Research

I am a sedimentologist and geochemist with interests in sediment geochemistry and diagenesis on mudstrones and sandstones, as well as modern sediment systems, and have been instrumental in applying standard petrographic and geochemical analysis (e.g. optical and electron microscopy, XRD, stable isotope analysis) and novel mineralogical analysis (e.g. CL, Raman, synchrotron X-ray analysis) to sediment and mudstone systems. I have also been instrumental in integrating field- and basin-scale observations with pore-scale analysis, which has had significant implications for predicting shale and sandstone reservoir properties.

My recent and current research has involved integrating multi-scale sedimentological and diagenetic analysis in major mudstone successions and shale-gas reservoirs (e.g. the Mancos Shale, Utah; the Marceullus, Woodford and Fayetteville Shales of eastern USA; Cretaceous calcareous shales of the Western Interior Seaway, Ordovician Shales in Canada). In my current position I am currently coordinating research initiatives in shale-reservoir structure using high-resolution X-ray CT scanning and experimental mechanical analysis of shales, with links to petrophysical data.

I have received funding from both the international oil and gas industry, and the UK research councils, has undertaken consultancy and has supervised over 25 PhD students.

Research Group(s)

• Ancient Life
• Basin Studies and Petroleum Geoscience