Map of the continental United States indicating the well density per 100 square mile grid cell of 117,672 unplugged orphaned wells in the 27 states included in the documented orphaned oil and gas well (DOW) dataset. Note the exponential scale of the coloring scheme used to preserve detail across both lower and higher well densities.
Matthew D. Merrill
Matthew Merrill is a Research Geologist with the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.
Matt received a masters and a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University in Earth Sciences with focuses in Mars remote sensing and Andean volcanology respectively. Since joining the USGS in 2005 he has focused on numerous energy and minerals issues and specializes in carbon dioxide related topics, such as natural CO2 geochemistry, carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions. Other areas of research include various oil and gas assessments and methodology creation for assessing enhanced oil recovery with CO2 and also the impacts to wildlife from wind turbine facilities.
Professional Experience
2007 - present: Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, USGS
2005 - 2007: Eastern Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center, USGS
Education and Certifications
M.A. Earth Science, Wesleyan University, 2005
B.A. Earth and Environmental Science, Wesleyan University, 2003
Science and Products
Comparison of measured versus modeled TOC in the Tuscaloosa marine shale of Southwestern Mississippi, U.S.A.
Geologic carbon management options for the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region
A residual oil zone (ROZ) assessment methodology with application to the central basin platform (Permian Basin, USA) for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and long-term geologic CO2 storage
Geologic energy storage
Introduction As the United States transitions away from fossil fuels, its economy will rely on more renewable energy. Because current renewable energy sources sometimes produce variable power supplies, it is important to store energy for use when power supply drops below power demand. Battery storage is one method to store power. However, geologic (underground) energy storage may be able to retain
Analysis of the United States documented unplugged orphaned oil and gas well dataset
Assessment of undiscovered conventional gas resources in the Deep Tuscaloosa Group Sandstones of the Western Gulf Basin Province, U.S. Gulf Coast region, 2021
National assessment of carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention resources — Summary
National assessment of carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention resources — Results
Demographic and potential biological removal models identify raptor species sensitive to current and future wind energy
A probabilistic assessment methodology for carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention
A Methodology to Assess the National and Regional Impacts of U.S. Wind Energy Development on Birds and Bats
Carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and residual oil zone studies at the U.S. Geological Survey
Carbon and Energy Storage, Emissions and Economics (CESEE)
Assessing Emissions from Active and Abandoned Coal Mines
Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources-Anadarko and Southern Oklahoma Basins: Chapter R. Spatial Data
Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources - Appalachian Basin, Black Warrior Basin, Illinois Basin, and Michigan Basin: Chapter P, Spatial Data
Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources-Wind River Basin: Chapter O, Spatial Data
Delta log R total organic carbon estimates for the Tuscaloosa marine shale, U.S.A.
This dataset contains estimated total organic carbon (TOC) calculated using the delta log R (dlogR) method, developed by Passey and others (1990), within BasinMod modeling software for the Tuscaloosa marine shale (TMS) in southwestern Mississippi, U.S.A. BasinMod is a modeling software developed by Platte River Associates, Inc. Using version 2021-03-03 of the software, sonic and resistivity logs a
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-U.S. Gulf Coast, Deep Tuscaloosa Conventional Gas: Assessment Unit Boundary, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
United States Documented Unplugged Orphaned Oil and Gas Well Dataset
National assessment of carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention resources - data release
Geologic formations and mine locations for potential CO2 mineralization
Federal Lands Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sequestration in the United States: Estimates 2005-14 - Data Release
Map of the continental United States indicating the well density per 100 square mile grid cell of 117,672 unplugged orphaned wells in the 27 states included in the documented orphaned oil and gas well (DOW) dataset. Note the exponential scale of the coloring scheme used to preserve detail across both lower and higher well densities.
United States Documented Unplugged Orphaned Oil and Gas Well (DOW) Dataset Viewer
The dataset was created to provide documented orphaned well data to decision makers, as well as researchers, and other interested parties in a publicly available online format.
Science and Products
Comparison of measured versus modeled TOC in the Tuscaloosa marine shale of Southwestern Mississippi, U.S.A.
Geologic carbon management options for the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region
A residual oil zone (ROZ) assessment methodology with application to the central basin platform (Permian Basin, USA) for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and long-term geologic CO2 storage
Geologic energy storage
Introduction As the United States transitions away from fossil fuels, its economy will rely on more renewable energy. Because current renewable energy sources sometimes produce variable power supplies, it is important to store energy for use when power supply drops below power demand. Battery storage is one method to store power. However, geologic (underground) energy storage may be able to retain
Analysis of the United States documented unplugged orphaned oil and gas well dataset
Assessment of undiscovered conventional gas resources in the Deep Tuscaloosa Group Sandstones of the Western Gulf Basin Province, U.S. Gulf Coast region, 2021
National assessment of carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention resources — Summary
National assessment of carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention resources — Results
Demographic and potential biological removal models identify raptor species sensitive to current and future wind energy
A probabilistic assessment methodology for carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention
A Methodology to Assess the National and Regional Impacts of U.S. Wind Energy Development on Birds and Bats
Carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and residual oil zone studies at the U.S. Geological Survey
Carbon and Energy Storage, Emissions and Economics (CESEE)
Assessing Emissions from Active and Abandoned Coal Mines
Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources-Anadarko and Southern Oklahoma Basins: Chapter R. Spatial Data
Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources - Appalachian Basin, Black Warrior Basin, Illinois Basin, and Michigan Basin: Chapter P, Spatial Data
Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources-Wind River Basin: Chapter O, Spatial Data
Delta log R total organic carbon estimates for the Tuscaloosa marine shale, U.S.A.
This dataset contains estimated total organic carbon (TOC) calculated using the delta log R (dlogR) method, developed by Passey and others (1990), within BasinMod modeling software for the Tuscaloosa marine shale (TMS) in southwestern Mississippi, U.S.A. BasinMod is a modeling software developed by Platte River Associates, Inc. Using version 2021-03-03 of the software, sonic and resistivity logs a
USGS National and Global Oil and Gas Assessment Project-U.S. Gulf Coast, Deep Tuscaloosa Conventional Gas: Assessment Unit Boundary, Assessment Input Data, and Fact Sheet Data Tables
United States Documented Unplugged Orphaned Oil and Gas Well Dataset
National assessment of carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide retention resources - data release
Geologic formations and mine locations for potential CO2 mineralization
Federal Lands Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sequestration in the United States: Estimates 2005-14 - Data Release
Map of the continental United States indicating the well density per 100 square mile grid cell of 117,672 unplugged orphaned wells in the 27 states included in the documented orphaned oil and gas well (DOW) dataset. Note the exponential scale of the coloring scheme used to preserve detail across both lower and higher well densities.
Map of the continental United States indicating the well density per 100 square mile grid cell of 117,672 unplugged orphaned wells in the 27 states included in the documented orphaned oil and gas well (DOW) dataset. Note the exponential scale of the coloring scheme used to preserve detail across both lower and higher well densities.
United States Documented Unplugged Orphaned Oil and Gas Well (DOW) Dataset Viewer
The dataset was created to provide documented orphaned well data to decision makers, as well as researchers, and other interested parties in a publicly available online format.