The purpose of this work is to address scientific and societal questions...Science Team about Energy and Plains and Potholes Environments (STEPPE)
Brine Contamination to Plains and Potholes Environments from Energy Development in the Williston BasinGas Hydrates
Central Energy Resources Science Center - Gas Hydrates Project PageDeveloping the next generation of USGS resource assessments
Resource assessments constitute a key part of the USGS mission, and represent a crucial contribution toward Department of the Interior (DOI) and broader Federal objectives. Current USGS energy and mineral assessment methods evaluate total technically recoverable resources (energy) or economically exploitable materials (minerals); the fiscal year 2010 budget for this work is $82M. To help stakehol - Data
Eight Multichannel Seismic Reflection Lines Acquired as Part of a Seismic Evaluation of the Oil and Gas Resource Assessment of the Naval Oil Shale Reserve 2 (NOSR 2), Utah
This data release contains seismic data for eight (8) two-dimensional (2D) multichannel seismic reflection (MCS) lines recorded in 1981 in Utah as part of a Seismic Evaluation of the Naval Oil Shale Reserve 2 (NOSR 2) commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The lines are designated TRW-1 through TRW-8. This release includes original digital field data, including support metadata recorData to Estimate Water Use Associated with Continuous Oil and Gas Development, Permian Basin, United States, 1980-2019.
One of the largest conventional oil reservoirs in the United States, the Permian Basin, is becoming one of the world?s largest continuous oil and gas producing reservoirs. Continuous, or horizontal well drilling techniques extract oil and gas by directionally drilling and hydraulically fracturing the surrounding reservoir rock. The continuous extraction of oil and gas using hydraulic fracturing reInput forms for 2019 water and proppant assessment of the Eagle Ford Group, Gulf Coast, Texas
The input form provides a record of the complete input values required for the quantitative assessment of water and proppant associated with oil and gas production for the continuous oil and gas resource in a geologically defined Assessment Unit. The same input form template is used for all such assessments. Each USGS water and proppant assessment builds from a USGS petroleum assessment that proviWater Use Data for Hydraulic Fracturing Treatments in and near the Williston Basin, United States, 2000-2015
Water used for hydraulic fracturing treatments in and near the Williston Basin during 2000-2015, was estimated using data reported in IHS Markit (TM) (2016). Hydraulic fracturing treatment data from IHS Markit (TM) (2016) may include volumes in a variety of measurement units, and they may include multiple treatments per well. All listed treatments within the study area were converted to gallons anInput forms for 2016 water and proppant assessment of the Bakken and Three Forks Formations, Williston Basin, USA
The input form provides a record of the complete input values required for the quantitative assessment of water and proppant associated with oil and gas production for the continuous oil and gas resource in a geologically defined Assessment Unit, and the same form template is used for all such assessments. Each USGS water and proppant assessment builds from a USGS petroleum assessment that provide - Publications
Filter Total Items: 58
Assessment of water and proppant quantities associated with petroleum production from the Eagle Ford Group, Gulf Coast, Texas, 2019
Building on a geology-based assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable petroleum resources in the Eagle Ford Group in south Texas, the U.S. Geological Survey has estimated the required water and proppant demands and formation water production volumes associated with possible future development of these petroleum resources. The results of the water and proppant assessment are presented herRocky Mountain Region Science Exchange 2020—EarthMAP and the Colorado River Basin
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Rocky Mountain Region (RMR) hosted USGS scientists, managers, program coordinators, and leadership team members for a virtual Science Exchange during September 15–17, 2020. The Science Exchange had 216 registered participants and included 48 talks over the 3-day period. Invited speakers presented information about the novel USGS Earth Monitoring, Analysis, and PreByEcosystems, Water Resources, Oklahoma Water Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, New Mexico Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Western Geographic Science CenterAssessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Upper Cretaceous Austin Chalk and Tokio and Eutaw Formations, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2019
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 6.9 billion barrels of oil and 41.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in conventional and continuous accumulations in the Upper Cretaceous Austin Chalk and Tokio and Eutaw Formations onshore and in State waters of the U.S. Gulf Coast region.Alaska North Slope 2018 Hydrate-01 Stratigraphic Test Well: Technical results
The Hydrate-01 Stratigraphic Test Well was drilled in December 2018 to confirm that a seismically-identified location within the western Prudhoe Bay Unit might be suitable for extended-duration scientific production testing. The well tested two primary targets: the deeper Unit B is highly favorable due to optimal reservoir temperature and minimal observed risk for direct communication with permeabGas hydrate saturation estimation from acoustic log data in the 2018 Alaska North Slope Hydrate-01 stratigraphic test well
Completed in December 2018, the Alaska North Slope Hydrate 01 stratigraphic test well provides a wealth of logging-while-drilling (LWD) data for strata to below the base of gas hydrate stability (BGHS). This well is intended to be the first of three wells drilled for a long-term gas hydrate production test to be conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory, theEstimates of water use associated with continuous oil and gas development in the Williston Basin, North Dakota and Montana, 2007–17
This study of water use associated with development of continuous oil and gas resources in the Williston Basin is intended to provide a preliminary model-based analysis of water use in major regions of production of continuous oil and gas resources in the United States. Direct, indirect, and ancillary water use associated with development of continuous oil and gas resources in the Williston BasinAssessment of undiscovered gas hydrate resources in the North Slope of Alaska, 2018
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of about 54 trillion cubic feet of gas resources within gas hydrates in the North Slope of Alaska.Assessment of undiscovered continuous tight-gas resources in the Mesaverde Group and Wasatch Formation, Uinta-Piceance Province, Utah and Colorado, 2018
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 24 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Mesaverde Group and Wasatch Formation of the Uinta-Piceance Province in northeast Utah and northwest Colorado.U.S. Geological Survey input-data forms for the assessment of the Upper Jurassic Haynesville Formation, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2016
IntroductionIn 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed an updated assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in the Upper Jurassic Haynesville Formation of the onshore U.S. Gulf Coast Province (Paxton and others, 2017). The Haynesville Formation was assessed using both the standard continuous (unconventional) and conventional methodologies established by thU.S. Geological Survey input-data forms for the assessment of the Upper Jurassic Bossier Formation, U.S. Gulf Coast, 2016
IntroductionIn 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed an updated assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in the Upper Jurassic Bossier Formation of the onshore U.S. Gulf Coast Province (Paxton and others, 2017). The Bossier Formation was assessed using both the standard continuous (unconventional) and conventional methodologies established by the USGS fAssessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Eagle Ford Group and associated Cenomanian–Turonian Strata, U.S. Gulf Coast, Texas, 2018
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 8.5 billion barrels of oil and 66 trillion cubic feet of gas in continuous accumulations in the Upper Cretaceous Eagle Ford Group and associated Cenomanian–Turonian strata in onshore lands of the U.S. Gulf Coast region, Texas. - Multimedia