
The University of Texas at Austin
P.O. Box X
Austin, Texas 78713-8924
Dr. Jacob Covault is a Research Scientist and leader of the Quantitative Clastics Laboratory (QCL). His expertise is the sedimentology and stratigraphy of deep-water depositional systems, and source-to-sink sediment dispersal. Jacob aims to address challenges in the exploration and development of natural resources, namely reservoir presence and quality prediction in frontier basins, and reservoir connectivity and heterogeneity. Prior to his present position at the QCL, Jacob was a senior research scientist at Chevron Energy Technology Company, and served the Department of the Interior at the U.S. Geological Survey. He received Ph.D. and B.S. degrees in Geological and Environmental Sciences at Stanford University, where he played football 1999-2003. Jacob has published peer-reviewed research papers and scientific conference abstracts pertaining to petroleum geology, reservoir characterization, sedimentology, stratigraphy, basin analysis, Earth surface processes, and marine geology. Jacob was just announced as the recipient of the 2017 SEPM Wilson Award in recognition of “Excellence in Sedimentary Geology by a Young Scientist.”
Research Interests
Clastic sedimentology & stratigraphy
Deep-water depositional systems
Continental-margin sedimentation
Source-to-sink sediment routing
Marine geology & paleoceanography
Geomorphology
Geochronology
Field geology
Education
B.S., Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 2003
Ph.D., Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 2008
Professional History
August 2015 - present: Research Scientist and leader of the Quantitative Clastics Laboratory, Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
September 2011 – July 2015: Senior Research Scientist, Chevron Energy Technology Company (ETC), Clastic Stratigraphy Research and Development team, Houston, TX
September 2010 – September 2011: Research Geologist, United States Geological Survey, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, national CO2 sequestration assessment, Reston, VA
December 2008 – August 2010: Research Scientist, Chevron Energy Technology Company (ETC), Clastic Stratigraphy Research and Development team, San Ramon, CA
August - November 2006: Professional Intern, ConocoPhillips, Subsurface Technology, Reservoir Description, Sedimentary Systems team, Houston, TX
June - September 2005: Professional Intern, Chevron Energy Technology Company (ETC), Stratigraphy/Geostatistics Services team, Subsurface Characterization, San Ramon, CA
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Please see the following links for references and downloads of peer-reviewed publications: