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
Owen Callahan, 2018 - 2020, PhD UT Austin
Now: Postdoc, University of Washington
Mahdi Haddad, 2017 - 2020, PhD UT Austin
Now: Research Associate, BEG, UT Austin
Cheng Zhu, 2016 - 2017, PhD Georgia Tech
Now: Assistant Professor, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
Xiaofeng Chen, 2015 - 2018, PhD University of Oklahoma
Now: Research Specialist, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Chris Landry, 2013 - 2016, PhD Penn State
Now: Research Associate, Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, UT Austin
Zhiqiang Fan, 2013 - 2016, PhD Univ. Maine
Professor, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Shaanxi, China
Estibalitz Ukar, 2011 - 2013, PhD UT Austin
Now: Research Scientist, BEG, UT Austin
Tobias Weisenberger, 2010 - 2012, PhD Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany
Now: Scientist, GFZ German Research Center, Potsdam, Germany
Andras Fall, 2008 - 2011, PhD Virginia Tech
Now: Research Scientist, BEG, UT Austin
Stephen Becker, 2007 - 2008, PhD Virginia Tech
Now: Geochemist, Exxon Upstream Integrated Solutions
Graduate Students
Natchanan (Mint) Doungkaew, Ph.D., 2023
(Supervisor)
UT Austin, Jackson School of Geosciences
Dissertation: Fracture Growth in Chemically Reactive Geologic Systems: Experimental and Field Studies
Now: Asst. Professor, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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: US Environmental Protection Agency, Rockville, Maryland.
Owen Callahan, Ph.D., 2018
(Supervisor)
UT Austin, Jackson School of Geosciences
Dissertation: Interaction between chemical alteration, fracture mechanics, and fluid flow in hydrothermal systems
Now: Postdoc, University of Washington
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 at American Museum of Natural History, Washington DC
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: Asst. Professor, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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