Paul C. Hackley, Ph.D.
Paul Hackley is a Research Geologist with the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.
As project chief of the Thermal Indices project I pursue research on thermal maturity, chemical composition and physical state of sedimentary organic matter. The Thermal Indices project is part of the Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center and is funded by the Energy Resources Program (ERP). The Thermal Indices project team develops and applies petrographic methods for the reliable identification of different types of sedimentary organic matter, and measures and interprets the response of organic matter to thermal stress in natural environments and in laboratory-based heating experiments. Improved understanding of the thermal evolution of sedimentary organic matter enables more accurate assessment of petroleum source rock maturation, thereby decreasing uncertainty in the determination of thermal histories, the timing of petroleum generation and the placement of resource assessment spatial boundaries. This leads to the overall goal of improving estimates of undiscovered petroleum resources, which is a central mission of the ERP.
My work focuses on four integrated research task areas which have petrographic approaches to thermal indices as their common denominator: 1) standardization and reproducibility of measurement, 2) utilization of hydrous pyrolysis for (artificial) thermal conversion of sedimentary organic matter, 3) petrographic innovation areas for thermal indices and organic evolution, and 4) petrographic laboratory support.
Thermal indices research is accomplished from the Organic Petrology and Hydrous Pyrolysis laboratories in Reston. The laboratories include facilities for sample preparation, hydrous pyrolysis, optical and fluorescence microscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. The Thermal Indices project team works with external collaborators from global academic, government and industry groups. All thermal indices research efforts reach toward the goal of improving fossil fuel resource assessments by generating new understanding of the processes occurring during thermal evolution of sedimentary organic matter and its conversion to petroleum.
Professional Experience
Unconventional petroleum systems
Conventional oil and gas assessment
Coalbed methane
Coal
Application of organic petrology techniques to fossil fuel resource assessment
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., George Mason University
M.S., George Washington University
B.A., Shippensburg State University
Affiliations and Memberships*
The Society for Organic Petrology (TSOP)
International Committee for Coal and Organic Petrology (ICCP)
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
Geological Society of America (GSA)
Science and Products
Petrographic Thermal Indices Research
Photomicrograph Atlas
Vitrinite Reflectance Service
Thermal Indices Innovation
Hydrous Pyrolysis and Kerogen Conversion
Standardization of Petrographic Thermal Indices
Reflectance data from figures in: Using X-ray spectrum of carbon in electron microprobe analysis to determine thermal maturity of organic matter in mudstones
Evaluation of solid bitumen created from marine oil shale bituminite under hydrous and anhydrous pyrolysis conditions
Total organic carbon and programmed temperature pyrolysis data for the Bakken Formation, Williston Basin, USA
Microscopic Images of Leonardite and Humate Biochar: Using Reflected Light Microscopy in Biochar Characterization
Screening geochemistry, gas chromatography, and solid bitumen reflectance data in the Bakken petroleum system, Williston Basin, USA
Thirty-two organic-rich samples from the lower and upper shale members of the Devonian–Mississippian Bakken Formation were collected from eight cores across the Williston Basin, USA, at depths (~7,575–11,330 ft) representing immature through post peak oil/early condensate thermal maturity conditions. Reflectance results were correlated to programmed temperature pyrolysis parameters [hydrogen index
Data from Cretaceous formations of the Babouri-Figuil Sedimentary Basin, northern Cameroon
SEM-CL investigation of sedimentary organic matter samples
Evaluation of pore-like features in sedimentary organic matter
Thermal evolution of graptolite and solid bitumen properties at high maturity under natural and artificial conditions
Reflectance measurements for eight samples submitted to the USGS Organic Petrology Laboratory in Reston
Strain induced molecular heterogeneity in ancient sedimentary organic matter mapped at nanoscales using optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy
Textural occurrence and organic porosity of solid bitumen in shales
Insights on using solid bitumen reflectance as a thermal maturity proxy in the Bakken Formation, Williston Basin, USA
Decoding paleomire conditions of Paleogene superhigh-organic-sulfur coals
Structure and morphology of chars and activated carbons obtained from thermal treatment of coal and biomass origin materials, including their wastes: Results from the ICCP Microscopy of Carbon Materials Working Group
Atlas of microscopic images of biochar using reflected light microscopy in biochar characterization
Novel insights about petroleum systems from source and reservoir rock characterization, Cretaceous Deposits, Babouri-Figuil Basin, Northern Cameroon
Cathodoluminescence differentiates sedimentary organic matter types
Evaluation of portable Raman spectroscopic analysis for source-rock thermal maturity assessments on bulk crushed rock
Scanning electron microscopic evaluation of broad ion beam milling effects to sedimentary organic matter: Sputter-induced artifacts or naturally occurring porosity?
Interlaboratory study: Testing reproducibility of solid biofuels component identification using reflected light microscopy
Reply to Comment by M.D. Lewan
Thermal evolution of graptolite and solid bitumen properties at high maturity under natural and artificial conditions
Mapping ancient sedimentary organic matter molecular structure at nanoscales using optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy
Photomicrograph Atlas
A database of images related to the characterization of fossil fuel resources in the United States and the world.
Science and Products
Petrographic Thermal Indices Research
Photomicrograph Atlas
Vitrinite Reflectance Service
Thermal Indices Innovation
Hydrous Pyrolysis and Kerogen Conversion
Standardization of Petrographic Thermal Indices
Reflectance data from figures in: Using X-ray spectrum of carbon in electron microprobe analysis to determine thermal maturity of organic matter in mudstones
Evaluation of solid bitumen created from marine oil shale bituminite under hydrous and anhydrous pyrolysis conditions
Total organic carbon and programmed temperature pyrolysis data for the Bakken Formation, Williston Basin, USA
Microscopic Images of Leonardite and Humate Biochar: Using Reflected Light Microscopy in Biochar Characterization
Screening geochemistry, gas chromatography, and solid bitumen reflectance data in the Bakken petroleum system, Williston Basin, USA
Thirty-two organic-rich samples from the lower and upper shale members of the Devonian–Mississippian Bakken Formation were collected from eight cores across the Williston Basin, USA, at depths (~7,575–11,330 ft) representing immature through post peak oil/early condensate thermal maturity conditions. Reflectance results were correlated to programmed temperature pyrolysis parameters [hydrogen index
Data from Cretaceous formations of the Babouri-Figuil Sedimentary Basin, northern Cameroon
SEM-CL investigation of sedimentary organic matter samples
Evaluation of pore-like features in sedimentary organic matter
Thermal evolution of graptolite and solid bitumen properties at high maturity under natural and artificial conditions
Reflectance measurements for eight samples submitted to the USGS Organic Petrology Laboratory in Reston
Strain induced molecular heterogeneity in ancient sedimentary organic matter mapped at nanoscales using optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy
Textural occurrence and organic porosity of solid bitumen in shales
Insights on using solid bitumen reflectance as a thermal maturity proxy in the Bakken Formation, Williston Basin, USA
Decoding paleomire conditions of Paleogene superhigh-organic-sulfur coals
Structure and morphology of chars and activated carbons obtained from thermal treatment of coal and biomass origin materials, including their wastes: Results from the ICCP Microscopy of Carbon Materials Working Group
Atlas of microscopic images of biochar using reflected light microscopy in biochar characterization
Novel insights about petroleum systems from source and reservoir rock characterization, Cretaceous Deposits, Babouri-Figuil Basin, Northern Cameroon
Cathodoluminescence differentiates sedimentary organic matter types
Evaluation of portable Raman spectroscopic analysis for source-rock thermal maturity assessments on bulk crushed rock
Scanning electron microscopic evaluation of broad ion beam milling effects to sedimentary organic matter: Sputter-induced artifacts or naturally occurring porosity?
Interlaboratory study: Testing reproducibility of solid biofuels component identification using reflected light microscopy
Reply to Comment by M.D. Lewan
Thermal evolution of graptolite and solid bitumen properties at high maturity under natural and artificial conditions
Mapping ancient sedimentary organic matter molecular structure at nanoscales using optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy
Photomicrograph Atlas
A database of images related to the characterization of fossil fuel resources in the United States and the world.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government