Peter Eichhubl
Mailcode: E0630
Peter 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 geothermal and fossil energy resources and underground storage of hydrogen and CO2. 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, reservoir geomechanics, 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): fundamental and applied research on naturally fractured reservoirs (with Steve Laubach, Julia Gale, BEG, Jon Olson, UT-CPGE) ( view )DOE-BES Predicting fracture porosity evolution in sandstone (with Steve Laubach, BEG)
TexNet and CISR Geomechanics of Induced Seismicity and Fluid Injection (collaboration with Peter Hennings, Mahdi Haddad, Zhiqiang Fan, Cheng Zhu, Jon Olson, and others) ( view )Geological storage of hydrogen (GeoH2) ( view )Select Past Research
Shell UT Unconventional Research (SUTUR) - Water production in the Wolfcamp Shale, Permian Basin (with Julia Gale, JP Nicot, Chris Landry, Masha Prodanovic and others)
NETL: Geomechanics of CO2 Reservoir Seals, with Jon Olson (UT-CPGE), Pania Newell, Tom Dewers (Sandia National Labs)
Microstructure of deformation bands (industry sponsored)
Chair, GSC membership committee, UT Jackson School of Geosciences (2020 - 2021)
Senior Technical Advisor, BEG (2019 - 2021)
Member, Strategic planning, JSG (2015 - 2018)
Associate Editor, AAPG Bulletin, AAPG (2013 - 2016)
JSG Energy Theme leader, JSG (2011 - 2018)
Editorial Board Member, Austrian Journal of Earth Sciences (2007 - 2020)
Managing Editor, Chair of Publication Board, Bureau of Economic Geology (2007 - Present)
Associate Editor, Geological Society of America Bulletin, Geological Society of America (2006 - Present)
Postdocs
Mahdi Haddad
Mahdi Haddad is a postdoctoral fellow at the Bureau of Economic Geology at The University of Texas at Austin where he conducts research on geomechanics of induced seismicity through the TexNet project. His postdoctoral research focuses on induced seismicity in production-injection multi-layer geological systems. Previously, Haddad worked as a research geomechanics intern at FracGeo, LLC where he developed continuum damage...
Owen Callahan, 2018 - 2020, Jackson School of Geosciences
Cheng Zhu, 2016 - 2017
Assistant Professor, Rowan University, NJ
Xiaofeng Chen, 2015 - 2018
Research Associate, University of Oklahoma
Chris Landry, 2013 - 2016
Research Associate, Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, UT Austin
Zhiqiang Fan, 2013 - 2016
Postdoctoral Scholar, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV
Estibalitz Ukar, 2011 - 2013, PhD UT Austin
Research Associate, BEG
Tobias Weisenberger, 2010 - 2012, PhD Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany
Iceland GeoSurvey, Reykjavik, Iceland
Andras Fall, 2008 - 2011, PhD Virginia Tech
Research Associate, BEG
Stephen Becker, 2007 - 2008, PhD Virginia Tech
Exxon Upstream Research
Graduate Students
Mint Doungkaew
(Supervisor)
I study processes of fracture growth in quartzitic sandstone of the Campito Formation, eastern California, by combining field structural observations, thin section petrography, and fluid inclusion microthermometry. Since processes of fracture formation control flow of fluid in the subsurface and the mechanical properties of the brittle crust, understanding of fundamental fracture growth mechanisms is essential for understanding fracture formation and...
Jonathan Major, Ph.D., 2018
(Supervisor)
UT Austin, Jackson School of Geosciences
Dissertation: Natural fractures in mudrocks and top seal integrity: Insights from diagenesis, rock mechanics, and modeling applied to CO2 sequestration and hydrocarbon exploration.
Now at BYU Idaho
Erick Wright, M.S., 2017
(Supervisor)
UT Austin, Jackson School of Geosciences
Thesis: A Comprehensive Study of Nano-Scale Grain Boundary Channels in Fracture Cements Using Scanning Electron Microscopy, Electron Backscatter Diffraction, and Transmission Electron Microscopy. Now Environmental Consultant, San Francisco
Casey O'Brien, M.S., 2016
(Supervisor)
UT Austin, Jackson School of Geosciences
Thesis: Chemical and Mechanical Diagenetic Evolution of Deformation Bands in Sandstone. Now at Shell.
Natchanan Doungkaew, M.S., 2016
(Supervisor)
UT Austin, Jackson School of Geosciences
Thesis: Fracture Aperture Profiles as Indicators of Fracture Growth Environments: An Integrated Study of Fracture Aperture Growth in the Campito Formation of Eastern California. Now: PhD student at UT Austin, Jackson School of Geosciences
Adenike Tokan-Laval, M.S., 2015
(Supervisor)
Thesis: Understanding fluid flow in rough-walled fractures using x-ray microtomography images. Now at Shell.
Canalp Ozkul, M.S., 2014
(Supervisor)
UT Austin, Jackson School of Geosciences
Thesis: Fracture abundance and strain in folded Cardium Formation, Alberta Fold-and-Thrust Belt, Canada. Co-supervised by Dr. Estibalitz Ukar. Now at Turkiye Petrolleri A.O.
Yaser Al Zayer, M.S., 2014
(Supervisor)
Thesis: Fracture opening kinematics in tight sandstone reservoirs. Now: SaudiAramco, Saudi Arabia
Laura Pommer, M.S., 2013
(Supervisor)
UT Austin, Jackson School of Geosciences
Thesis: Natural fracture cementation in the Marcellus Formation.
Co-supervised by Dr. Julia Gale. Now at Anadarko Petroleum
Guangjian Cecilia Xu, M.S., 2012
(Supervisor)
UT Austin, JAckson School of Geosciences
Thesis: Fluid inclusion studies of microfractures in Eriboll Formation, NW Scotland: Insights into timing of fracture opening
Now PhD student at Texas A&M
Alexander Urquhart, M.S., 2011
(Supervisor)
UT Austin, Jackson School of Geosciences
Thesis: Structural controls on CO2 leakage and diagenesis in a natural long-term carbon sequestration analogue: The Little Grand Wash fault, Utah. Currently MPP student at the Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies at the University of Chicago.
Autumn Kaylor Eakin, M.S., 2011
(Supervisor)
UT Austin, Jackson School of Geosciences
Thesis: A fluid inclusion and cathodoluminescence approach to reconstruct fracture growth in the Triassic-Jurassic La Boca Formation, Northeastern Mexico
Now at Chevron Energy Technology Company
Peter Hargrove, M.S., 2010
(Co-supervisor)
UT Austin, Jackson School of Geosciences
Thesis: Fault-related fracture systems in the Cambrian Eriboll Formation, Northwest Scotland : a field and petrographic study of a tight gas sandstone analog.
Now at BP.
| Year | Semester | Course | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Spring | GEO 394 | Rsch In Geological Sciences |
| 2017 | Fall | GEO 394 | Rsch In Geological Sciences |
| 2017 | Spring | GEO 394 | Rsch In Geological Sciences |
| 2016 | Fall | GEO 394 | Rsch In Geological Sciences |
| 2016 | Spring | GEO 394 | Rsch Reservoir Struct/Geochem |
| 2015 | Fall | GEO 394 | Rsch In Geological Sciences |
| 2015 | Spring | GEO 394 | Rsch Reservoir Struct/Geochem |
| 2014 | Fall | GEO 394 | Rsch Reservoir Struct/Geochem |
| 2014 | Spring | GEO 394 | Rsch Reservoir Struct/Geochem |
Field Photos
Field work in Scotland, Utah, Alberta, and California.
Brittle structures, fluid flow, and diagenesis: Valley of Fire to Moab, October 2014
Field trip to Valley of Fire (NV), San Rafael Swell (UT), and Moab (UT) in October 2014, sponsored by a grant by the GDL Foundation. Team: Peter Eichhubl (instructor), Jon Major (co-leader), Sara Elliott (co-leader), Andras Fall, Chris Landry, Zhiqiang Fan, Nike Tokan-Laval, Casey O'Brien, Erick Wright, Mint Doungkaew, Peter Laciano.
Structural Diagenesis Initiative
GeoH2
Research consortium on geological hydrogen storage