William H Orem, Ph.D.
William Orem (Bill), Ph.D. is a Supervisory Research Chemist (Geochemist) and Principal Investigator with the USGS Eastern Energy Resources Science Center in Reston, VA.
Biography
Prior to joining the USGS, Dr. Orem was a National Research Council Postdoc for 2 years. His research at the USGS focuses on biogeochemistry and organic geochemistry. He currently leads several projects investigating: (1) human and environmental health impacts of energy resources, (2) environmental controls on mercury methylation in wetlands, and (3) microbial methanogenesis and natural gas production in coal, shale, and petroleum deposits. He oversees a 7 lab geochemistry and toxicology lab complex (Eastern Energy Environmental Labs, EEEL) and supervises lab personnel and visiting scientists. He has authored over 150 peer reviewed papers and 250 abstracts.
Education
- B.S. Chemistry, Lehigh University
- M.S. Oceanography, University of Delaware
- Ph.D. Chemistry, University of New Hampshire
Work Experience
- Research Chemist, U.S. Geological Survey (1984-present)
- Adjunct Faculty, University of Maryland, Department of Geology (1982-1992)
- National Research Council Postdoctoral Associate (1982-1984)
Science and Products
Stimulation of methane generation from nonproductive coal by addition of nutrients or a microbial consortium
Biogenic formation of methane from coal is of great interest as an underexploited source of clean energy. The goal of some coal bed producers is to extend coal bed methane productivity and to utilize hydrocarbon wastes such as coal slurry to generate new methane. However, the process and factors controlling the process, and thus ways to stimulate...
Jones, Elizabeth J.P.; Voytek, Mary A.; Corum, M.D.; Orem, William H.
Health effects of energy resources
Energy resources (coal, oil, and natural gas) are among the cornerstones of modern industrial society. The exploitation of these resources, however, is not without costs. Energy materials may contain harmful chemical substances that, if mobilized into air, water, or soil, can adversely impact human health and environmental quality. In order to...
Orem, William; Tatu, Calin; Pavlovic, Nikola; Bunnell, Joseph; Kolker, Allan; Engle, Mark; Stout, Ben
Preliminary use of uric acid as a biomarker for wading birds on Everglades Tree Islands, Florida, United States
Concentrations of organic biomarkers and concentrations of phosphorus in soil cores can potentially be used as proxies for historic population densities of wading birds on tree islands in the Florida Everglades. This report focuses on establishing a link between the organic biomarker uric acid found in wading bird guano and the high phosphorus...
Bates, Anne L.; Orem, William H.; Newman, Susan; Gawlik, Dale E.; Lerch, Harry E.; Corum, M.D.; Van Winkle, Monica Geologic controls on thermal maturity patterns in Pennsylvanian coal-bearing rocks in the Appalachian basin
Thermal maturation patterns of Pennsylvanian strata in the Appalachian basin were determined by compiling and contouring published and unpublished vitrinite reflectance (VR) measurements. VR isograd values range from 0.6% in eastern Ohio and eastern Kentucky (western side of the East Kentucky coal field) to greater than 5.5% in eastern...
Ruppert, L.F.; Hower, J.C.; Ryder, R.T.; Levine, J.R.; Trippi, M.H.; Grady, W.C. Organic intermediates in the anaerobic biodegradation of coal to methane under laboratory conditions
Organic intermediates in coal fluids produced by anaerobic biodegradation of geopolymers in coal play a key role in the production of methane in natural gas reservoirs. Laboratory biodegradation experiments on sub-bituminous coal from Texas, USA, were conducted using bioreactors to examine the organic intermediates relevant to methane production....
Orem, William H.; Voytek, Mary A.; Jones, Elizabeth J.; Lerch, Harry E.; Bates, Anne L.; Corum, M.D.; Warwick, Peter D.; Clark, Arthur C. A carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur elemental and isotopic study in dated sediment cores from the Louisiana Shelf
Three sediment cores were collected off the Mississippi River delta on the Louisiana Shelf at sites that are variably influenced by recurring, summer-time water-column hypoxia and fluvial loadings. The cores, with established chronology, were analyzed for their respective carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur elemental and isotopic composition to examine...
Rosenbauer, R.J.; Swarzenski, P.W.; Kendall, C.; Orem, W.H.; Hostettler, F.D.; Rollog, M.E. Divisions of geologic time - Major chronostratigraphic and geochronologic units
[No abstract available]
Orndorff, R.C.; Stamm, N.; Craigg, S.; D'Erchia, T.; Edwards, L.; Fullerton, D.; Murchey, B.; Ruppert, L.; Soller, D.; Tew, B. Does sulphate enrichment promote the expansion of Typha domingensis (cattail) in the Florida Everglades?
1. The expansion of Typha domingensis into areas once dominated by Cladium jamaicense in the Florida Everglades has been attributed to altered hydrology and phosphorus enrichment, although increased concentrations of sulphate and phosphorus often coincide. The potential importance of hydrogen sulphide produced from sulphate in the expansion of...
Li, S.; Mendelssohn, I.A.; Hao, Chen; Orem, W.H. Mercury cycling in stream ecosystems. 2. Benthic methylmercury production and bed sediment - Pore water partitioning
Mercury speciation, controls on methylmercury (MeHg) production, and bed sediment−pore water partitioning of total Hg (THg) and MeHg were examined in bed sediment from eight geochemically diverse streams where atmospheric deposition was the predominant Hg input. Across all streams, sediment THg concentrations were best described as a combined...
Marvin-DiPasquale, Mark; Lutz, Michelle A; Brigham, Mark E.; Krabbenhoft, David P.; Aiken, George R.; Orem, William H.; Hall, Britt D. Organic geochemistry of resins from modern Agathis australis and Eocene resins from New Zealand: Diagenetic and taxonomic implications
A maturation series of resins and fossil resins from New Zealand, ranging in age from Modern to Eocene and ranging from uncoalified to high volatile C bituminous coal, were analyzed by elemental, pyrolysis-gas chromatography (Py-GC), Fourier Transform infrared (FTir), and solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) techniques. For...
Lyons, P.C.; Mastalerz, Maria; Orem, W.H. Pick your poison: If one pollutant doesn't take down the everglades, another might
[No abstract available]
Orem, W.H. Bioassay for estimating the biogenic methane-generating potential of coal samples
Generation of secondary biogenic methane in coal beds is likely controlled by a combination of factors such as the bioavailability of coal carbon, the presence of a microbial community to convert coal carbon to methane, and an environment supporting microbial growth and methanogenesis. A set of treatments and controls was developed to bioassay the...
Jones, Elizabeth J.P.; Voytek, Mary A.; Warwick, Peter D.; Corum, M.D.; Cohn, Alexander G.; Bunnell, Joseph E.; Clark, Arthur C.; Orem, William H.