Sarah Gelman
Geologist with the Central Energy Resource Science Center, specializing in basin modeling.
Sarah’s expertise lies at the intersection of numerical modeling and geology. She earned her B.S. from MIT in 2009 where her research focused on planetary geology. Her thesis investigated mantle convection models of Earth-like extrasolar planets in tidally-locked orbits. Sarah received her M.S. from the University of Washington, Seattle, focusing on the geochemical and thermal evolution of large silicic magma reservoirs in the upper crust. She then transitioned to the energy industry, working in the Upstream Research Company and Exploration Company at ExxonMobil, focusing on modeling the thermal evolution of petroleum source rocks, as well as sedimentary basin analysis, fluid characterization while drilling, and the role of naturally-occurring CO2 in hydrocarbon accumulations. Sarah is now a basin modeling specialist at the Central Energy Resources Science Center in the USGS.
Professional Experience
Geologist at the Central Energy Resources Science Center at the USGS (2020-present)
Geologist in the Upstream Research Company and Exploration Company, ExxonMobil (2015-2020)
Geologist Intern at ExxonMobil (2014)
Education and Certifications
University of Washington, Seattle; M.S. (2009-2014)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology; B.S. (2005-2009)
Honors and Awards
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow (2010-2013)
University of Washington Top Scholar (2009)
Goetze Prize in Undergraduate Research, MIT (2009)
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Caltech (2007)
Science and Products
Data release for the 3D petroleum systems model of the Williston Basin, USA
This data release contains data associated with the journal article "Modeling the maturation history of the stacked petroleum systems of the Williston Basin, USA". Collectively, the data release includes 13 child items and metadata files that provide detailed descriptions of the attributes, processing steps, and original data sources. There is also a data table, "Williston_Basin_Data...
Filter Total Items: 14
Three-dimensional temperature maps of the Williston Basin, USA: Implications for deep hot sedimentary and enhanced geothermal resources
As part of U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) efforts to identify and assess geothermal energy resources of the US, a three-dimensional (3D) geologic and thermal model has been constructed for the Williston Basin, USA. The geologic model consists of all sedimentary units above the Proterozoic and Archean crystalline rock (called basement herein), with a total sedimentary thickness of up to...
Authors
Sarah E. Gelman, Erick R. Burns
Assessment of conventional and continuous oil and gas resources in the Lewis Shale in the Southwestern Wyoming Province, Wyoming and Colorado, 2023
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional and continuous resources of 294 million barrels of oil and 11 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Lewis Shale in the Southwestern Wyoming Province, Wyoming and Colorado.
Authors
Jane S. Hearon, Christopher J. Schenk, Thomas M. Finn, Benjamin G. Johnson, Sarah E. Gelman, Jenny H. Lagesse, Cheryl A. Woodall, Tracey J. Mercier, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kira K. Timm, Ronald M. Drake, Andrea D. Cicero, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Michael H. Gardner, Phuong A. Le, Scott S. Young
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of offshore East Africa and the Seychelles, 2022
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 5.1 billion barrels of oil and 79.1 trillion cubic feet of gas in offshore East Africa and the Seychelles.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Thomas M. Finn, Michael H. Gardner, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Black Sea area, 2023
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 2.3 billion barrels of oil and 105.5 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Black Sea area.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Thomas M. Finn, Michael H. Gardner, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in postsalt reservoirs of the West-Central Coastal Province of Africa, 2022
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 10.5 billion barrels of oil and 47.4 trillion cubic feet of gas in postsalt reservoirs within the West-Central Coastal Province of Africa.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Thomas M. Finn, Michael H. Gardner, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in presalt reservoirs of the West-Central Coastal Province of Africa, 2022
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 12.1 billion barrels of oil and 50 trillion cubic feet of gas in presalt reservoirs within the West-Central Coastal Province of Africa.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Thomas M. Finn, Michael H. Gardner, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources in Upper Cretaceous marine shales of the Raton Basin-Sierra Grande Uplift Province, Colorado and New Mexico, 2022
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated means of 1.04 billion barrels of oil, 3.9 trillion cubic feet of gas, and 11 million barrels of natural gas liquids in Upper Cretaceous marine shales in the Raton Basin-Sierra Grande Uplift Province in Colorado and New Mexico.
Authors
Thomas M. Finn, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Michael H. Gardner, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Scott A. Kinney, Jenny H. Lagesse, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the offshore Salt Basin area of Morocco, 2021
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 3.8 billion barrels of oil and 20.7 trillion cubic feet of gas offshore of Morocco.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Thomas M. Finn, Michael H. Gardner, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Assessment of coalbed gas resources in the Raton Basin-Sierra Grande Uplift Province, Colorado and New Mexico, 2022
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated a mean of 5.2 trillion cubic feet of coalbed gas in the Vermejo Formation and Raton Formation of the Raton Basin-Sierra Grande Uplift Province.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Thomas M. Finn, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Michael H. Gardner, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Modeling the maturation history of the stacked petroleum systems of the Williston Basin, USA
A three-dimensional petroleum systems model was built to support U.S. Geological Survey assessments of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Williston Basin of North Dakota, Montana, and South Dakota. Numerous Paleozoic source rocks have been proven or postulated in the basin, of which five were the focus of maturation and migration modeling: the Ordovician Icebox Formation, the...
Authors
Sarah E. Gelman
Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in the Bakken Formation of northwest Montana, 2022
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated means of 220 million barrels of continuous oil and 1 trillion cubic feet of continuous gas in the Bakken Formation of northwest Montana.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Michael H. Gardner, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Thomas M. Finn, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Senegal Basin Province of northwest Africa, 2021
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 13,929 million (13.9 billion) barrels of oil and 193,721 billion (193.7 trillion) cubic feet of gas within the Senegal Basin Province of northwest Africa.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Thomas M. Finn, Michael H. Gardner, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Science and Products
Data release for the 3D petroleum systems model of the Williston Basin, USA
This data release contains data associated with the journal article "Modeling the maturation history of the stacked petroleum systems of the Williston Basin, USA". Collectively, the data release includes 13 child items and metadata files that provide detailed descriptions of the attributes, processing steps, and original data sources. There is also a data table, "Williston_Basin_Data...
Filter Total Items: 14
Three-dimensional temperature maps of the Williston Basin, USA: Implications for deep hot sedimentary and enhanced geothermal resources
As part of U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) efforts to identify and assess geothermal energy resources of the US, a three-dimensional (3D) geologic and thermal model has been constructed for the Williston Basin, USA. The geologic model consists of all sedimentary units above the Proterozoic and Archean crystalline rock (called basement herein), with a total sedimentary thickness of up to...
Authors
Sarah E. Gelman, Erick R. Burns
Assessment of conventional and continuous oil and gas resources in the Lewis Shale in the Southwestern Wyoming Province, Wyoming and Colorado, 2023
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional and continuous resources of 294 million barrels of oil and 11 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Lewis Shale in the Southwestern Wyoming Province, Wyoming and Colorado.
Authors
Jane S. Hearon, Christopher J. Schenk, Thomas M. Finn, Benjamin G. Johnson, Sarah E. Gelman, Jenny H. Lagesse, Cheryl A. Woodall, Tracey J. Mercier, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kira K. Timm, Ronald M. Drake, Andrea D. Cicero, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Michael H. Gardner, Phuong A. Le, Scott S. Young
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of offshore East Africa and the Seychelles, 2022
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 5.1 billion barrels of oil and 79.1 trillion cubic feet of gas in offshore East Africa and the Seychelles.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Thomas M. Finn, Michael H. Gardner, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Black Sea area, 2023
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 2.3 billion barrels of oil and 105.5 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Black Sea area.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Thomas M. Finn, Michael H. Gardner, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in postsalt reservoirs of the West-Central Coastal Province of Africa, 2022
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 10.5 billion barrels of oil and 47.4 trillion cubic feet of gas in postsalt reservoirs within the West-Central Coastal Province of Africa.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Thomas M. Finn, Michael H. Gardner, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in presalt reservoirs of the West-Central Coastal Province of Africa, 2022
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 12.1 billion barrels of oil and 50 trillion cubic feet of gas in presalt reservoirs within the West-Central Coastal Province of Africa.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Thomas M. Finn, Michael H. Gardner, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Assessment of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources in Upper Cretaceous marine shales of the Raton Basin-Sierra Grande Uplift Province, Colorado and New Mexico, 2022
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated means of 1.04 billion barrels of oil, 3.9 trillion cubic feet of gas, and 11 million barrels of natural gas liquids in Upper Cretaceous marine shales in the Raton Basin-Sierra Grande Uplift Province in Colorado and New Mexico.
Authors
Thomas M. Finn, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Michael H. Gardner, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Scott A. Kinney, Jenny H. Lagesse, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources in the offshore Salt Basin area of Morocco, 2021
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 3.8 billion barrels of oil and 20.7 trillion cubic feet of gas offshore of Morocco.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Thomas M. Finn, Michael H. Gardner, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Assessment of coalbed gas resources in the Raton Basin-Sierra Grande Uplift Province, Colorado and New Mexico, 2022
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated a mean of 5.2 trillion cubic feet of coalbed gas in the Vermejo Formation and Raton Formation of the Raton Basin-Sierra Grande Uplift Province.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Thomas M. Finn, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Michael H. Gardner, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Modeling the maturation history of the stacked petroleum systems of the Williston Basin, USA
A three-dimensional petroleum systems model was built to support U.S. Geological Survey assessments of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Williston Basin of North Dakota, Montana, and South Dakota. Numerous Paleozoic source rocks have been proven or postulated in the basin, of which five were the focus of maturation and migration modeling: the Ordovician Icebox Formation, the...
Authors
Sarah E. Gelman
Assessment of continuous oil and gas resources in the Bakken Formation of northwest Montana, 2022
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated means of 220 million barrels of continuous oil and 1 trillion cubic feet of continuous gas in the Bakken Formation of northwest Montana.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Michael H. Gardner, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Thomas M. Finn, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young
Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of the Senegal Basin Province of northwest Africa, 2021
Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean resources of 13,929 million (13.9 billion) barrels of oil and 193,721 billion (193.7 trillion) cubic feet of gas within the Senegal Basin Province of northwest Africa.
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, Cheryl A. Woodall, Phuong A. Le, Andrea D. Cicero, Ronald M. Drake, Geoffrey S. Ellis, Thomas M. Finn, Michael H. Gardner, Sarah E. Gelman, Jane S. Hearon, Benjamin G. Johnson, Jenny H. Lagesse, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Kristen R. Marra, Kira K. Timm, Scott S. Young