Tina Roberts-Ashby, Ph.D.
Dr. Tina Roberts-Ashby is Science Center Director for the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.
Dr. Roberts-Ashby began her professional career as a geologist with the Florida Geological Survey in 2002, followed by eight years in the environmental consulting industry working as a project manager and hydrogeologist in Florida and the Micronesia region. She joined the USGS in January 2011, working primarily on investigations and assessments of petroleum systems and carbon dioxide (CO2) storage resources throughout the U.S., with a major research focus on the Gulf Coast and Florida; she continues to conduct research in these areas to date.
In her current position as Center Director, Dr. Roberts-Ashby manages a team of scientists whose work focuses on comprehensive, interdisciplinary research, assessments, and surveys of the origin, occurrence, distribution, quantity, and composition of oil, gas, coal, minerals, and associated deposits. Additionally, this team assesses impacts to the environment due to anthropogenic activities associated with energy and mineral resource exploration, development, and production, and investigates the potential reuse of byproducts and wastes generated through energy and mineral production and extraction.
Dr. Roberts-Ashby's areas of research interests and expertise are carbonate sedimentology and diagenesis; reservoir characterization; CO2 sequestration–site characterization, storage capacity assessment, modeling; hydrogeology; aqueous geochemistry; reactive transport modeling; and geophysical interpretations.
Professional Experience
Oct 2016 to April 2020: Associate Center Director, USGS Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, Reston, VA
Jan 2011 to Oct 2016: Research Geologist, USGS Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, Reston, VA
May 2006 to May 2010: Senior Hydrogeologist, Arcadis
May 2003 to Feb 2005: Geologist, EA Engineering, Science & Technology, Inc., Miami, FL/Guam, USA
May 2002 to May 2003: Research Geologist, Florida Geological Survey, Tallahassee, FL
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Geology, School of Geosciences, University of South Florida, 2010
M.S. Geology, Department of Geology, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2002
B.S. Environmental Studies with Chemistry Minor, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2000
Affiliations and Memberships*
Present Member, Geological Society of America (GSA)
Present Member, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Present Member, Gulf Coast Section – Society for Sedimentary Geology (GCSSEPM)
Present Member, Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG)
Present Member, AWG Review & Decision Committee for Annual Chrysalis Scholarship
Present Member, USGS Headquarters Diversity Sub-Council
Chair, USGS Civility & Inclusion Council
Present USGS Business Representative for the GCSSEPM
Science and Products
USGS Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems, and National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Projects - USGS Province 50 Assessment Unit Boundaries and Assessment Input Forms
The Assessment Unit is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources. The Assessment Unit is defined within the context of the higher-level Total Petroleum System. The Assessment Unit is shown herein as a geographic boundary interpreted, defined, and mapped by the geologist responsible for the province and incorporates a set o
Filter Total Items: 13
Modeling geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide in a deep saline carbonate reservoir with TOUGH2–ChemPlugin, a new tool for reactive transport modeling
This paper outlines the development and demonstration of a new tool, TOUGH2–ChemPlugin (T2CPI) for predicting rock–water–CO2 interaction following injection of supercritical CO2 into a heterogeneous carbonate system. Specifically, modeling capabilities of TOUGH2, which examines multiphase flow and supercritical CO2 behavior, were combined with the geochemical modeling capabilities of The Geochemis
Authors
Tina L. Roberts-Ashby, Peter M. Berger, Jeffrey A. Cunningham, Ram Kumar, Madalyn S. Blondes
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the South Florida basin, 2016
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean undiscovered, technically recoverable resources of 49 million barrels of oil and 18 billion cubic feet of gas in the onshore and State waters part of the South Florida basin.
Authors
Tina L. Roberts-Ashby, Paul C. Hackley, Celeste D. Lohr, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Katherine J. Whidden, Phuong A. Le, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Cheryl A. Woodall, Michael E. Brownfield, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Thomas M. Finn
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 physiograp
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
A method for examining the geospatial distribution of CO2 storage resources applied to the Pre-Punta Gorda Composite and Dollar Bay reservoirs of the South Florida Basin, U.S.A
This paper demonstrates geospatial modification of the USGS methodology for assessing geologic CO2 storage resources, and was applied to the Pre-Punta Gorda Composite and Dollar Bay reservoirs of the South Florida Basin. The study provides detailed evaluation of porous intervals within these reservoirs and utilizes GIS to evaluate the potential spatial distribution of reservoir parameters and volu
Authors
Tina Roberts-Ashby, Brandon N. Ashby
Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources─South Florida Basin: Chapter L in Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources
This report presents five storage assessment units (SAUs) that have been identified as potentially suitable for geologic carbon dioxide sequestration within a 35,075-square-mile area that includes the entire onshore and State-water portions of the South Florida Basin. Platform-wide, thick successions of laterally extensive carbonates and evaporites deposited in highly cyclic depositional environme
Authors
Tina L. Roberts-Ashby, Sean T. Brennan, Matthew D. Merrill, Madalyn S. Blondes, P.A. Freeman, Steven M. Cahan, Christina A. DeVera, Celeste D. Lohr
Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources: Permian and Palo Duro Basins and Bend Arch-Fort Worth Basin: Chapter K in Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources
The U.S. Geological Survey has completed an assessment of the potential geologic carbon dioxide storage resource in the onshore areas of the United States. To provide geological context and input data sources for the resources numbers, framework documents are being prepared for all areas that were investigated as part of the national assessment. This report is the geologic framework document for t
Authors
Matthew D. Merrill, Ernie R. Slucher, Tina L. Roberts-Ashby, Peter D. Warwick, Madalyn S. Blondes, P.A. Freeman, Steven M. Cahan, Christina A. DeVera, Celeste D. Lohr
Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources: Williston Basin, Central Montana Basins, and Montana Thrust Belt study areas
The 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act directs the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a national assessment of potential geologic storage resources for carbon dioxide (CO2). The methodology used by the USGS for the national CO2 assessment follows that of previous USGS work. This methodology is non-economic and is intended to be used at regional to sub-basinal scales.
The Williston Bas
Authors
Marc L. Buursink, Matthew D. Merrill, William H. Craddock, Tina L. Roberts-Ashby, Sean T. Brennan, Madalyn S. Blondes, P.A. Freeman, Steven M. Cahan, Christina A. DeVera, Celeste D. Lohr
Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources: Alaska North Slope and Kandik Basin, Alaska
This report presents fourteen storage assessment units (SAUs) from the Alaska North Slope and two SAUs from the Kandik Basin of Alaska. The Alaska North Slope is a broad, north-dipping coastal plain that is underlain by a thick succession of sedimentary rocks that accumulated steadily throughout much of the Phanerozoic during three major tectonic sequences: the Mississippian through Triassic Elles
Authors
William H. Craddock, Marc L. Buursink, Jacob A. Covault, Sean T. Brennan, Colin A. Doolan, Ronald M. Drake, Matthew D. Merrill, Tina L. Roberts-Ashby, Ernie R. Slucher, Peter D. Warwick, Madalyn S. Blondes, P.A. Freeman, Steven M. Cahan, Christina A. DeVera, Celeste D. Lohr
Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources: U.S. Gulf Coast
This report presents 27 storage assessment units (SAUs) within the United States (U.S.) Gulf Coast. The U.S. Gulf Coast contains a regionally extensive, thick succession of clastics, carbonates, salts, and other evaporites that were deposited in a highly cyclic depositional environment that was subjected to a fluctuating siliciclastic sediment supply and transgressive and regressive sea levels. At
Authors
Tina L. Roberts-Ashby, Sean T. Brennan, Marc L. Buursink, Jacob A. Covault, William H. Craddock, Ronald M. Drake, Matthew D. Merrill, Ernie R. Slucher, Peter D. Warwick, Madalyn S. Blondes, Mayur A. Gosai, P.A. Freeman, Steven M. Cahan, Christina A. DeVera, Celeste D. Lohr
National assessment of geologic carbon dioxide storage resources: results
In 2012, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed an assessment of the technically accessible storage resources (TASR) for carbon dioxide (CO2) in geologic formations underlying the onshore and State waters area of the United States. The formations assessed are at least 3,000 feet (914 meters) below the ground surface. The TASR is an estimate of the CO2 storage resource that may be available fo
Authors
National assessment of geologic carbon dioxide storage resources: data
In 2012, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed the national assessment of geologic carbon dioxide storage resources. Its data and results are reported in three publications: the assessment data publication (this report), the assessment results publication (U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources Assessment Team, 2013a, USGS Circular 1386), and the assessment summary
Authors
National assessment of geologic carbon dioxide storage resources: summary
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently completed an evaluation of the technically accessible storage resource (TASR) for carbon dioxide (CO2) for 36 sedimentary basins in the onshore areas and State waters of the United States. The TASR is an estimate of the geologic storage resource that may be available for CO2 injection and storage and is based on current geologic and hydrologic knowledge o
Authors
Non-USGS Publications**
Post, P.J., Coleman, Jr., J.L., Rosen, N.C., Brown, D.E., Roberts-Ashby, T.L., Kahn, P., Rowan, M., eds. (2015). Petroleum Systems in “Rift” Basins. 34th Annual GCSSEPM Foundation Perkins-Rosen Research Conference, Program and Abstracts, 68 p.
Roberts-Ashby, T.L., Stewart, M.T., and Ashby, B.N., 2013, An evaluation of porosity and potential use for carbon dioxide storage in the Upper Cretaceous Lawson Formation and Paleocene Cedar Keys Formation of south-central and southern Florida: Environmental Geosciences, v. 20, no. 3, p. 109-135.
Roberts-Ashby, T.L. and Stewart, M.T., 2012, Potential for carbon dioxide sequestration in the Lower Cretaceous Sunniland Formation within the Sunniland Trend of the South Florida Basin, U.S.: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 6, p. 113-125.
Roberts, T. and Harris, W. (2004). Characterization of nutrients and trace metals in the Peedee Sand and Castle Hayne Limestone Aquifers: New Hanover County, southeastern North Carolina. Southeastern Geology, v. 43, no. 2.
Scott, T., Means, G., Means, R., Meegan, R., Upchurch, S., Copeland, R., Jones, J., Roberts, T., and Willet, W.A. (2004). Springs of Florida. Florida Geological Survey Bulletin 66.
**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.
T2CPI Source Code
This source code (T2CPI) is to accompany the paper "Modeling Geologic Sequestration of CO2 in a Deep Saline Carbonate Reservoir with T2CPI, a New Tool for Reactive Transport Modeling" published in Environmental Geosciences.
Science and Products
- Data
USGS Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems, and National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Projects - USGS Province 50 Assessment Unit Boundaries and Assessment Input Forms
The Assessment Unit is the fundamental unit used in the National Assessment Project for the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources. The Assessment Unit is defined within the context of the higher-level Total Petroleum System. The Assessment Unit is shown herein as a geographic boundary interpreted, defined, and mapped by the geologist responsible for the province and incorporates a set o
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 13
Modeling geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide in a deep saline carbonate reservoir with TOUGH2–ChemPlugin, a new tool for reactive transport modeling
This paper outlines the development and demonstration of a new tool, TOUGH2–ChemPlugin (T2CPI) for predicting rock–water–CO2 interaction following injection of supercritical CO2 into a heterogeneous carbonate system. Specifically, modeling capabilities of TOUGH2, which examines multiphase flow and supercritical CO2 behavior, were combined with the geochemical modeling capabilities of The GeochemisAuthorsTina L. Roberts-Ashby, Peter M. Berger, Jeffrey A. Cunningham, Ram Kumar, Madalyn S. BlondesAssessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the South Florida basin, 2016
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean undiscovered, technically recoverable resources of 49 million barrels of oil and 18 billion cubic feet of gas in the onshore and State waters part of the South Florida basin.AuthorsTina L. Roberts-Ashby, Paul C. Hackley, Celeste D. Lohr, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Katherine J. Whidden, Phuong A. Le, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Cheryl A. Woodall, Michael E. Brownfield, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Thomas M. FinnGeologic 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 physiograpAuthorsWilliam 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. LohrA method for examining the geospatial distribution of CO2 storage resources applied to the Pre-Punta Gorda Composite and Dollar Bay reservoirs of the South Florida Basin, U.S.A
This paper demonstrates geospatial modification of the USGS methodology for assessing geologic CO2 storage resources, and was applied to the Pre-Punta Gorda Composite and Dollar Bay reservoirs of the South Florida Basin. The study provides detailed evaluation of porous intervals within these reservoirs and utilizes GIS to evaluate the potential spatial distribution of reservoir parameters and voluAuthorsTina Roberts-Ashby, Brandon N. AshbyGeologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources─South Florida Basin: Chapter L in Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources
This report presents five storage assessment units (SAUs) that have been identified as potentially suitable for geologic carbon dioxide sequestration within a 35,075-square-mile area that includes the entire onshore and State-water portions of the South Florida Basin. Platform-wide, thick successions of laterally extensive carbonates and evaporites deposited in highly cyclic depositional environmeAuthorsTina L. Roberts-Ashby, Sean T. Brennan, Matthew D. Merrill, Madalyn S. Blondes, P.A. Freeman, Steven M. Cahan, Christina A. DeVera, Celeste D. LohrGeologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources: Permian and Palo Duro Basins and Bend Arch-Fort Worth Basin: Chapter K in Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources
The U.S. Geological Survey has completed an assessment of the potential geologic carbon dioxide storage resource in the onshore areas of the United States. To provide geological context and input data sources for the resources numbers, framework documents are being prepared for all areas that were investigated as part of the national assessment. This report is the geologic framework document for tAuthorsMatthew D. Merrill, Ernie R. Slucher, Tina L. Roberts-Ashby, Peter D. Warwick, Madalyn S. Blondes, P.A. Freeman, Steven M. Cahan, Christina A. DeVera, Celeste D. LohrGeologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources: Williston Basin, Central Montana Basins, and Montana Thrust Belt study areas
The 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act directs the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a national assessment of potential geologic storage resources for carbon dioxide (CO2). The methodology used by the USGS for the national CO2 assessment follows that of previous USGS work. This methodology is non-economic and is intended to be used at regional to sub-basinal scales. The Williston BasAuthorsMarc L. Buursink, Matthew D. Merrill, William H. Craddock, Tina L. Roberts-Ashby, Sean T. Brennan, Madalyn S. Blondes, P.A. Freeman, Steven M. Cahan, Christina A. DeVera, Celeste D. LohrGeologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources: Alaska North Slope and Kandik Basin, Alaska
This report presents fourteen storage assessment units (SAUs) from the Alaska North Slope and two SAUs from the Kandik Basin of Alaska. The Alaska North Slope is a broad, north-dipping coastal plain that is underlain by a thick succession of sedimentary rocks that accumulated steadily throughout much of the Phanerozoic during three major tectonic sequences: the Mississippian through Triassic EllesAuthorsWilliam H. Craddock, Marc L. Buursink, Jacob A. Covault, Sean T. Brennan, Colin A. Doolan, Ronald M. Drake, Matthew D. Merrill, Tina L. Roberts-Ashby, Ernie R. Slucher, Peter D. Warwick, Madalyn S. Blondes, P.A. Freeman, Steven M. Cahan, Christina A. DeVera, Celeste D. LohrGeologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources: U.S. Gulf Coast
This report presents 27 storage assessment units (SAUs) within the United States (U.S.) Gulf Coast. The U.S. Gulf Coast contains a regionally extensive, thick succession of clastics, carbonates, salts, and other evaporites that were deposited in a highly cyclic depositional environment that was subjected to a fluctuating siliciclastic sediment supply and transgressive and regressive sea levels. AtAuthorsTina L. Roberts-Ashby, Sean T. Brennan, Marc L. Buursink, Jacob A. Covault, William H. Craddock, Ronald M. Drake, Matthew D. Merrill, Ernie R. Slucher, Peter D. Warwick, Madalyn S. Blondes, Mayur A. Gosai, P.A. Freeman, Steven M. Cahan, Christina A. DeVera, Celeste D. LohrNational assessment of geologic carbon dioxide storage resources: results
In 2012, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed an assessment of the technically accessible storage resources (TASR) for carbon dioxide (CO2) in geologic formations underlying the onshore and State waters area of the United States. The formations assessed are at least 3,000 feet (914 meters) below the ground surface. The TASR is an estimate of the CO2 storage resource that may be available foAuthorsNational assessment of geologic carbon dioxide storage resources: data
In 2012, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed the national assessment of geologic carbon dioxide storage resources. Its data and results are reported in three publications: the assessment data publication (this report), the assessment results publication (U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources Assessment Team, 2013a, USGS Circular 1386), and the assessment summaryAuthorsNational assessment of geologic carbon dioxide storage resources: summary
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently completed an evaluation of the technically accessible storage resource (TASR) for carbon dioxide (CO2) for 36 sedimentary basins in the onshore areas and State waters of the United States. The TASR is an estimate of the geologic storage resource that may be available for CO2 injection and storage and is based on current geologic and hydrologic knowledge oAuthorsNon-USGS Publications**
Post, P.J., Coleman, Jr., J.L., Rosen, N.C., Brown, D.E., Roberts-Ashby, T.L., Kahn, P., Rowan, M., eds. (2015). Petroleum Systems in “Rift” Basins. 34th Annual GCSSEPM Foundation Perkins-Rosen Research Conference, Program and Abstracts, 68 p.Roberts-Ashby, T.L., Stewart, M.T., and Ashby, B.N., 2013, An evaluation of porosity and potential use for carbon dioxide storage in the Upper Cretaceous Lawson Formation and Paleocene Cedar Keys Formation of south-central and southern Florida: Environmental Geosciences, v. 20, no. 3, p. 109-135.Roberts-Ashby, T.L. and Stewart, M.T., 2012, Potential for carbon dioxide sequestration in the Lower Cretaceous Sunniland Formation within the Sunniland Trend of the South Florida Basin, U.S.: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 6, p. 113-125.Roberts, T. and Harris, W. (2004). Characterization of nutrients and trace metals in the Peedee Sand and Castle Hayne Limestone Aquifers: New Hanover County, southeastern North Carolina. Southeastern Geology, v. 43, no. 2.
Scott, T., Means, G., Means, R., Meegan, R., Upchurch, S., Copeland, R., Jones, J., Roberts, T., and Willet, W.A. (2004). Springs of Florida. Florida Geological Survey Bulletin 66.**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.
- Software
T2CPI Source Code
This source code (T2CPI) is to accompany the paper "Modeling Geologic Sequestration of CO2 in a Deep Saline Carbonate Reservoir with T2CPI, a New Tool for Reactive Transport Modeling" published in Environmental Geosciences.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government