My Research
The Marcellus Formation in the Eastern USA is one of the largest natural gas accumulations in the world.听 Known for more than a century, it has become exploitable only in the past decade due to hydraulic fracturing technology.听 Gas production rates are variable; in some places the rock has become so hot that it is a mystery that gas production is still possible.听 My primary research aim is to understand the geologic factors that make the formation prolific or not.
Secondarily I am interested in the economic and environmental issues which surround hydraulic fracturing.听 Both the environmental costs of the exploitation and the economic problems of what is an expensive source of energy are areas of interest.
Research Interests
- Organic geochemistry from deposition through increasing temperature with burial to eventual graphite.听 In short - the long-term carbon cycle.
- Petroleum economics; conventional vs. unconventional hydrocarbon resources
- Environmental impacts of fossil fuels
Publications
- Carmalt, S.W., 2017, The Economics of Oil : A Primer including Geology, Energy, Economics, Politics, New York, Springer International Publishing AG, 105pp
- Carmalt, S.W. and A. Moscariello, 2017, What is a Giant Field? in R. K. Merrill and C.A. Steinbach, eds, Giant Fields of the decade 2000-2010, Tulsa, Okla, AAPG, AAPG Memoir 113, p.9-14
- Carmalt, S.W. and Bill St. John, 1986, Giant Oil and Gas Fields, in Future Petroleum Provinces of the World, Tulsa, Okla, AAPG, AAPG Memoir 40, pp. 11-53
- Carmalt, S.W., 1984, [Abstract] Giant Fields: Present and Future Petroleum Resources, AAPG Bulletin, v.68 (9), p. 1200
- Carmalt, S.W. and K.L Russell, 1970, [Abstract] Geologic Distribution of Oil, AAPG Bulletin 63 (3) p. 428
- Armstrong, R.L., J.M. Barton, J.R. Besancon, D.G. Brokins, S.W. Carmalt, and W.P. Crowley, 1970, Contributions to Geochronology in Connecticut, Report of investigations, Connecticut Geological and Natural History Survey, 28 p.
- Carmalt, S.W. and G.C. Tibbitts, Jr., 1969, Water levels and artesian pressures in the Chad Basin of northeastern Niberia 1963-1968, Report 72-61, Reston, Va, US Geological Survey, Open File Report, 73pp.
Teaching experience
- [Assisstant] Introductory geology course (Harvard AV短视频 1969 - 1973)
- Geochemistry (Wellesley College 1973 - 1974)
