Vanessa Nuñez-López

Research Interests

• CO₂ EOR/sequestration.
• Reservoir characterization and performance
• Resource evaluation.
• Risk Analysis

Education

M.A. Energy and Mineral Resources, 2005, The University of Texas at Austin

M.S. Petroleum Engineering, 2001, The University of Texas at Austin

B.S. with Honors Petroleum Engineering, 1999, Universidad Central de Venezuela

Professional History

Program Manager, Gulf Coast Carbon Center & STARR, Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin

Director, Division of Advanced Remediation Technologies, Office of Resource Sustainability, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, U.S. Department of Energy (Feb. 2022 – Aug. 2025).

Senior Science Advisor, Office of Resource Sustainability, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, U.S. Department of Energy (September 2021 – February 2022)

Research Scientist Associate V, Gulf Coast Carbon Center, Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin (December 2010 – September 2021)

Senior Reservoir Engineer, Chevron Energy Technology Company, Chevron Corporation (August 2007 – November 2010)

Lead Reservoir Engineer, Chevron Energy Technology Company, Chevron Corporation (October 2006 – July 2007)

Research Scientist Associate, Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin (January 2006 – September 2006)

Graduate Research Assistant, Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin (March 2003 - January 2006)

Assistant Professor, Universidad Central de Venezuela (July 1999 – May 2005). Tenure received in May 2002

Teaching Assistant, Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin (Summer and Fall 2002 - Spring 2003)

Research Assistant, Technical Center, MI Drilling Fluids (January 1998 - July 1999)

Intern, Dowell-Schlumberger, Hydraulic Fracturing (July 1997 - September 1997)

Teaching Assistant, Universidad Central de Venezuela (January 1995 - July 1999)

Selected Publications

Fahes, M., Al Shalabi, E., Hoffman, T., Anbarci, K., Nuñez-López, V., Dindoruk, B., 2024, Petroleum Engineering Research Shifts Focus from Oil and Gas to New Horizons: Journal of Petroleum Technology, v. 76, no. 11, p. 61–66. DOI: 10.2118/1124-0061-JPT

Yáñez, E., Núñez-López, V., Ramírez, A., Castillo, E., and Faaij, A., 2022, Rapid screening and probabilistic estimation of the potential for CO₂-EOR and associated geological CO₂ storage in Colombian petroleum basins: Petroleum Geoscience, v. 28, Issue 1, https://doi.org/10.1144/petgeo2020-110.

Yáñez, E., Ramírez, A., Núñez-López, V., Castillo, E., and Faaij, A., 2020, Exploring the potential of carbon capture and storage-enhanced oil recovery as a mitigation strategy in the Colombian oil industry: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 94, no. 102938, 36 p., http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2019.102938.

Nuñez-López, V., Gil-Egui, R., and Hosseini, S. A., 2019, Environmental and operational performance of CO₂-EOR as a CCUS technology: a Cranfield example with dynamic LCA considerations: Energies, v. 12, no. 3, article 448, 15 p. http://doi.org/10.3390/en12030448

Nuñez-López, V., and Moskal, E., 2019, Potential of CO₂-EOR for near-term decarbonization: Frontiers in Climate, 14 p., http://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2019.00005.

Hosseini, S. A., Alfi, M., Nicot, J.-P., and Nuñez-López, V., 2018, Analysis of CO₂ storage mechanisms at a CO₂-EOR site, Cranfield, Mississippi: Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, v. 8, p. 469–482. http://doi.org/10.1002/ghg.1754.

Hosseininoosheri, P., Hosseini, S. A., Nuñez-López, V., and Lake, L. W., 2018, Impact of field development strategies on CO₂ trapping mechanisms in a CO₂-EOR field: a case study in the Permian Basin (SACROC unit): International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 72, p. 92–104. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2018.03.002

Nuñez-López, V., Gil-Egui, R., Gonzalez-Nicolas, A., and Hovorka, S. D., 2017, Carbon balance of CO₂-EOR for NCNO classification: Energy Procedia, v. 114, p. 6597–6603. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.1803

Ambrose, W. A., Breton, C., Nuñez-López, V., and Gülen, G., 2015, EOR potential from CO₂ captured from coal-fired power plants in the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Woodbine Group, East Texas Basin, and southeastern Texas Gulf Coast, USA: Natural Resources Research, v. 24, no. 2, p. 161–188. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-014-9242-z

King, C. W., Gülen, G., Cohen, S. M., and Nuñez-López, V., 2013, The system-wide economics of a carbon dioxide capture, utilization, and storage network: Texas Gulf Coast with pure CO₂–EOR flood: Environmental Research Letters, v. 8, 16 p., http://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/8/3/034030.

Ambrose W. A., Breton C., Nuñez -Lopez V., Gulen G., 2012, Geologic and Economic Criteria for Siting Clean-Coal Facilities in the Texas Gulf Coast, USA, Natural Resources Research, v. 21, no. 4, p. 161–188. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-012-9188-y

Zahid K. M., Hosseini S. A., Nuñez-López V., and Hovorka S. D., 2012, Characterizing CO₂ storage reservoirs and shallow overburden for above zone monitoring in Texas Gulf Coast EOR fields, 2012 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd | Greenhouse Gas Science and Technology, v. 2, p. 460–473. https://doi.org/10.1002/ghg.1320

Nuñez-López V., and Hovorka S. D., 2012, Subsurface Monitoring of Large-Scale CO₂ Injection at SECARB’s Phase-III Cranfield Site. Carbon Management Technology Conference, 7-9 February 2012, Orlando, Florida, USA. https://doi.org/10.7122/151504-MS

Ambrose, W. A., Breton, C., Hovorka, S. D., Duncan, I. J., Gülen, G., Holtz, M. H., and Nuñez-López, V., 2011, Geologic and infrastructure factors for delineating areas for clean coal: examples in Texas, USA: Environmental Earth Science, v. 63, p. 513‒532. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-010-0720-2

Ambrose, W. A., Breton, C., Holtz, M. H., Nuñez-López, V., Hovorka, S. D., and Duncan, I. J., 2009, CO₂ source-sink matching in the lower 48 United States, with examples from the Texas Gulf Coast and Permian Basin: Environmental Geology: Springer-Verlag,15 p. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1430-x

Nuñez-López, V., Holtz, M. H., Wood, D. J., Ambrose, W. A., and Hovorka, S. D., 2008, Quick-look assessments to identify optimal CO₂-EOR storage sites: Environmental Geology, v. 54, p. 1695–1706. DOI 10.1007/s00254-007-0944-y

Wood, D.J., Lake, L.W., Johns, R.T., and Nuñez López, V., 2008, A Screening Model for CO₂ Flooding and Storage in Gulf Coast Reservoirs Based on Dimensionless Groups: SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering Journal, SPE 100021-PA, v.11, no. 3, p. 513–520. https://doi.org/10.2118/100021-PA

Ambrose, W. A., Lakshminarasimhan, S., Nuñez López, V., Hovorka, S. D., and Duncan, I. J., 2007, Geologic factors controlling CO₂ storage capacity and permanence: case studies based on experience with heterogeneity in oil and gas reservoirs applied to CO₂ storage: Environmental Geology: Springer-Verlag, 16 p. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-0940-2

Holtz, M. H., Nuñez-Lopez, V., and Breton, C. L., 2005, Moving Permian Basin technology to the Gulf Coast: the geologic distribution of CO₂ EOR potential in Gulf Coast reservoirs, in Lufholm, P., and Cox, D., eds., Unconventional reservoirs technology and strategies: alternative perspectives for the Permian Basin: West Texas Geological Society Fall Symposium, October 26–28, Publication #05-115, CD-ROM [10 p.].

Awards

Second place, 1999 Latin American Technical Work Contest, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela.