Moira A. Burns
As a master’s student in this lab, I have two goals. One of the goals is to successfully conduct my research that involves characterization of potential reservoirs and confining units of the Michigan Basin that can be used for carbon storage. The other goal is to act as a sponge, absorbing as much as I can during my time at WMU regarding using analytical tools, the research process, and much more.
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Before joining the CPCL as a master’s student, I earned my BS in Geology at Western Michigan University. During my time as an undergraduate student, I completed an undergraduate thesis titled “A Petrological Characterization of the Iutzi Member of Lucas Formation, Michigan Basin”, and presented my findings at GSA’s North-Central Meeting (2023). In addition, I assisted in Near Surface Geophysical fieldwork as a part of WMU’s Cold Case Program with Michigan State Police and received an undergraduate certificate in Hydrogeology.
Research
Previous work from the gas and oil industry has focused on characterizing reservoirs however, the confining units above those reservoirs are largely understudied. Funded by the Department of Energy, my research aims to fill this knowledge gap by characterizing and defining the potential confining units that sit above the targeted reservoirs. This gap will be filled by using an integrative, holistic approach developed in the CPCL.
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This approach integrates petrographical, mineralogical, geochemical, and permeability data that is achieved through various methods (Thin Section Petrography, Mini-Permeameter Permeability, Powder X-ray Diffraction, X-Ray Fluorescence , Scanning Electron Microscopy (both secondary electron and back scatter), and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy). This research contributes to larger projects going on both in Michigan and the Midwest region titled: Advancing Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) in the Michigan Basin as well as CarbonSAFE.
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Beyond my research, I continue to be eager to learn. I enjoy fieldwork and am always willing to try and learn something new. At the end of the day, I’m a geologist. I have a passion for being outdoors, a curiosity about how the world came to be, and a love for storytelling and connecting pieces together while still understanding that a lot is unknown.
Links to Learn More
Coming Soon!
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.