Natural gas production has a long and rich history, but until recently, unconventional reservoirs have been a rounding error in terms of supporting global demand. Now these “tight” gas wells are an essential part of U.S. energy policy. And yet, many fundamental questions about the physics of production remain unanswered. I work in a multidisciplinary team to assess the production potential of the five major shale gas plays in the United States. This is assisted through both simple mechanistic models for the productivity of individual natural gas wells, and more advanced reservoir simulation.
Another important consideration is efficiently and safely creating fracture networks in oil and gas shale to allow for economic production from these wells. I apply the atomic theory of dynamic fracture to determine robust techniques for forming effective fracture networks.
Graduate Research Assistant
Summer 2011 – present: Cockrell School of Engineering, Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering
Teaching Assistant
Fall 2010, Spring 2011: 115L, a laboratory course for a mechanical and electromagnetic waves course meant for undergraduate physics majors.
Research Intern/Research Technician
Spring to Summer 2010: Max Planck Institute for Nonlinear Dynamics and Self-Organisation, Goettingen, Germany
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Summer 2006-Fall 2009: Physics Department Kansas State University and Max Planck Institute for Nonlinear Dynamics and Self-Organisation, Goettingen, Germany
Ph.D. Candidate
The University of Texas at Austin, 2010 – present
B.S. Physics
Kansas State University, 2009
B.A. Political Science
Kansas State University, 2009