Mary Carr

Mary Carr is a Research Professor at the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering at Colorado School of Mines, and serves as Executive Director of the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council (PTTC). She holds a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Texas at Austin (1994), an M.S. from the University of Texas at Arlington (1987), and a B.S. in Geology (1982). Her career spans over three decades of research in sedimentology, reservoir modeling, and petroleum geology, with a focus on eolian systems, deep-water sedimentary systems, and fluvial tight gas reservoirs.

Research Interests: Dr. Carr’s work integrates field studies, 3D geospatial modeling, and outcrop analogs to understand reservoir heterogeneity and depositional processes. Key areas include wet eolian systems (e.g., Entrada Sandstone), deep-water basin-floor fans (e.g., Brushy Canyon Formation), and hydraulic fracture behavior in tight gas reservoirs. She has pioneered techniques to link geological architecture with reservoir engineering challenges, particularly in unconventional plays.

Professional Contributions: As Director of the Rocky Mountain PTTC, she facilitates technology transfer to the oil and gas industry through workshops, publications, and digital tools. Her research has been funded by industry consortia like the Slope and Basin Consortium and Chevron Center of Research Excellence. Over 50 peer-reviewed publications and technical reports highlight her expertise in sedimentology, stratigraphy, and reservoir characterization.

Labs & Teams: Collaborates with the Chevron Center of Research Excellence and Slope and Basin Consortium to advance deep-water reservoir modeling and outcrop analog studies. Her work often involves advanced software like GOCAD and Petra for 3D geological modeling.