Shirley P. Dutton
Professional Summary
May 2, 2014
Business address: The University of Texas at Austin
Bureau of Economic Geology
University Station, Box X
Austin, Texas 78713-8924
(512) 471-1534
E-mail address:
Academic Background
B.A., with Highest Distinction, Geology, University of Rochester, 1975
M.A. Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, 1977
Ph.D. Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, 1986
Areas of Expertise
- Sandstone petrography and diagenesis—interpretation of diagenetic history by integration of petrographic, geochemical, and stratigraphic data.
- Relationship of diagenesis to porosity, permeability, and other petrophysical properties of oil and gas reservoirs.
- Timing of diagenesis and hydrocarbon maturation with respect to basin thermal and subsidence history.
- Genetic stratigraphy and basin analysis—interpretation of depositional and diagenetic history of deepwater sandstones.
- Core studies and subsurface analysis for interpreting basin evolution and clastic depositional environments.
- Use of organic geochemistry for assessing hydrocarbon source rock quality and thermal maturity.
Professional Work Experience
A. Present Position: Senior Research Scientist, Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin (September 1993 - Present).
Conducting research on sedimentology, diagenesis, and reservoir quality of oil and gas reservoirs.
B. Research Scientist, The University of Texas at Austin (February 1987 - August 1993).
Conducting research on sedimentology, diagenesis, and reservoir quality of oil and gas reservoirs.
C. Research Associate, The University of Texas at Austin (October 1981 - February 1987).
Conducting research on sedimentology, diagenesis, and reservoir quality of oil and gas reservoirs.
D. Research Scientist Associate, The University of Texas at Austin (June 1977 - October 1981).
Conducting research on sedimentology, diagenesis, and reservoir quality of oil and gas reservoirs.
E. Geological Assistant, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado (October 1976 - May 1977).
Dr. Thomas Ahlbrandt, supervisor. Conducting research on diagenesis and porosity distribution in Pennsylvanian deltaic sandstones, North-Central Texas.
F. Teaching Assistant, Department of Geology, University of Rochester (September 1974 - May 1975).
Dr. Zeddie Bowen, supervisor. Teaching lab sections of physical and historical geology.
Professional Societies
American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Austin Geological Society
Geological Society of America (Fellow)
Gulf Coast Section–Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists
Midcontinent Section-Society of Paleontologists and Mineralogists
SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology)
West Texas Geological Society
Professional Registrations
Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists #385
Awards and Honorary Societies
Distinguished Lecturer, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 2013 - 2014
JSG Research Excellence Award, 2010
Joseph C. Walter Jr. Excellence Award, Jackson School of Geosciences, 2007
A. I. Levorsen Memorial Award, Southwest Section, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 2000
Honorable Mention, SEPM Excellence of Oral Presentation Award, 1996 AAPG–SEPM annual meeting, 1996
Distinguished Lecture Tour, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1986 - 1987
First Place Best Paper and A. I. Levorsen Memorial Awards, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies, 1987
First Place Best Paper and A. I. Levorsen Memorial Awards, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies, 1986
Sigma Xi, 1980
U.S. Geological Survey Fellowship, 1976 - 1977
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Best Student Paper Award, 1977
University Fellowship, The University of Texas at Austin, 1975 - 1976
Phi Beta Kappa, University of Rochester, 1975
NAGT and University of Rochester Geology Field Camp Scholarships, 1974
Committee Responsibilities and Professional Activities
Member, JSG Postdoc Review Panel, Jackson School of Geosciences, 2012
Chair, Promotions Advisory Committee, Bureau of Economic Geology, 2011 - 2012
Member, Appointments Committee, Jackson School of Geosciences, 2011 - 2013
Member, Promotions Advisory Committee, Bureau of Economic Geology, 2010 - 2011
Member, ad hoc Committee on Bureau Procedures, Bureau of Economic Geology, 2009 - 2009
Session Chair, 100th Anniversary of the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology Session, 2009 Pacific Sections AAPG-SEPM-SEG Convention, 2009
Convenor, Sandstone diagenesis and reservoir quality oral session, 2008 American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention, San Antonio, 2007 - 2008
Member, Pettijohn Medal Committee, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology), 2007 - 2008
Chair, Promotions Advisory Committee, Bureau of Economic Geology, 2006 - 2007
Member, Distinguished Lecturer Committee, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 2006 - 2011
Member, Appointments Committee, Jackson School of Geosciences, 2006 - 2009
Member, Distinguished Lecturer Committee, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 2006 - 2011
Member, Appointments Committee, Jackson School of Geosciences, 2006 - 2008
Chair, Clastic Diagenesis Research Group, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology), 2005 - 2006
Chair, Researchers Retreat, Bureau of Economic Geology, 2005
Member, Ad Hoc Consultative Committee for the Selection of the Dean of the John A. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 2005 - 2006
Participant, AAPG Hedberg Conference: Understanding, Exploring, and Developing Tight Gas Sands, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 2005
Co-Convenor, Workshop on Curation of Terrestrial Scientific Cores, Samples, and Collections, National Science Foundation, 2004 - 2005
Member, Promotions Advisory Committee, Bureau of Economic Geology, 2004 - 2007
Member, Graduate Studies Committee, Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 2004 - 2007
Member, Committee on Graduate Student Admission and Support Policies in the Jackson School, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 2003
Co-Editor, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions 52nd Annual Convention, Austin, Texas, October, 2002
Convenor, Tight Gas Reservoirs, poster session, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention, Houston, Texas, 2002
Judge, poster session, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention, Houston, Texas, 2002
Member, Soft-Rock Curriculum Committee, Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 2001
Member, Graduate Student Recruitment Committee, Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 2001
Co-Convenor, Diagenesis: new insights and predictive trends, technical session, 2002 Annual Meeting, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 2000 - 2001
Co-Editor, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, 2000 - 2001
Member, Graduate Admissions and Support Committee, Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 2000 - 2003
Co-Convenor, Advances in Clastic Diagenesis, technical session, 2002 Annual Meeting, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1999 - 2000
Member, Ad Hoc Consultative Committee for the Selection of the Director of the Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, 1999
Co-Convenor, Role of Fluid Flux in Diagenesis, technical session, 1999 Annual Meeting, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1998 - 1999
Co-Convenor, Results of Joint DOE/Industry Programs, technical session, 1997 Annual Meeting, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1996 - 1997
Member, Aid-to-Students Committee, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies, 1994
Secretary, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies, 1994
Associate Editor, Journal of Sedimentary Research, 1993 - 2000
Member, Nominating Committee, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geologists), 1992
Member, representing the Sedimentary Geology Division, Joint Technical Program Committee, Geological Society of America, 1992 - 1994
Program Chairperson, 44th Annual Meeting, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies, 1992 - 1994
Convenor, session on Porosity Prediction in Siliciclastic Rocks, 1991 Annual Meeting in Dallas, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1990 - 1991
Member, Pettijohn Medal Selection Committee, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geologists), 1990 - 1991
Member, Grants-in-Aid Committee, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1989 - 1994
Member, Abstract Review Committee for Sedimentary Petrology, annual meetings, Geological Society of America, 1989 - 1991
Member, Technical Program Committee, Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, 1989
Member, Credentials Committee, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1988 - 1989
Member, Ad Hoc Awards and Judging Committee, Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, 1988
Chairman, Awards and Judging Committee, Mid-Year Meeting, Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, 1987
Delegate, House of Delegates, Austin Geological Society, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1986 - 1989
Secretary, Midcontinent Section-Society of Paleontologists and Mineralogists, 1985 - 1986
Member, Committee on Stratigraphic Correlations, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1983 - 1985
Publications
Books, Manuals
Dutton, S. P., Ruppel, S. C., and Hentz, T. F., eds., 2002, Transactions: Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies, v. 52, 1135 p. + 78 p. front matter.
Reports, Monographs, Brochures, Pamphlets, Bulletins
Ambrose, W. A., Loucks, R. G., and Dutton, S. P., 2013, Depositional systems and controls on reservoir quality (determined from core data) in deeply buried Tertiary strata in the Texas-Louisiana Gulf of Mexico: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Report of Investigations No. 278, 80 p.
Dutton, S. P., Kim, E. M., Broadhead, R. F., Breton, C. L., Raatz, W. D., Ruppel, S. C., and Kerans, Charles, 2005, Play analysis and digital portfolio of major oil reservoirs in the Permian Basin: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Report of Investigations No. 271, 287 p., CD-ROM.
Ambrose, W. A., Jones, R. H., Fouad, Khaled, Wawrzyniec, T. F., Jennette, D. C., Sakurai, Shinichi, Dutton, S. P., Dunlap, D. B., Holtz, M. H., Sánchez-Barreda, Luis, Guevara, E. H., Meneses-Rocha, Javier, Lugo, Jorge, Aguilera, Leonardo, Berlanga, José, Miranda, Lino, Morales, J. R., and Rojas, Roberto, 2004, Sandstone architecture of upper Miocene and Pliocene shoreface, deltaic, and valley-fill complexes, Macuspana Basin, southeastern Mexico: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Report of Investigations No. 270, 37 p.
Barton, M. D., White, Christopher, Tyler, Noel, Angle, E. S., and Dutton, S. P., 2001, Facies architecture and permeability structure, Cretaceous Ferron Sandstone, Utah: implications for improved oil and gas recovery: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology v. 2, CD-ROM.
Dutton, S. P., Barton, M. D., Asquith, G. B., Malik, M. A., Cole, A. G., Gogas, John, Guzman, J. I., and Clift, S. J., 1999, Geologic and engineering characterization of turbidite reservoirs, Ford Geraldine unit, Bell Canyon Formation, West Texas: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Report of Investigations No. 255, 88 p.
Hamlin, H. S., Clift, S. J., Dutton, S. P., Hentz, T. F., and Laubach, S. E., 1995, Canyon sandstones—a geologically complex natural gas play in slope and basin facies, Val Verde Basin, southwest Texas: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Report of Investigations No. 232, 74 p.
Ambrose, W. A., Ferrer, E. R., Dutton, S. P., Wang, D. L., Padron, Antonio, Carrasquel, Williams, Yeh, J. S., and Tyler, Noel, 1995, Production optimization of tide-dominated deltaic reservoirs of the Lower Misoa Formation (lower Eocene), LL-652 Area, Lagunillas field, Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Report of Investigations No. 226, 46 p.
Dutton, S. P., Hamlin, H. S., and Laubach, S. E., 1995, Geologic controls on reservoir properties of low-permeability sandstone, Frontier Formation, Moxa Arch, southwestern Wyoming: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Report of Investigations No. 234, 89 p.
Hamlin, H. S., Dutton, S. P., Seggie, Robert, Tyler, Noel, and Yeh, J. S., 1995, Flow-unit characterization and recovery optimization of a braid-delta sandstone reservoir, Tirrawarra oil field, South Australia: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Report of Investigations No. 231, 44 p.
Dutton, S. P., Clift, S. J., Hamilton, D. S., Hamlin, H. S., Hentz, T. F., Howard, W. E., Akhter, M. S., and Laubach, S. E., 1993, Major low-permeability-sandstone gas reservoirs in the continental United States: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Report of Investigations No. 211, 221 p.
Dutton, S. P., Laubach, S. E., Tye, R. S., Baumgardner, R. W., Jr., and Herrington, K. L., 1991, Geologic characterization of low-permeability gas reservoirs, Travis Peak Formation, East Texas: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Report of Investigations No. 204, 89 p.
Finley, R. J., Fisher, W. L., Seni, S. J., Ruppel, S. C., Ayers, W. B., Jr., Dutton, S. P., Jackson, M. P. A., Banta, Nancy, Kuuskraa, V. A., McFall, K. S., Godec, Michael, and Jennings, T. V., 1988, An assessment of the natural gas resource base of the United States: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Report of Investigations No. 179, 69 p.
Dutton, S. P., 1987, Diagenesis and burial history of the Lower Cretaceous Travis Peak Formation, East Texas: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Report of Investigations No. 164, 58 p.
Dutton, S. P., 1986, Organic geochemistry of the Pennsylvanian and Lower Permian, Palo Duro Basin, Texas: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Geological Circular 86-5, 28 p.
Dutton, S. P., and Garrett, C. M., Jr., 1985, Abandoned oil fields of the Texas Gulf Coast and East Texas Basins: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Geological Circular 85-3, 47 p.
Kreitler, C. W., and Dutton, S. P., 1983, Origin and diagenesis of cap rock, Gyp Hill and Oakwood salt domes: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Report of Investigations No. 131, 58 p.
Gustavson, T. C., Kreitler, C. W., Bassett, R. T., Budnik, R. T, Ruppel, S. C., Baumgardner, R. W., Jr., Caran, S. C., Collins, E. W., Dutton, A. R., Dutton, S. P., Fisher, R. S., Fogg, G. E., Hovorka, S. D., Kolker, Allan, McGookey, D. A., Orr, E. D., Roberts, M. P., Senger, R. K., Smith, D. A., and Smith, D., 1983, Geology and geohydrology of the Palo Duro Basin, Texas Panhandle: a report on the progress of nuclear waste isolation feasibility studies (1982): The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Geological Circular 83-4, 156 p.
Dutton, S. P., Goldstein, A. G., and Ruppel, S. C., 1982, Petroleum potential of the Palo Duro Basin, Texas Panhandle: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Report of Investigations No. 123, 87 p.
Gustavson, T. C., Bassett, R. T., Budnik, R. T, Finley, R. J., Goldstein, A. G., McGowen, J. H., Roedder, Edwin, Ruppel, S. C., Baumgardner, R. W., Jr., Bentley, M. E., Dutton, S. P., Fogg, G. E., Hovorka, S. D., McGookey, D. A., Ramondetta, P. J., Simpkins, W. W., Smith, D., Smith, D. A., Duncan, E., Griffin, J. A., Marritt, R. M., and Naiman, E. R., 1982, Geology and geohydrology of the Palo Duro Basin, Texas Panhandle: a report on the progress of nuclear waste isolation feasibility studies (1981): The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Geological Circular 82-7, 212 p.
Gustavson, T. C., Bassett, R. T., Finley, R. J., Goldstein, A. G., Handford, R., McGowen, J. H., Presley, M. W., Baumgardner, R. W., Jr., Bentley, M. E., Dutton, S. P., Griffin, J. A., Hoadley, A. D., Howard, D. A., McGookey, D. A., McGillis, K. A., Palmer, D., Ramondetta, P. J., Roedder, Edwin, Simpkins, W. W., and Wiggins, W. D., 1981, Geology and geohydrology of the Palo Duro Basin, Texas Panhandle: a report on the progress of nuclear waste isolation feasibility studies (1980): The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Geological Circular 81-3, 173 p.