Michael Merrell
Graduate Student seeking an MS
email: michael.merrell@mail.utexas.edu
Michael's resumé
UTIG Supervisor: Dr. Peter Flemings
Research Subject: Main focus is looking at how pore pressure and stress couple in the vicinity of salt bodies.
Study area is in the Gulf of Mexico along the Sigsbee Escarpment in the Mad Dog field. Through the use of wireline logs, leak off test (LOT's), modular dynamic tester (MDT's), and images logs (used to constrain the magnitude and orientation of principal stress) I will characterize the in-situ pressure and stress in the vicinity of salt. The seismic data around Mad Dog is used to map top and base salt, along with key stratigraphic horizons within the field. I am applying 2D and 3D finite element models based on key stratigraphic horizons and rheology of the geomaterials (e.g. mudstone, salt, etc) to predict perturbations near salt across the Mad Dog field. I will be comparing the model results to the measured in-situ pressure and stressed observed from industry data. The final result with be a conceptual model for evolution of stresses and fluid pressures beneath salt sheets.
Previous Education: B.S., Petroleum Geology, The University of Oklahoma
Awards:
Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering Scholarship (Fall 2009, Spring 2010)
School of Geology and Geophysics Scholarship (Fall 2007-Spring 2010)
Oklahoma Energy Resources Board Scholarship (Fall 2007-2009, Spring 2010)
SBC Foundation Scholarship Program (Fall 2006-Spring 2010)
James Gibbs Geosciences Endowment Scholarship (Fall 2009)
Oklahoma City Geological Society Scholarship (Spring 2009)
Total Petroleum Scholarship (Spring 2009)
Professional Organizations:
American Association of Petroleum Geologist (AAPG)
Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG)
Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)
Presentations:
Merrell, M., 2010, Mad Dog Research Plans, UT Geofluids Consoritum Meeting, Austin, TX