Energy and Mineral Resources

• Subsurface Visualization
• Seismic Petrophysics
• Stratigraphy and Basin Analysis
• Geochemistry and Ore Deposits

Subsurface Visualization

Subsurface visualization is uses all available data and technology to get a better understanding of what the upper 4-5 km of the earth's crust looks like and how it works. Since all of the major economic mineral deposits are located in this zone, locating and identifying gas and oil reservoirs and ore deposits is one aspect of this brach of science. Others are visualizing the movement of contaminent plumes or the migration of hydrocarbons. The rise of the Internet has provided an entirely new way for earth scientists to gather data, and advances in computer and software make it easier and easier to manipulate and view these data. Making students at all levels aware of the importance of the Internet and teaching them how to exploit this resource to understand the earth's upper crust is one of the primary goals of this laboratory.

More Details...Subsurface Visualization

Research Grants
Department of Energy, $750,000, 1/1/98 - 12/31/01, Visualization of Fractures in Hydrocarbon Reservoirs, $250,000 MTU cost share, J. R. Wood.
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Seismic Petrophysics

Reflection seismic data is often used not only to map structures, but to identify the lithology and fluids present in a formation. The geophysicist processes data to retain 'true' amplitudes and to remove artifacts of acquisition and previous processing steps, then uses features of the seismic data called attributes to help in identifying rock types. Some of the identification is purely statistically based, relying on correlations between observations in wells and the character of the seismic wavelet.

Our research emphasizes the physical cause of the correlation, and is directed toward improving the usefulness of seismic reflection data by developing more-robust techniques of predicting lithology based on attributes. We are currently supported by the Dept. of Energy and work with high-end computing software packages provided by Schlumberger-GeoQuest, Mercury International Technology, Andrews Scott Pickford, and Flagship Geosciences.

More Details... Seismic Petrophysics

Research Grants
Dept of Energy, $927,121, 10/1998 - 9/2001, Calibration of Seismic Attributes for Reservoir Characterization, W. D. Pennington

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, $15,301, 6/1998 - 11/1999, Borehole Seismic Source Evaluation, Traverse City Test Facility, W. D. Pennington

Society of Exploration Geophysicists, $8000, 6/1999 - 12/1999, Earthquake Seismology in K-12 Schools, W. D. Pennington
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Stratigraphy and Basin Analysis

Research in the areas of Stratigraphy and Basin Analysis emphasizes the evolution of sedimentary basins. Data collected in the field and from core and well-logs are used to reconstruct sea-level, tectonic, and climate change. Computer models are used to investigate the thermal histories of basins, and sediment transport in fluvial, deltaic, and nearshore marine systems.

Research Grants
National Science Foundation, $428,132, 7/15/99 - 7/15/02, Geology of Utah's National Parks and Monuments: Education Materials for Earth Science Courses, J. Huntoon (lead PI) , G. Bluth, W. Kennedy, F. Erickson.

National Science Foundation, $41,000, 9/1/98 - 8/31/99, Geology of Utah's National Parks and Monuments, J. Huntoon, G. Bluth, W. Kennedy, F. Erickson.
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Geochemistry and Ore Deposits

Geochemistry is used in the study of metallic ore deposits, geothermal energy resources, petroleum energy resources, and the environment. The application of geochemical data include a wide spectrum of studies including characterization of the chemical composition of earth materials, exploration for undiscovered resources, mobility of chemical components in the environment, and development of an understanding of earth processes. Geochemical data often require extensive graphical and statistical analysis via computer.

The study of ore deposits often requires the integration of a wide variety of geoscience data such as field and drill core observations, mineral and rock distribution, petrography, structure, and geochemistry. These data are organized in digital databases which are analyzed to develop exploration and genetic models of ore deposits. Research has included the study of hydrothermal gold deposits in Finland, Michigan, and selected localities in the western U.S.; native copper and copper sulfide deposits in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan; iron deposits in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan; and titanium and iron enriched gabbro intrusions of Finland.
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Faculty Information

Theodore J. Bornhorst    PG Department Chair & Professor of Economic and Engineering Geology
Ph.D., University of New Mexico
Economic geology, geochemistry (mineral deposits and environmental),geology of the Lake Superior region, statistical analysis of geosecience data.
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Jacqueline E. Huntoon    Associate Professor of Geology
Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Sedimentology, stratigraphy, tectonics, petroleum geology, basin analysis
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S. Douglas McDowell    Professor of Geology
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology
Metamorphic petrology, geothermal geology, clay mineralogy
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Wayne D. Pennington     Professor of Geophysical Engineering
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin--Madison
Petroleum geophysics, well logging, seismology, induced seismicity
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James R. Wood Jr.     Professor of Geology
Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
Geochemistry, environmental geology, diagenesis, petroleum geology
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Charles T. Young, PE     Associate Professor of Geophysical Engineering
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin--Madison
Exploration geophysics, electrical and electromagnetic geophysics, geophysical signal analysis, ground-penetrating radar, environmental geophysics
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Courses

GE4160 - Introduction to Subsurface GIS

GE4200 - Applied Geochemistry

GE4600 - Reflection Seismology

GE4610 - Formation Evaluation and Petroleum Engrg.

GE4750 - Structural Styles in Petroleum Engrg.

GE4760 - Engrg. Evaluation of Mineral Deposits

GE5110 - Sequence Stratigraphy

GE5120 - Basin Analysis

GE5130 - Geology of Utah's National Parks

GE5200 - Advanced Geochemistry

GE5210 - Advanced Applied Geochemistry

GE5220 - Aqueous Geochemistry

GE5450 - Potential Field Theory in Gravity and Magnetic Applications

GE5600 - Advanced Reflection Seismology

GE5610 - Quantitative Reservoir Characterization

GE5760 - Advanced Engrg. Evaluation of Mineral Deposits

GE5770 - Mineral Deposit Exploration Models
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Research/Publications

Bornhorst, T.J., Nurmi, P.A., and Kontoniemi, O., 1998, Geochemistry of gold and associated elements in the Paleoproterozoic Osikonmaki gold deposit, southeastern Finland: Geological Survey of Finland Special Paper 25, p. 81-90.

Bornhorst, T.J., 1997, Tectonic context of native copper deposits of the North American Midcontinent rift system: Geological Society of America Special Paper, 312, p. 127-136.

Bornhorst, T.J., and Johnson, R.C., 1993, Geology of volcanic rocks in the southern half of the Archean Ishpeming greenstone belt, Michigan: U. S.Geological Survey Bulletin 1904-P, 13p.

Huntoon, J.E., Dolson, J., and Henry, B., 1994, Seals and migration pathways in paleogeomorphically trapped petroleum occurrences: Permian White Rim Sandstone, Tar-Sand Triangle area, Utah, in Dolson, J.C., Hendricks, M.L., and Wescott, W.A. (Eds.) Unconformity-Related Hydrocarbons in Sedimentary Sequences: Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, p. 99-118.

Huntoon, J.E., Hansley, P.L., and Naeser, N.D., 1999, The search for a source rock for the giant Tar Sand Triangle accumulation, southeastern Utah: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 83, p. 467-495.

Kamola, D.L. and Huntoon, J.E., 1995, Repetitive stratal patterns in a foreland basin sandstone and their possible tectonic significance: Geology, v. 23, n. 2, p. 177-180.

Pennington, Wayne D. (1997), Seismic petrophysics: an applied science=20 for reservoir geophysics, The Leading Edge, March, 241-244.

Pennington, Wayne D., and Terra E. Lutch (1997), Finding hydrocarbons in the classroom using free seismic interpretation software, The Leading Edge, July, 1051-1053.

Pennington, W. D. and D. P. Edwards (1994), Integrating well log data, drilling data, and laboratory data for the determination of maximum drawdown limits in the presence of weak sands, SPE 28453, Society of Petroleum Engineers, proceedings, 69th Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, 937-945.
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