Madalyn S. Blondes, Ph.D.
Madalyn Blondes is a Research Geologist at the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.
Madalyn is the co-Chief of the Oil & Gas Waters Project and also works on the Utilization of Carbon and other Energy Gases Project. Her current research focuses on the geochemistry of water associated with oil and gas production (produced waters), geologic CO2 storage through mineralization, compositional data analysis (CoDa) in the earth sciences, development of probabilistic assessment methodologies for CO2 storage and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in geologic reservoirs, and using geochemistry to understand CO2 flow in natural systems. Madalyn obtained her B.A. from the Pomona College Geology Department in 2003 and her Ph.D. from the Yale University Department of Geology & Geophysics in 2008. She did postdoctoral research at the University of Maryland before joining the USGS in 2010.
Professional Experience
2008 - 2010: Postdoctoral Associate, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Geology & Geophysics, Yale University, 2008
M.Phil. Geology & Geophysics, Yale University, 2005
B.A. Geology, Pomona College, 2003
Science and Products
Microbial Communities Associated with Hot Springs and other CO2-rich Waters, Rocky Mountain Plateau
Direct Trace Element Determination in Oil and Gas Produced Waters with Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES): Advantages of High Salinity Tolerance (2019)
U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database v2.3 (superseded by ver. 3.0, December 2023)
Direct trace element determination in oil and gas produced waters with inductively coupled plasma - Optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES): Advantages of high salinity tolerance
A probabilistic assessment methodology for carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention
Chemical composition of formation water in shale and tight reservoirs: A basin-scale perspective
Geochemical data for produced waters from conventional and unconventional oil and gas wells: Results from Colorado, USA
Carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and residual oil zone studies at the U.S. Geological Survey
Carbon dioxide mineralization feasibility in the United States
The isometric log-ratio (ilr)-ion plot: A proposed alternative to the Piper diagram
Mantle and crustal gases of the Colorado Plateau: Geochemistry, sources, and migration pathways
A database and probabilistic assessment methodology for carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention in the United States
Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources—Southern Rocky Mountain Basins: Chapter M in Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources
The U.S. Geological Survey has completed an assessment of the potential geologic carbon dioxide storage resources in the onshore areas of the United States. To provide geological context and input data sources for the resources numbers, framework documents are being prepared for all areas that were investigated as part of the national assessment. This report, chapter M, is the geologic framework d
A practical guide to the use of major elements, trace elements, and isotopes in compositional data analysis: Applications for deep formation brine geochemistry
Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources─South Florida Basin: Chapter L in Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Microbial Communities Associated with Hot Springs and other CO2-rich Waters, Rocky Mountain Plateau
Direct Trace Element Determination in Oil and Gas Produced Waters with Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES): Advantages of High Salinity Tolerance (2019)
U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database v2.3 (superseded by ver. 3.0, December 2023)
Direct trace element determination in oil and gas produced waters with inductively coupled plasma - Optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES): Advantages of high salinity tolerance
A probabilistic assessment methodology for carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention
Chemical composition of formation water in shale and tight reservoirs: A basin-scale perspective
Geochemical data for produced waters from conventional and unconventional oil and gas wells: Results from Colorado, USA
Carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and residual oil zone studies at the U.S. Geological Survey
Carbon dioxide mineralization feasibility in the United States
The isometric log-ratio (ilr)-ion plot: A proposed alternative to the Piper diagram
Mantle and crustal gases of the Colorado Plateau: Geochemistry, sources, and migration pathways
A database and probabilistic assessment methodology for carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention in the United States
Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources—Southern Rocky Mountain Basins: Chapter M in Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources
The U.S. Geological Survey has completed an assessment of the potential geologic carbon dioxide storage resources in the onshore areas of the United States. To provide geological context and input data sources for the resources numbers, framework documents are being prepared for all areas that were investigated as part of the national assessment. This report, chapter M, is the geologic framework d
A practical guide to the use of major elements, trace elements, and isotopes in compositional data analysis: Applications for deep formation brine geochemistry
Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources─South Florida Basin: Chapter L in Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.