Peter B Flemings
Research Scientist, Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences
Phone: +1 512 475 8738, +1 512 475 9520
Email: pflemings@jsg.utexas.edu
CV (url)
Dr. Flemings' research couples observation with theoretical analysis to study crustal fluid flow at human and geologic timescales. He explores classical questions such as:
1) What is the relationship between faulting, pressure, and stress?
2) What is the permeability of the shallow crust and how does it vary with stress and pore pressure?
3) How is continental margin morphology controlled by fluid flow?
4) How do hydrocarbons move at both geological and production time scales?
5) What is the mechanism by which gas and oil vents form?
6) How are methane hydrate deposits generated?
7) How do we predict pore pressure in basins?
8) Under what conditions will blowouts form?
9) How can we design and drill safe and economic wells?
Dr. Flemings works closely with the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP), studies fluid pressure in the Nankai Accretionary Prism and helped develop a pore pressure penetrometer for ocean drilling. He leads an industry-supported research consortium (UT GeoFluids) that combines geomechanical modeling, experimental analysis, and field study to study pore pressure and fluid flow in basins. He is fascinated by methane hydrates, and his research group simulates them in the lab and models their formation. Most recently, Dr. Flemings is leading a new initiative to drill methane hydrates in the Gulf of Mexico. Finally, his team studies the permeability and deformation of mudstones in the GeoMechanics laboratory.
Ph.D. in Geology, Cornell University, 1990
M.S. in Geology, Cornell University, 1987
B.A. in Geology, Dartmouth College, 1984
Stratigraphy, basin analysis, basin-scale fluid flow, pore pressures in seafloor sediments, submarine landslides, oil and gas migration, methane hydrates, Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP)
Chair for Sessions on Analysis of Natural Gas Hydrate Systems, AAPG Annual Convention & Exhibition (2020)
Member Macelwane Awards Committee, American Geophysical Union (2020 - Present)
Chair of the Asahiko Taira International Scientific Ocean Drilling Research Prize Committee, American Geophysical Union (2015 - 2016)
Visiting Research Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (2014)
Visiting Research Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (2013)
Shipboard Scientist, JOIDES Resolution cruise (2012)
Convener, EarthScope-GeoPRISMS, EarthScope-GeoPRISMS Science Workshop for Eastern North America, Bethlehem, PA (2011)
Co-chair, GEOPRESSURE 2011, Galveston, TX, GEOPRESSURE 2011, Galveston, TX (2011)
Convener, EarthScope-GeoPRISMS, EarthScope-GeoPRISMS Opportunities in Eastern North America, Mini-Workshop, Austin, TX, May 2011 (2011)
Convener, EarthScope, EarthScope National Meeting, Austin, TX, May 2011 (2011)
Meeting Organizer, UT GeoFluids, UT GeoFluids Industrial Affiliates Meeting, Austin, TX, Feb. 2011 (2011)
Chair, Gordon Research Conference, 2nd Gordon Research Conference in Gas Hydrates (2011 - 2012)
Co-Convener, Rifting Margins, Rifting Margins Workshop, Nov. 2010 (2010)
Member, GeoPrisms, GeoPrisms Steering Committee (2010 - 2012)
Vice Chair, Gordon Research Conference, 1st Gordon Research Conference in Gas Hydrates (2010 - 2011)
Member, Science Proposal Writing CommitteeMargins, Science Proposal Writing CommitteeMargins (2010)
Member, The Methane Hydrate Advisory Committee (An Advisory Committee to the Secretary of Energy), The Methane Hydrate Advisory Committee (An Advisory Committee to the Secretary of Energy) (2010 - 2012)
Member, Organizing Committee, International Conference on Geopressure (Galveston, 10/4/2011) (2010)
Chair, Sed Erg, Jackson School (2009)
Chair, Energy Theme Search Committee, Jackson School (2009)
Member, IT Search Committee, Department of Geological Sciences (2009)
Chair, Graduate Studies Committee, The Unviersity of Texas (2009 - 2012)
Member, Appointments Committee, Jackson School (2009 - 2013)
Member, Endowment Committee, Jackson School (2009 - 2011)
Member, IODP Board of Governors, IODP Board of Governors (2009 - 2011)
Chair, Ad Hoc Department Computing Committee, Department of Geological Sciences (2008 - 2009)
Chair, Schoch Building Move Committee, Department of Geological Sciences (2008 - 2009)
Member, UTIG Director Search Committee (UTIG), UTIG (2008 - 2009)
Graduate Adviser, Dept. of Geological Science, Jackson School (2008 - 2012)
Member, Colorado School of Mines Department of Geological Engineering Review Committee, Colorado School of Mines Department of Geological Engineering Review Committee (2008 - 2011)
Member, Departmental Endowed Position Committee, Department of Geological Sciences (2007 - 2009)
Member, Energy Theme Search Committee, Jackson School (2007 - 2009)
Chairperson, IODP Engineering Development Panel (2005 - 2008)
Co-Chief Scientist, IODP Expedition 308, Gulf of Mexico Hydrogeology (2005)
Convener, Downhole Tools Workshop, JOI-USSAC supported workshop (2004)
Director, GeoFluidsIII Consortium (2004 - 2008)
Associate Editor, Geofluids (2003 - 2006)
Shipboard Scientist, JAMSTEC KR03-05 data recovery cruise, Yokohama, Japan (2003)
Shorebased Scientist, ODP Leg 204 (2003)
Member, AAPG Research Committee (2003 - 2006)
ACORK Specialist, Ocean Drilling Program data recovery cruise (2002)
Director, GeoFluidsII Consortium (2002 - 2004)
Co-Chair, American Geophysical Union Session in Dynamics of Gas Hydrate Reservoirs and Similar Shallow Marine Flow Systems (2001)
Logging/CORK Specialist, Ocean Drilling Program Cruise, Leg 196 (2001)
Member, Interim Science Steering and Evaluation Panel for the Environment (2001 - 2002)
Chair, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Session in Geopressure and Trap Integrity (2000)
Participant, Ocean Drilling Program (ODP)-Industry workshop (1999)
Participant, National Science Foundation Special Sedimentary Geosciences Workshop (1999)
Member, JOI Pollution Prevention and Safety Panel (1999 - 2002)
Participant, Ocean Drilling Program (ODP)-Industry workshop (1999)
Manager, GeoFluids and GeoSystems Office (1999 - 2008)
Liaison, Departmental Industry Recruiting Program (1999 - 2007)
Leader, Gas Research Industry Workshop (1998)
Director, Penn State Time-Lapse Seismic Consortium (1998 - 2001)
Director, Penn State GeoFluids Consortium (1998 - 2001)
Logging Scientist, Ocean Drilling Program Cruise, Leg 174A (1997)
Member, Scientific Measurements Panel of the Ocean Drilling Program (1997 - 2000)
Associate Editor, Basin Research (1996 - 2011)
Publications (url)
UT Institute for Geophysics Directors Circle of Excellence Award - Jackson School of Geosciences (2021 - 2022)
AAPG George C. Matson Memorial Award (best paper at 2022 AAPG Convention. Kevin Meazell was primary author). - AAPG (2021)
Leonidas T. Barrow Centennial Chair in Mineral Resources - The University of Texas at Austin (2020)
Joseph C. Walter Jr. Excellence Award - Jackson School of Geosciences (2016)
Methane Hydrate Advisory Committee (Member) - Advisory Committee to the Secretary of Energy (2015 - 2017)
Tinker Family BEG Publication Award - Bureau of Economic Geology (2015)
Chair of the Asahiko Taira International Scientific Ocean Drilling Research Prize Committee - American Geophysical Union (2015 - 2016)
John A. and Katherine G. Jackson Chair in Energy and Mineral Resources - The University of Texas at Austin (2015 - 2020)
Methane Hydrate Advisory Committee (Chair) - Advisory Committee to the Secretary of Energy (2014 - 2015)
Author Achievement Award - Bureau of Economic Geology (2014)
Certificate for Reviewing Excellence - Marine and Petroleum Geology (2014)
Outstanding Researcher Award - UT Institute for Geophysics (2014)
Methane Hydrate Advisory Committee (Co-Chair) - Advisory Committee to the Secretary of Energy (2013)
Chair: 2nd Gordon Research Conference on Hydrates - Gordon Research Conference (2012)
Directors Circle of Excellence Award - UT Institute for Geophysics (2011 - 2016)
Informal Advisor to Energy Secretary S. Chu's BP Macondo Well Integrity Team - BP Macondo Well Integrity Team (2010)
Vice Chair: 1st Gordon Research Conference on Hydrates - Gordon Research Conference (2010)
Keynote Speaker/ Co-Convener, 'Subsurface sediment mobilization and fluid flow' - Geological Society, London. (2008)
Author Achievement Award - Bureau of Economic Geology (2008)
JOI-USSAC Distinguished Lecturer - JOI-USSAC (2007 - 2007)
Keynote Speaker and Co-Convener - Geological Society, London (2007 - 2007)
Kavli Fellow and Speaker - Humboldt Foundation Frontiers of Science Symposium (2006 - 2006)
AAPG Distinguished Lecturer - American Association of Petroleum Geologists (2006 - 2006)
Co-Chief Scientist - IODP Expedition 308 Gulf of Mexico, Hydrogeology (2005)
G. Montgomery and Marion Mitchell Award for Innovative Teaching - Pennsylvania State University, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (2003 - 2003)
Best Paper Award - Computers and Geosciences (2001 - 2001)
Geological Society of America Fellow - Geological Society of America (1997 - 1997)
Matthew J. and Anne C. Wilson Outstanding Teaching Award - Pennsylvania State University, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (1996 - 1996)
Best Paper, J.C. Cam Sproule Memorial Award - AAPG Bulletin (1995 - 1995)
Shell Faculty Fellow - Shell (1994 - 1997)
Crosby Distinguished Lecturer - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1992 - 1992)
Best Paper Award - Mountain Geologist (1991 - 1991)
John McMullen Graduate Fellowship for academic record (1986 - 1986)
Pressure Coring a Gulf of Mexico Deep-Water Turbidite Gas Hydrate Reservoir: The UT-GOM2-1 Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition, AAPG Conference and Exhibition, (2020)
Recent results pressure coring hydrate-bearing sands in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico: implications for formation and production, Gordon Research Conference on Natural Gas Hydrate Systems, (2018)
Ice that burns, University of Texas Libraries Research & Pizza presentation, (2018)
GOM2: Prospecting, drilling and sampling coarse-grained hydrate reservoirs in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, International Conference of Gas Hydrates, (2017)
Illuminating the genesis of methane hydrate within coarse-grained reservoirs through deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, TX A&M University Graduate Seminar, (2017)
Illuminating the genesis of methane hydrate within coarse-grained reservoirs through deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, UT Petroleum and GeoSystems Engineering Graduate Seminar, (2017)
The Methane Hydrate GeoSystem: Geology, Climate, & Energy, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UT Austin, (2016)
Exploring the Methane Hydrate GeoSystem from Pore to Basin, Sandia National Laboratories, (2016)
Exploring the Methane Hydrate GeoSystem from Pore to Basin, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute,, (2016)
The Methane Hydrate and Free Gas GeoSystem: Geology, Climate, & Energy, Jackson School of Geosciences Tech Session, (2015)
The Methane Hydrate and Free Gas GeoSystem, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, (2015)
Gulf of Mexico Petroleum Systems, Nautilus, (2014)
Advanced Pore Pressure Prediction Workshop: Concepts, Mechanisms and Workflows, Nautilus, Houston (2013)
The Science of Pore Pressure Prediction in the Deepwater (Keynote Speaker), 47th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, (2013)
Pore pressure response to unloading, progressive slope failure, and the stratigraphic record (Keynote Speaker), 6th International Symposium on Submarine Mass Wasting and their Consequences, (2013)
Advanced Pore Pressure Prediction Workshop: Concepts, Mechanisms and Workflows, Nautilus, Houston (2012)
Gas Venting Through the Hydrate Stability Zone: observation and theory, MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany (2012)
Advanced Pore Pressure Prediction Workshop: Concepts, Mechanisms and Workflows, Nautilus, Houston (2011)
Advanced Pore Pressure Prediction Workshop: Concepts, Mechanisms and Workflows, Nautilus, Norway (2011)
Offshore Active Processes and Hazards, RIE Lehigh conference, Bethlehem, PA (2011)
Capillary behavior of methane hydrates, Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics, Long Beach, Ca. (2011)
Sub-seafloor Oil-plume Containment: How can we preserve and build the required expertise to respond to large oil vents in the US waters? Is there a role beyond spill response?, National USGS Marine Geohazards Workshop, Pore Pressure and the Macondo Well, Menlo Park, CA (2011)
Profile, Institute for Geophysics