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Tip Meckel

The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, Research Scientist

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Dr. Tip Meckel is a Senior Research Scientist investigating geologic carbon sequestration topics for the Bureau of Economic Geology at The University of Texas at Austin.

He joined the Gulf Coast Carbon Center at the Bureau in 2006, focusing on geologic characterization, structural geology, monitoring design, and pressure evolution for CO2 injections. Tip has been involved with several large-scale field demonstration projects funded through DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory. After early exposure during the FRIO tests east of Houston in 2006, he co-directed the research program for the SECARB demonstration project in Cranfield Mississippi, and currently leads the research initiative to identify offshore sequestration potential in the Gulf of Mexico with focus on capacity assessment and seismic monitoring technologies.

PhD geology & geophysics The University of Texas at Austin 2003
MS geology University of Montana in Missoula 1998

He briefly taught undergraduate geology at Colby College in Maine followed by a two year position with the U.S. Geological Survey as a Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow in Woods Hole, MA.

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Papers by Tip Meckel

High-resolution geologic modeling and CO2 flow simulation of a realistic clastic deltaic 3D model derived from a laboratory flume tank experiment

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control

High-Resolution Geologic Modelling and Co2 Flow Simulation of a Realistic Clastic Deltaic 3d Model Derived from a Laboratory Flume Tank Experiment

SSRN Electronic Journal

Preliminary Evaluation of Offshore Transport and Geologic Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Guidance Document for Offshore Sequestration of CO2)

Retrospective on the SECARB Early Test

Characterizing the Effect of Capillary Heterogeneity on Multiphase Flow Pulsation in an Intermediate‐Scale Beadpack Experiment Using Time Series Clustering and Frequency Analysis

Water Resources Research, 2021

Storage of Carbon Dioxide in Saline Aquifers: Physicochemical Processes, Key Constraints, and Scale-Up Potential

Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 2021

CO2storage in saline aquifers offers a realistic means of achieving globally significant reductio... more CO2storage in saline aquifers offers a realistic means of achieving globally significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions at the scale of billions of tonnes per year. We review insights into the processes involved using well-documented industrial-scale projects, supported by a range of laboratory analyses, field studies, and flow simulations. The main topics we address are ( a) the significant physicochemical processes, ( b) the factors limiting CO2storage capacity, and ( c) the requirements for global scale-up.Although CO2capture and storage (CCS) technology can be considered mature and proven, it requires significant and rapid scale-up to meet the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement. The projected growth in the number of CO2injection wells required is significantly lower than the historic petroleum industry drill rates, indicating that decarbonization via CCS is a highly credible and affordable ambition for modern human society. Several technology developments are need...

Maturing global CO2 storage resources on offshore continental margins to achieve 2DS emissions reductions

Scientific Reports, 2019

Most studies on CO2 emissions reduction strategies that address the ‘two-degree scenario’ (2DS) r... more Most studies on CO2 emissions reduction strategies that address the ‘two-degree scenario’ (2DS) recognize a significant role for CCS. For CCS to be effective, it must be deployed globally on both existing and emerging energy systems. For nations with large-scale emissions, offshore geologic CO2 storage provides an attractive and efficient long-term strategy. While some nations are already developing CCS projects using offshore CO2 storage resources, most geographic regions have yet to begin. This paper demonstrates the geologic significance of global continental margins for providing broadly-equitable, geographically-relevant, and high-quality CO2 storage resources. We then use principles of pore-space utilization and subsurface pressure constraints together with analogs of historic industry well deployment rates to demonstrate how the required storage capacity can be developed as a function of time and technical maturity to enable the global deployment of offshore storage for facil...

High-resolution 3D seismic acquisition at the Tomakomai CO2 storage project, offshore Hokkaido, Japan

SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2019, 2019

High-resolution 3D marine seismic acquisition in the overburden at the Tomakomai CO2 storage project, offshore Hokkaido, Japan

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 2019

A seismic-based CO2-sequestration regional assessment of the Miocene section, northern Gulf of Mexico, Texas and Louisiana

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 2019

What Offshore CCS Will Look Like in the Gulf of Mexico - Perspectives from Texas

Offshore Technology Conference, 2019

Geologic Heterogeneity Controls on Trapping and Migration of CO 2

Geophysical Research Letters

Rethinking Geologic Carbon Storage Capacity: An Approach With Practical Considerations

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2021

A realistic and practical understanding of storage capacity is essential during the scoping and p... more A realistic and practical understanding of storage capacity is essential during the scoping and planning phases of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects. This study developed from the need to redefine carbon storage capacity in a way that it provides CCUS project developers with the information they need, not only on the size of the accessible pore volume they would require, but also –and as importantly- on the rate at which CO2 can be injected into it considering geological, technical, and economic constraints. In this paper, we think of geologic storage capacity as the rate at which CO2 can be technically and economically injected into an accessible pore volume for a period of time constrained by either a maximum injection pressure or a geologic boundary. We applied this concept to a region in the Offshore Northern Gulf of Mexico to understand the opportunities of its oil and gas fields. To estimate the accessible storage capacity we used EASiTool (Enhanced Analytical Simulation Tool) capacity calculator, a closed-form analytical solution in a public Windows application that provides fast, yet reliable estimates in any geologic setting. Results from EASiTool capacity assessments indicate that the total accessible CO2 storage capacity for pure carbon storage (no production) in oil and gas fields within the area of study is up to ~200 MTonnes. This paper illustrates how an average, representative reservoir in the area of study would have an open boundary storage capacity of 2.3 MTonnes, accessible over a period of 8 years at a rate of 0.28 MTonnes/year through one injection well. This carbon storage resource is an attractive complement to the vast storage capacity of the Offshore Northern Gulf of Mexico stratigraphy.

Evaluating the Mobilization of Cations from Aquifer Rocks Exposed to High CO2 Levels

Capture of CO2 from point sources such as coal-fired power plants and storage deep in the subsurf... more Capture of CO2 from point sources such as coal-fired power plants and storage deep in the subsurface is being explored as means to reduce anthropogenic CO2 in the atmosphere, especially in the Gulf Coast Region. Characterization of subsurface settings can maximize assurance that CO2 will be retained in the injection zone for long periods of time; however, the consequences of error resulting in leakage needs to be considered prior to implementation. This project undertakes a first laboratory investigation of the extent to which the accidental movement of CO2 into a shallow aquifer could mobilize major and minor cations bound to the aquifer host rock and threaten groundwater quality. Ten core samples representative of major aquifers in Texas were placed in deionized water and bubbled with CO2. Results showed elevated major cation (Ca, K, Mg, Na, Si) concentrations, such as carbonate samples with higher concentrations of Ca and Mg and clastic samples with higher Na and Si. Elevations i...

砕屑性帯水層における浮力流れのためのCO_2飽和に対するメータ以下のスケールでの3次元キャピラリー不均一性とベッドフォーム構造の影響【Powered by NICT】

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 2017

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage hub development on the Gulf Coast

Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, 2021

Monitoring a large volume CO2 injection: Year two results from SECARB project at Denbury’s Cranfield, Mississippi, USA

Energy Procedia, 2011

Regional CO2sequestration capacity assessment for the coastal and offshore Texas Miocene interval

Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, 2013

Use of novel high-resolution 3D marine seismic technology to evaluate Quaternary fluvial valley development and geologic controls on shallow gas distribution, inner shelf, Gulf of Mexico

Interpretation, 2016

The first deployment of the P-Cable™ high-resolution 3D (HR3D) seismic acquisition system in the ... more The first deployment of the P-Cable™ high-resolution 3D (HR3D) seismic acquisition system in the Gulf of Mexico has provided unprecedented resolution of depositional, architectural, and structural features related to relative sea-level change recorded in the Quaternary stratigraphy. These details are typically beyond conventional 3D seismic resolution and/or excluded from commercial surveys, which are generally optimized for deeper targets. Such HR3D data are valuable for detailed studies of reservoir analogs, sediment delivery systems, fluid-migration systems, and geotechnical hazard assessment (i.e., drilling and infrastructure). The HR3D survey ([Formula: see text]) collected on the inner shelf ([Formula: see text] water depth) offshore San Luis Pass, Texas, imaged the upper 500 m of stratigraphy using peak frequency of 150 Hz and [Formula: see text] bin size. These data provided an exceptionally well-imaged example of shallow subsurface depositional system and stratigraphic arch...

Offshore CCS in the Gulf of Mexico, with Emphasis on the Inner-Shelf Cenozoic Stratigraphy of Texas, USA

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2018

High-resolution geologic modeling and CO2 flow simulation of a realistic clastic deltaic 3D model derived from a laboratory flume tank experiment

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control

High-Resolution Geologic Modelling and Co2 Flow Simulation of a Realistic Clastic Deltaic 3d Model Derived from a Laboratory Flume Tank Experiment

SSRN Electronic Journal

Preliminary Evaluation of Offshore Transport and Geologic Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Guidance Document for Offshore Sequestration of CO2)

Retrospective on the SECARB Early Test

Characterizing the Effect of Capillary Heterogeneity on Multiphase Flow Pulsation in an Intermediate‐Scale Beadpack Experiment Using Time Series Clustering and Frequency Analysis

Water Resources Research, 2021

Storage of Carbon Dioxide in Saline Aquifers: Physicochemical Processes, Key Constraints, and Scale-Up Potential

Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 2021

CO2storage in saline aquifers offers a realistic means of achieving globally significant reductio... more CO2storage in saline aquifers offers a realistic means of achieving globally significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions at the scale of billions of tonnes per year. We review insights into the processes involved using well-documented industrial-scale projects, supported by a range of laboratory analyses, field studies, and flow simulations. The main topics we address are ( a) the significant physicochemical processes, ( b) the factors limiting CO2storage capacity, and ( c) the requirements for global scale-up.Although CO2capture and storage (CCS) technology can be considered mature and proven, it requires significant and rapid scale-up to meet the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement. The projected growth in the number of CO2injection wells required is significantly lower than the historic petroleum industry drill rates, indicating that decarbonization via CCS is a highly credible and affordable ambition for modern human society. Several technology developments are need...

Maturing global CO2 storage resources on offshore continental margins to achieve 2DS emissions reductions

Scientific Reports, 2019

Most studies on CO2 emissions reduction strategies that address the ‘two-degree scenario’ (2DS) r... more Most studies on CO2 emissions reduction strategies that address the ‘two-degree scenario’ (2DS) recognize a significant role for CCS. For CCS to be effective, it must be deployed globally on both existing and emerging energy systems. For nations with large-scale emissions, offshore geologic CO2 storage provides an attractive and efficient long-term strategy. While some nations are already developing CCS projects using offshore CO2 storage resources, most geographic regions have yet to begin. This paper demonstrates the geologic significance of global continental margins for providing broadly-equitable, geographically-relevant, and high-quality CO2 storage resources. We then use principles of pore-space utilization and subsurface pressure constraints together with analogs of historic industry well deployment rates to demonstrate how the required storage capacity can be developed as a function of time and technical maturity to enable the global deployment of offshore storage for facil...

High-resolution 3D seismic acquisition at the Tomakomai CO2 storage project, offshore Hokkaido, Japan

SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2019, 2019

High-resolution 3D marine seismic acquisition in the overburden at the Tomakomai CO2 storage project, offshore Hokkaido, Japan

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 2019

A seismic-based CO2-sequestration regional assessment of the Miocene section, northern Gulf of Mexico, Texas and Louisiana

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 2019

What Offshore CCS Will Look Like in the Gulf of Mexico - Perspectives from Texas

Offshore Technology Conference, 2019

Geologic Heterogeneity Controls on Trapping and Migration of CO 2

Geophysical Research Letters

Rethinking Geologic Carbon Storage Capacity: An Approach With Practical Considerations

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2021

A realistic and practical understanding of storage capacity is essential during the scoping and p... more A realistic and practical understanding of storage capacity is essential during the scoping and planning phases of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects. This study developed from the need to redefine carbon storage capacity in a way that it provides CCUS project developers with the information they need, not only on the size of the accessible pore volume they would require, but also –and as importantly- on the rate at which CO2 can be injected into it considering geological, technical, and economic constraints. In this paper, we think of geologic storage capacity as the rate at which CO2 can be technically and economically injected into an accessible pore volume for a period of time constrained by either a maximum injection pressure or a geologic boundary. We applied this concept to a region in the Offshore Northern Gulf of Mexico to understand the opportunities of its oil and gas fields. To estimate the accessible storage capacity we used EASiTool (Enhanced Analytical Simulation Tool) capacity calculator, a closed-form analytical solution in a public Windows application that provides fast, yet reliable estimates in any geologic setting. Results from EASiTool capacity assessments indicate that the total accessible CO2 storage capacity for pure carbon storage (no production) in oil and gas fields within the area of study is up to ~200 MTonnes. This paper illustrates how an average, representative reservoir in the area of study would have an open boundary storage capacity of 2.3 MTonnes, accessible over a period of 8 years at a rate of 0.28 MTonnes/year through one injection well. This carbon storage resource is an attractive complement to the vast storage capacity of the Offshore Northern Gulf of Mexico stratigraphy.

Evaluating the Mobilization of Cations from Aquifer Rocks Exposed to High CO2 Levels

Capture of CO2 from point sources such as coal-fired power plants and storage deep in the subsurf... more Capture of CO2 from point sources such as coal-fired power plants and storage deep in the subsurface is being explored as means to reduce anthropogenic CO2 in the atmosphere, especially in the Gulf Coast Region. Characterization of subsurface settings can maximize assurance that CO2 will be retained in the injection zone for long periods of time; however, the consequences of error resulting in leakage needs to be considered prior to implementation. This project undertakes a first laboratory investigation of the extent to which the accidental movement of CO2 into a shallow aquifer could mobilize major and minor cations bound to the aquifer host rock and threaten groundwater quality. Ten core samples representative of major aquifers in Texas were placed in deionized water and bubbled with CO2. Results showed elevated major cation (Ca, K, Mg, Na, Si) concentrations, such as carbonate samples with higher concentrations of Ca and Mg and clastic samples with higher Na and Si. Elevations i...

砕屑性帯水層における浮力流れのためのCO_2飽和に対するメータ以下のスケールでの3次元キャピラリー不均一性とベッドフォーム構造の影響【Powered by NICT】

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 2017

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage hub development on the Gulf Coast

Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, 2021

Monitoring a large volume CO2 injection: Year two results from SECARB project at Denbury’s Cranfield, Mississippi, USA

Energy Procedia, 2011

Regional CO2sequestration capacity assessment for the coastal and offshore Texas Miocene interval

Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, 2013

Use of novel high-resolution 3D marine seismic technology to evaluate Quaternary fluvial valley development and geologic controls on shallow gas distribution, inner shelf, Gulf of Mexico

Interpretation, 2016

The first deployment of the P-Cable™ high-resolution 3D (HR3D) seismic acquisition system in the ... more The first deployment of the P-Cable™ high-resolution 3D (HR3D) seismic acquisition system in the Gulf of Mexico has provided unprecedented resolution of depositional, architectural, and structural features related to relative sea-level change recorded in the Quaternary stratigraphy. These details are typically beyond conventional 3D seismic resolution and/or excluded from commercial surveys, which are generally optimized for deeper targets. Such HR3D data are valuable for detailed studies of reservoir analogs, sediment delivery systems, fluid-migration systems, and geotechnical hazard assessment (i.e., drilling and infrastructure). The HR3D survey ([Formula: see text]) collected on the inner shelf ([Formula: see text] water depth) offshore San Luis Pass, Texas, imaged the upper 500 m of stratigraphy using peak frequency of 150 Hz and [Formula: see text] bin size. These data provided an exceptionally well-imaged example of shallow subsurface depositional system and stratigraphic arch...

Offshore CCS in the Gulf of Mexico, with Emphasis on the Inner-Shelf Cenozoic Stratigraphy of Texas, USA

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2018

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