Dr. Timothy "Tip" A. Meckel

Research Interests

Dr. Tip Meckel is a research scientist investigating geologic carbon sequestration topics for the Bureau of Economic Geology at The University of Texas at Austin.

He joined the Gulf Coast Carbon Center at the Bureau in 2006, focusing on geologic characterization, structural geology, monitoring design, and pressure evolution for CO₂ injections. Tip has been involved with several large-scale field demonstration projects funded through DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory. After early exposure during the FRIO tests east of Houston in 2006, he co-directed the research program for the SECARB demonstration project in Cranfield Mississippi, and currently leads the research initiative to identify offshore sequestration potential in the Gulf of Mexico with focus on capacity assessment and seismic monitoring technologies. 

Education

Ph.D., 2003, Institute for Geophysics and Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin. 

M.S., 1998, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT.

B.A., 1995, with Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa, Department of Geology, Colby College, Waterville, ME.

Currently in Review

Ni, H., Li, B. Darraj, N., Ren, B., Harris, C., Krishnamurthy, P., Bukar, I., Meckel, T.A., The impact of capillary heterogeneity on CO₂ flow and trapping across scales: Review and suggestions. Submitted 05/01/2025 to Earth Science Reviews.

Maag, J., Bedle, H., and Meckel, T.A., Elucidating Quaternary High-frequency Depositional Sequences and Incised Valley Evolution using High-resolution 3D Seismic Data: Gulf of Mexico, USA. Submitted 04/10/2025 to Interpretation: INT-2024-0089.R2.

Selected Publications

Ubillus, J. E., Ni, H., DiCarlo, D., and Meckel, T., 2025, Experimental investigation of buoyant flow in realistic bedforms with heterogeneous wettability: Society of Petroleum Engineers Journal, v. 30, no. 3, article no. SPE-224402-PA, p. 1538–1548, http://doi.org/10.2118/224402-PA.

Ubillus, J.E., Bakhshian, S., Ni, H., DiCarlo, D., and Meckel, T., 2025, Informing field-scale CO₂ storage simulations with sandbox experiments: The effect of small-scale heterogeneities. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 141, p. 1–10, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2025.104318.

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, 205339, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgsce.2024.205339.

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.

Ye, J., Afifi, A., Rowaihy, F., Baby, G., De Santiago, A., Tasianas, A., Hamieh, A., Khodayeva, A., Al-Juaied, M., Meckel, T.A., Hoteit, H., 2023, Evaluation of geological CO₂ storage potential in Saudi Arabian sedimentary basins: Earth-Science Reviews, v. 244, 29 p., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2023.104539.

Ni, H., Bakhshian, S., Meckel, T.A., 2023, Effects of grain size and small -scale bedform architecture on CO₂ saturation from buoyancy-driven flow: Scientific Reports, v. 13, p. 1–13, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29360-y.

Meckel, T.A., Beckham, E.C., 2023, High-resolution geologic modeling and CO₂ flow simulation of a realistic clastic deltaic 3D model derived from a laboratory flume tank experiment: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 125, p. 1–16, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2023.103892.

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.

Krishnamurthy, P.G., DiCarlo, D., and Meckel, T.A., 2022, Geologic heterogeneity controls on trapping and migration of CO₂: Geophysical Research Letters, American Geophysical Union, 49, p. 1–9, e2022GL099104, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099104.

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.

Mehana, M., Hosseini, S. A., Meckel, T. A., and Viswanathan, H., 2020, Modeling CO₂ plume migration using an invasion-percolation approach that includes dissolution: Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, v. 10, no. 2, p. 283–295, http://doi.org/10.1002/ghg.1976.

Alfi, M., Vasco, D. W., Hosseini, S. A., Meckel, T., and Hovorka, S. D., 2019, Validating compositional fluid flow simulations using 4D seismic interpretation and vice versa in the SECARB Early Test--a critical review: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 82, p. 162–174, http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2019.01.003.

DeAngelo, M. V., Fifariz, R., Meckel, T., and Treviño, R. H., 2019, A seismic-based CO₂-sequestration regional assessment of the Miocene section, northern Gulf of Mexico, Texas and Louisiana: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 81, p. 29–37, http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2018.12.009.

Goudarzi, A., Meckel, T., Hosseini, S. A., and Treviño, R. H., 2019, Statistical analysis of historic hydrocarbon production data from Gulf of Mexico oil and gas fields and application to dynamic capacity assessment in CO₂ storage: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 80, p. 96–102, http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2018.11.014.

Krishnamurthy, P. G., Meckel, T. A., and Dicarlo, D., 2019, Mimicking geologic depositional fabrics for multiphase flow experiments: Water Resources Research, v. 55, p. 9623–9638, http://doi.org/10.1029/2019WR025664.

Meckel, T., Feng, Y. E., Treviño, R. H., and Sava, D., 2019, High-resolution 3D marine seismic acquisition in the overburden at the Tomakomai CO₂ storage project, offshore Hokkaido, Japan: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 88, p. 124–133, http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2019.05.034.

Ringrose, P. S., and Meckel, T. A., 2019, Maturing global CO₂ storage resources on offshore continental margins to achieve 2DS emissions reductions: Scientific Reports, v. 9, no. 17994, http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-54363-z.

Anderson, J. S., Romanak, K. D., and Meckel, T., 2018, Assessment of shallow subsea hydrocarbons as a proxy for leakage at offshore geologic CO₂ storage sites: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 74, p. 19–27, http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2018.04.010.

Klokov, A., Meckel, T., and Treviño, R. H., 2018, Confining system integrity assessment by detection of natural gas migration using seismic diffractions: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 75, p. 32–40, http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2018.05.001.

Meckel, T., and Mulcahy, F., 2016, Use of novel high-resolution 3D marine seismic technology to evaluate Quaternary fluvial valley development and geologic controls on shallow gas distribution, inner shelf, Gulf of Mexico: Interpretation, v. 4, no. 1, p. SC35–SC49, http://doi.org/10.1190/INT-2015-0092.1.

Islam, A.W., Meckel, T.A., Sun, A.Y., and Krishnamurthy, P., 2016, Numerical experiments of density driven CO₂ saturated brine migration in heterogeneous two-dimensional geologic fabric materials, International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, 71: 148–156. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2015.12.019.

Meckel, T., Bryant, S. L., and Ravi Ganesh, P., 2015, Characterization and prediction of CO₂ saturation resulting from modeling buoyant fluid migration in 2D heterogeneous geologic fabrics: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 34, p. 85–96, http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2014.12.010.

Wallace, K. J., Meckel, T., Carr, D. L., Treviño, R. H., and Yang, C., 2014, Regional CO₂ sequestration capacity assessment for the coastal and offshore Texas Miocene interval: Greenhouse Gases Science and Technology, v. 4, p. 53-65, http://doi.org/10.1002/ghg.1380.

Hovorka, S. D., Meckel, T., and Treviño, R. H., 2013, Monitoring a large-volume injection at Cranfield, Mississippi--Project design and recommendations: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 18, p. 345–360, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2013.03.021.

Lu, J., Kordi, M., Hovorka, S. D., Meckel, T., and Christopher, C., 2013, Reservoir characterization and complications for trapping mechanisms at Cranfield CO₂ injection site: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 18, p. 361–374, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2012.10.007.

Meckel, T., 2013, Digital rendering of sedimentary-relief peels: Implications for clastic facies characterization and fluid flow: Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 83, no. 6, p. 495–501, http://dx.doi.org/10.2110/jsr.2013.43.

Awards

Offshore Storage Resource Assessment of the Northern Gulf of Mexico (TX-LA) – DOE-NETL
Center for Frontiers of Subsurface Energy Security (CFSES) – Basic Energy Sciences
SECARB Phase III – DOE-NETL