Katie M Smye

Katie M Smye is a Research Associate Professor at the Bureau of Economic Geology within the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin. Her work focuses on geomechanical and hydrogeological processes related to oil and gas operations, particularly induced seismicity, wastewater disposal, and reservoir dynamics. She combines satellite InSAR data with subsurface modeling to assess anthropogenic land deformation and fault stability.

Research Interests:

• Induced seismicity mechanisms and mitigation
• Wastewater disposal reservoir characterization
• Pore pressure evolution in unconventional plays
• Geomechanical modeling of fault systems
• Hydrogeological impacts of energy operations

Her recent work emphasizes regional studies in the Permian and Delaware Basins, linking injection practices to surface deformation and fault reactivation. Over 50 peer-reviewed articles demonstrate her contributions to understanding subsurface-fluid interactions and geohazard assessment.

Lab/Affiliations: Active member of the Bureau of Economic Geology's Energy and Geoscience group, collaborating with industry and government agencies on applied geoscience solutions for sustainable resource development.