Peter Eichhubl
Research Scientist, Bureau of Economic GeologyPeter Eichhubl's research combines the fields of fault and fracture mechanics and low-temperature geochemistry addressing deformation mechanisms of the upper crust, structural control of mass and heat transfer in sedimentary basins, effects of chemical mass transfer on the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of fractures and faults, and the chemical interaction between fluids and minerals. Dr. Eichhubl's research is of applied interest to groundwater management and the exploration and production of hydrocarbons. Fundamental aspects of the research have implications for the seismic and aseismic deformation of the Earth's upper crust and for the interaction of subsurface fluids with the atmosphere and biosphere.
Areas of Expertise
Fault and fracture mechanics, diagenesis and low-temp. geochemistry, fluid flow and transfer processes in sedimentary basins, deformation mechanisms of the upper crust, structural control of mass and heat transfer in sedimentary basins, effects of chemical mass transfer on the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of fractures and faults, chemical interaction between fluids and minerals
Research Locations
Current Research Programs & Projects
Fracture research and application consortium (FRAC): industry sponsored reserarch on naturally fractured reservoirs (with Steve Laubach, Julia Gale, BEG, Jon Olson, PGE) ( view )Center for Frontiers of Subsurface Energy Security (CFSES): DOE-sponsored research on subsurface CO2 sequestration (with Gary Pope, Sanjay Shrinivasan, Steve Bryant, Matt Balhoff, PGE; Tom Dewers, Sean McKenna, Sandia National Labs) ( view )RPSEA Multiazimuth Seismic Diffraction Imaging for Fracture Characterization in Low-Permeability Gas Formations (with Sergey Fomel, BEG, DGS)
Shell UT Unconventional Research (SUTUR) - Interaction of natural and hydraulic fractures in unconventional reservoirs (with Jon Olson, PGE)
Shell UT Unconventional Research (SUTUR) - Multi-phase physics and matrix-fracture transfer in partially mineralized and propped fractures (with Masha Prodanovic, PGE)
DOE-BES Predicting fracture porosity evolution in sandstone (with Steve Laubach, BEG)
RPSEA Relationships between Induced Seismicity and Fluid Injection: Development of strategies to Manage Fluid Disposal in Shale Hydrocarbon Plays (with Cliff Frohlich, Julia Gale, Jon Olson PGE)
Associate Editor, AAPG Bulletin, AAPG (2013)
Energy Theme leader, JSG (2011)
Member, Graduate student admissions and support, JSG (2011)
Associate Editor, GSA Bulletin, GSA (2006)
Postdocs
Tobias Weisenberger, 2010 - 2012, PhD Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany
Assistant Professor, University of Oulu, Finland
Andras Fall, 2008 - 2011, PhD Virginia Tech
Research Associate, BEG
Stephen Becker, 2007 - 2008, PhD Virginia Tech
Exxon Upstream Research
Graduate Students
Laura E Pommer, M.S., expected 2013
Multifaceted research experience including geochemistry, structural geology, sedimentology, petrophysics, and energy geoscience.
Yaser A Alzayer, M.S., expected 2014
Canalp Ozkul, M.S., expected 2014
Jonathan Major, Ph.D., expected 2016
I consider myself primarily an applied structural geologist and tectonicist, but I have a wide range of interests and research experience. Some of these include metamorphism, glacier-climate interactions, collisional and extensional tectonics, tectonic geomorphology, and isotope geochemistry.
My primary field research areas are the Colorado Plateau, Utah, and eastern Indonesia.
Owen A Callahan, Ph.D., expected 2017
Structural geology, geothermal geology (exploration and development), engineered geothermal systems, GIS
Guangjian Cecilia Xu, M.S., 2012
Fluid inclusion studies of microfractures in Eriboll Formation, NW Scotland: Insights into timing of fracture opening
Alexander Urquhart, M.S., 2011
Structural controls on CO2 leakage and diagenesis in a natural long-term carbon sequestration analogue: The Little Grand Wash fault, Utah.
Autumn Kaylor Eakin, M.S., 2011
A fluid inclusion and cathodoluminescence approach to reconstruct fracture growth in the Triassic-Jurassic La Boca Formation, Northeastern Mexico
GEO 380C Advanced Structural Geology (Graduate)
Fault and fracture processes, structural diagenesis (Graduate)
Graduate student projects combine the fields of fault and fracture mechanics and low-temperature geochemistry addressing deformation mechanisms of the upper crust, structural control of mass and heat transfer in sedimentary basins, the effects of chemical mass transfer on the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of fractures and faults, and the chemical interaction between fluids and minerals. Projects usually require the integration of field and laboratory analytical or numerical work and preference goes to applicants that are equally comfortable in the field and in the lab. Research topics include field- and core-based structural geology, geomechanics, geofluids, geochemistry, and natural resources including CO2 sequestration. A current research emphasis lies in Structural Diagenesis which combines the traditionally separate fields of brittle structural geology and diagenesis/geochemistry. Preference goes to PhD applicants with a prior MS degree and MS applicants with undergraduate research experience, preferentially through completion of a senior's thesis.
