Dr. John Kaszuba

Associate Professor

Office Phone: (307) 766-6065
Fax Phone: (307) 766-6679

P.O. Box 3006
Laramie, Wyoming 82071-3006
Email: John.Kaszuba@uwyo.edu

Education

Geochemistry, PhD, Colorado School of Mines, 1997
Geology, MS, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University , 1986
Geology, BS, Beloit College, 1982

Research statement

I have been working on fundamental and applied problems related to the geochemistry of water-rock reactions and fossil energy for over 10 years, with particular emphasis on geologic carbon sequestration. While at Los Alamos National Laboratory I established a high pressure/high temperature hydrothermal laboratory capable of evaluating multiphase fluid-rock reactions. We produced seminal experimental papers regarding supercritical carbon dioxide reaction processes in brine aquifers, with implications for geologic sequestration of carbon. Now that I am at the Univeristy of Wyoming I am establishing a new hydrothermal laboratory with advanced capabilities for evaluating multiphase fluid-rock reactions. With this facility we will tackle geochemical issues surrounding geologic carbon sequestration and fossil energy resources as well as fundamental problems of fluid-rock interactions in the crust. We will continue to employ methods that integrate laboratory, computational, and field techniques to solve these problems. My other long-term research interests include multiphase fluid-rock interaction and evolution in crustal systems; contact metamorphism; quartz and carbonate veins and textures; redox equilibria in crustal-scale (deep) aquifers; and mass and energy transfer in the crust.

Research Projects

I have several new research projects and am looking for students and postdocs for these projects. These projects include:

Fundamental aspects of geologic co-sequestration of multi-component (CO2-SOx-NOx) fluids. This project blends experimental geochemistry with studies of natural analogues in Wyoming. Prospective graduate students and postdocs are encouraged to apply.
Geologic carbon sequestration and potential impacts to drinking-water resources. This project is a collaborative effort between UW and the Colorado School of Mines. We are combining laboratory experiments and reactive transport numerical simulations to understand geochemical reactions among supercritical CO2, aquifer fluids, and aquifer minerals that ultimately determine the quality of drinking water sources. Prospective graduate students and postdocs are encouraged to apply.
Fundamental aspects of supercritical carbon dioxide-water-rock interactions in Enhanced Geothermal Systems. The project is a collaborative effort that focuses on experimental geochemistry at the University of Wyoming and the development of computer models at the University of Utah. Prospective graduate students and postdocs are encouraged to apply.
Application of U-series isotope geochemistry to CO2-rich volcanic systems and geologic carbon sequestration in field and laboratory settings. This is a collaborative project with Associate Professor Ken Sims in the Department of Geology & Geophysics. The project is limited to graduate students.
Fundamental aspects of coupled geochemical reactions and multiphase (CO2-H2O) flow in porous rocks, combining experimental geochemistry and neutron scattering techniques. This is a collaborative project with Assistant Professor Vladimir Alvarado in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering. The project requires a postdoc and is part of an interdisciplinary project that will assess highest-priority geologic formations in Wyoming for CO2 storage. This position is available beginning January 1, 2010 and requires a willingness to facilitate collaboration between the Departments of Geology & Geophysics and Chemical & Petroleum Engineering at the University of Wyoming. Candidates who possess a background in neutron scattering are especially encouraged to apply.

These projects are among many new and ongoing projects at the University of Wyoming that address fundamental science underlying fluid-rock interactions and geologic carbon sequestration. Candidates with a background or interest and aptitude for geochemistry are encouraged to apply. Candidates familiar with quantitative geochemical analysis and/or experimental geochemistry are especially encouraged to apply. Graduate student projects can begin as soon as June 1, 2010. Postdocs can start as early as January 1, 2010.

In addition I have several other projects that are winding down:

Geologic carbon sequestration in western Wyoming: Reactivity of CO2 in a saline aquifer of the Moxa Arch (funded by DOE-NETL). This project is wrapping up in the winter of 2010.
Geochemistry of oil shale (PI, part of Co-Operative Research and Development Agreement with Chevron Energy Technology Company). This project is wrapping up in 2009.
Shale mineral reactions and long term stability of CO2 (co-PI with Dr. Bjørn Kvamme, funded by Research Council of Norway). This project is wrapping up in the winter of 2010.
Modeling multi-phase fluid-rock reactions in the shallow crust (co-PI with Dr. John Bowman, University of Utah, funded by Petroleum Research Fund). This project is wrapping up in 2010.

Recent Publications (Click links to download PDFs)

Wigand, M., Kaszuba, J.P., Carey, J.W., and Hollis, W.K., 2009, Geochemical effects of CO2 sequestration on fractured wellbore cement at the cement/caprock interface: Chemical Geology, v. 265, p. 122-133. [PDF]

Newell, D.L., Kaszuba, J.P., Viswanathan, H.S., Pawar, R.J. and Carpenter, T., 2008. Significance of carbonate buffers in natural waters reacting with supercritical CO2 - Implications for monitoring, measuring and verification (MMV) of geologic carbon sequestration: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 35, no. 23, L23403, DOI: 10.1029/2008GL035615. [PDF]

Mitchell, Andrew C., Phillips, Adrienne, Hamilton, Marty, Gerlach, Robin, Hollis, W. Kirk, Kaszuba, John, and Cunningham, Alfred, 2008, Resilience of Bacillus mojavensis planktonic and biofilm communities to supercritical CO2: Journal of Supercritical Fluids, v. 47, p. 318–325. [PDF]

Viswanathan, Hari S., Pawar, Rajesh J., Stauffer, Philip H., Kaszuba, John P., Carey, J. William, Olsen, Seth C., Keating, Gordon N., Kavetski, Dmitri, and Guthrie, George D., 2008, Synergistic process and systems modeling to assess carbon sequestration: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 42, p. 7280–7286, 10.1021/es800417x. [PDF]

Kaszuba, John P., and Janecky, David R., 2008, Geochemical impacts of sequestering carbon dioxide in brine formations; in Sundquist, E., and McPherson, B., The Science and Technology of Carbon Sequestration: Assessment and Verification of Natural and Deliberate Carbon Sinks, AGU Monograph, in press.

Kaszuba, John P., Williams, Laurie, Janecky, David R., Hollis, W. Kirk, and Tsimpanogiannism, Ioannis N., 2006, Immiscible CO2-H2O fluids in the shallow crust: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems (G3), v. 7, Q10003, doi:10.1029/2005GC001107. [PDF]

Kaszuba, John P., Janecky, David R., and Snow, Marjorie G., 2005, Experimental evaluation of mixed fluid reactions between supercritical carbon dioxide and NaCl brine: Relevance to the integrity of a geologic carbon repository: Chemical Geology, v. 217, no. 3-4, p. 277-293. [PDF]

Kaszuba, John P., Janecky, David R., and Snow, Marjorie G., 2003, Carbon dioxide reaction processes in a model brine aquifer at 200oC and 200 bars: Implications for geologic sequestration of carbon: Applied Geochemistry, v. 18, no. 7, p. 1065-1080. [PDF]

Courses

2010 Mineralogy
4200-5 Climate Change
4200-2/5200-2 Geochemical Modeling
4200-7/5200-9 Carbon Capture & Storage

Teaching Statement

Important components of my teaching approach are experiential learning; integrated field, laboratory (qualitative and quantitative/analytical), and classroom techniques; and incorporation of active research questions into field trips, laboratory experiments, and problem sets. Important goals are to develop in students the ability to recognize and articulate significant problems, the solutions to which represent important contributions to science and society, as well as abilities to identify problems, think creatively, and embrace change. I strive to foster these qualities in students as teacher and mentor in the classroom, the field, and the laboratory.