Dr. Alex Bump
Google Scholar profile
Pressure Space
Composite Confining Systems
Dr. Alex Bump is a Research Associate Professor with the Gulf Coast Carbon Center. Alex’s current research focusses on the application of petroleum exploration processes to the problem of finding, de-risking and developing geologic storage sites for CO₂. Combining ideas from geology, physics and reservoir engineering with an explorer’s need to see the big picture and find the opportunities, his work has yielded a series of new concepts, including Pressure Space, Composite Confinement and Fetch-Trap Pairs. His goal is to pave the way for a large-scale private industry in CCS.
Prior to joining the BEG, Alex spent 16 years in global exploration with BP, including roles as an Advisor and as Head of Discipline for Structural Geology and Tectonics. In his time with BP, Alex worked over 50 basins on 5 continents, and wrote and delivered over 100 courses in exploration, structural geology and tectonics. Together with Katherine Romanak and Seyyed Hosseini, Alex recently developed a new online CCS certification program at The University of Texas at Austin. Outside of work, he is a triathlete by day, a woodworker by night, a caffeine addict by necessity, and a dad always.
Research Interests
Adapting petroleum exploration tools to the screening and de-risking of geologic storage sites for CO₂: Assessing Pressure Space for CCS Projects, Utilizing Composite Confining Systems in Carbon Storage
Basin analysis, focusing on structure, subsidence and heat flow
Dynamic topography and the impact of mantle processes on surface geology
Education
Ph.D., 2001, Structural Geology & Tectonics, University of Arizona
B.A., 1993, cum laude in Physics, Williams College
Junior year abroad, 1992–1991, University of Graz, Austria
Professional History
University of Texas, Bureau of Economic Geology, Austin, TX
Research Scientist Professor, Gulf Coast Carbon Center, Present–2024
Research Scientist Associate, Gulf Coast Carbon Center, 2024–2019
BP, Sunbury-on-Thames, UK
Head of Discipline, Exploration Structural Geology; Exploration Advisor, 2018–2016
Senior Exploration Geologist, Basin Analysis Team, 2016–2015
Senior Exploration Geologist, Angola Exploration Team, 2015–2012
Exploration Geologist, Exploration Access Group, 2012–2009
BP, Houston, TX
Exploration Geologist, Global Unconventional Resources Group, 2009–2008
Structural Geologist, Exploration & Production Technology Group, 2008–2005
Structural Geologist, Gulf of Mexico Shelf Exploration, 2005
Structural Geologist, Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Exploration, 2004–2002
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Research Associate, 2002–2001
Research Assistant, 2001–2000
Teaching Assistant, 2000–1996
BP, Anchorage, AK
Intern Geologist, Prudhoe Bay Production Team, 2000
Mobil Oil, New Orleans, LA
Intern Geologist, Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Exploration Team, 1998
Selected Publications
Okezie, C. C., and Bump, A. P., 2025, Calibrating Large-Scale Injection: Using Saltwater Disposal Experience to Predict CCS Performance on the Texas Gulf Coast: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 147, p. 1–18, 104485, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2025.104485.
Bump, A. P., and Hovorka, S. D., 2024, Pressure space: The key subsurface commodity for CCS: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 136, p. 1–16, 104174, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2024.104174.
Leng, J., Bump, A., Hosseini, S .A., Meckel, T. A., Wang, Z., Wang, H., 2024, A comprehensive review of efficient capacity estimation for large-scale CO2 geological storage: Gas Science and Engineering, v. 126, 19 p., 205339, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgsce.2024.205339.
Ni, H., Bump, A., Bakhshian, S., 2024, An experimental investigation on the CO2 storage capacity of the composite confining system: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 134, 104125, p. 1–10, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2024.104125.
Bakhshian, S., Bump, A. P., Pandey, S., Ni. H., and Hovorka, S. D., 2023, Assessing the potential of composite confining systems for secure and long-term CO2 retention in geosequestration: Scientific Report, v. 13, 21022, 14 p., https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47481-2.
Bump, A. P., Bakhshian, S., Ni, H., Hovorka, S.D., Olariu, M.I., Dunlap, D., Hosseini, S.A., and Meckel, T.A, 2023, Composite confining systems: Rethinking geologic seals for permanent CO2 sequestration: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 126, p. 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2023.103908.
Bump, A. P., and Hovorka, S., 2023, Fetch-trap Pairs: Exploring definition of carbon storage prospects to increase capacity and flexibility in areas with competing uses: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 122, p. 1–10, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2022.103817.
Bump, A. P., and Hovorka, S., 2023, Minimizing exposure to legacy wells and avoiding conflict between storage projects: Exploring area of review as a screening tool: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 129, 13 p. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2023.103967.
Meckel, T. A., Treviño, R. H., Hovorka, S. D., and Bump, A. P., 2023, Mapping existing wellbore locations to compare technical risks between onshore and offshore CCS activities in Texas: Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, p. 1–12, http://doi.org/10.1002/ghg.2220.
Pett-Ridge, J., Ziad Ammar, H., Aui, A., Ashton, M., Baker, S.E., Basso, B., Bradford, M., Bump, A.P., Busch, I., Chirigotis, J.W., Clauser, N., Crotty, S., Dahl, N., Dai, T., Ducey, M., Dumortier, J., Ellebracht, N.C., Gil Egui, R., Fowler, A., Georgiou, K., Giannopoulos, D., Goldstein, H., Harris, T., Hayes, D., Hellwinckel, C., Ho, A., Hong, M., Hovorka, S., Hunter-Sellars, E., Kirkendall, W., Kuebbing, S., Langholtz, M., Layer, M., Lee, I., Lewis, R., Li, W., Liu, W., Lunstrum, A., Mayer, A. C., Mayfield, K.K., McNeil, W., Nico, P., O’Rourke, A., Pang, S.H., Paustian, K., Peridas, G., Pilorge, H., Pisciotta, M., Price, L., Psarras, P., Robertson, G.P., Rodriguez Calzado, E., Sagues, W.J., Sanchez, D.L., Scown, C.D., Schmidt, B.M., Slessarev, E.W., Sokol, N., Stanley, A. J., Swan, A., Terrazas Lozano, J., Toureene, C., Wong, A. A., Wright, M.B., Yao, Y., Zhang, B., Zhang, Y., and Aines, R.D., 2023, Roads to Removal: Options for Carbon Dioxide Removal in the United States, December 2023, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LLNL-TR-852901. Available online here: https://roads2removal.org/resources/
Bump A. P., Bakhshian, S., Hovorka, S., Rhodes, J., and Neades, S., 2022, Criteria for depleted reservoirs to be developed for CO2 storage (paper), 16th Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies Conference Lyon, 23–27 October, 2022 (GHGT-16): Gulf Coast Carbon Center, 12 p. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4286411
Bump, A. P., Bakhshian, S., Ni, H., Hovorka, S., Dunlap, D., Olariu, M., Hosseini, S., Meckel, T., 2022, Composite confining systems: Characterizing, de-risking and permitting unconventional seals for CO2 Storage (paper), 16th Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies Conference Lyon, 23–27 October, 2022 (GHGT-16), 11 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4286411.
Bump, A. P., Hovorka, S. D., and Meckel, T.A., 2021, Common risk segment mapping: streamlining exploration for carbon storage sites, with application to coastal Texas and Louisiana: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 111, no. 103457, 13 p., http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2021.103457.
Meckel, T. A., Bump, A. P., Hovorka, S. D., and Treviño, R. H., 2021, Carbon capture, utilization, and storage hub development on the Gulf Coast: Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, v. 11, no. 4, p. 619–632, http://doi.org/10.1002/ghg.2082.
Davis, G.H., and Bump, A., 2009, Structural geologic evolution of the Colorado Plateau, in Kay, S. (ed.), Backbone of the Americas: GSA Memoirs v. 204, p. 99–124, https://doi.org/10.1130/2009.1204(05).
Bump, A.P., 2004, Three-dimensional Laramide deformation of the Colorado Plateau: competing influences of the Sevier thrust belt and the flat Farallon slab: Tectonics, v. 23, p. 1–15, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002TC001424.
Bump, A.P., 2003, Reactivation, trishear modeling and folded basement in Laramide uplifts: Implications for the origins of intra-continental faults: GSA Today, v. 13, p. 4–10.
Bump, A.P. and Davis, G. H., 2003, Late Cretaceous to early Tertiary deformation of the northern Colorado Plateau: Journal of Structural Geology, v. 25, p. 423–442, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8141(02)00033-0.
Davis, G.H., Bump, A. P., Garcia, P. E., and Ahlgren, S. G., 2000, Conjugate Riedel deformation band shear zones: Journal of Structural Geology. v. 22, p. 169–190, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8141(99)00140-6.
