Research Interests

My research interests focus on the relationships between fluid flow, deformation, and tectonics. Specifically, my research centers on two basic themes: (1) understanding factors that control the distribution and magnitude of fluid pressure, particularly at active plate boundaries, and (2) constraining the flow pathways and fluid budgets in these dynamic hydrologic and tectonic settings. This research presents a unique opportunity to integrate field data, laboratory experiments, and computer modeling, and for exciting collaboration with colleagues in the fields of geochemistry, structural geology, tectonics, and hydrology. Some of the best natural laboratories for this work are subduction zones and transform systems like the San Andreas Fault.

As part of my research, I have been heavily involved in the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) – now known as the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP). I am currently involved in a series of drilling expeditions aimed at understanding subduction earthquakes and tectonics offshore SW Japan through sampling materials from within and surrounding major fault zones, making direct measurements of in situ conditions, and installing long-term observatories to record hydrologic and seismological processes. This ambitious program will drill several boreholes penetrating the plate boundary fault system at several depths, including a deep borehole to sample and instrument the subduction megathrust at a depth of 6.2 km. The drilling is closely linked with a 3-D seismic survey acquired in Spring, 2006, which will allow analysis of tectonic and sedimentation history on the margin, as well as extrapolation of rock physical properties from individual boreholes to “map” fault and rock properties in 3-D. The seismic survey is a collaborative project with Greg Moore (Univ. of Hawaii), Harold Tobin (Univ. Wisconsin), Nathan Bangs (Univ. of Texas Institute for Geophysics), and colleagues at JAMSTEC. We also study the role of fluids along the San Andreas Fault using a combination of laboratory measurements and numerical modeling.

My interests in sediment deformation processes and regional scale fluid flow also extend to developing a better understanding of basin consolidation processes in a general context. Similarly, my interest in the hydrologic behavior of fault and fracture systems is directly applicable to problems in the energy industry and regional groundwater resource management.

My research group in geofluids includes 5 graduate students (2 PhD and 3 MS students) and one post-doctoral research associate. Our work focuses on tectonic geohydrology problems, but also includes projects aimed at understanding recharge mechanisms in fractured aquifers, as well as the fate and transport of surface water co-produced with natural gas.