Research
BPSM Scientists and Graduate Students work on a variety of problems in basin and petroleum system modeling. These problems are organized here by research topic and by geographic area. A research topic covers themes both broad and specific in scope that can be applied to many modeling scenarios in different geographic areas. Most of these research topics are placed in their sedimentary basin and petroleum system context in the geographic area section to determine their applicability to other settings. A geographic area is a sedimentary basin or tectonic setting where a research topic is applied to a basin and petroleum system modeling case study.
Student Research
Natural Hydrogen
BPSM participants are exploring the potential of natural hydrogen and its relationship to rock-fluid system modeling. Important issues include the relative importance of various natural mechanisms for generation, migration, and trapping. More specifically: (1) what are the contributions of radiolysis and high-temperature decomposition of residual organic matter relative to serpentinization, and (2) what are the conditions that could effectively trap hydrogen given its substantially lower solubility in water and higher diffusion constant relative to methane? In fact, are observed seeps of highly concentrated hydrogen a reflection of currently active generation? Are high concentrations in some natural gasses a reflection of organic decomposition or an indication of mixed sourcing? Read More
Principal Scientist Research
Studies in Alaska North Slope

Hosford Scheirer, A., and K. J. Bird, 2020, A lateral well in the Shublik Formation, Alaska North Slope, with implications for development of unconventional resource potential: Interpretation, v. 8, p. SJ36-SJ49, http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/INT-2019-0186.1.