About
Jen Aschoff, Ph.D.
I am a Professor of Geology at U. Alaska, Anchorage.
I specialize in sedimentology, stratigraphy, and subsurface data interpretation as they apply to energy resources. My passion lies in integrating diverse datasets, embracing new technologies, and venturing beyond my core expertise to bring innovative insights to my work. My diverse project experience ranges from BP Global Access (i.e., new ventures) to geologic field mapping and geochronology to core description and seismic interpretation. I also had the great opportunity to live aboard NOAA's Okeanos vessel conducting deep ocean exploration; this work helped me better understand modern shelf-edge and basin-floor processes on an active tectonic margin (Aleutians). This broad spectrum of interests has allowed me to develop a wide range of skills and unique insight. The bulk of my career has focused on understanding the formation, fill, and economic potential of sedimentary basins. My work emphasizes data integration across geological, engineering, geospatial, and seismic/well-log datasets. My philosophy is to listen intently to others, keep an open mind, ask hard questions and develop creative solutions to Earth's problems. Please contact me if you are interested in my research!
Research Projects
Energy Research
Geothermal Resource Evaluation, Alaska
NEW PROJECT! Stay Tuned
North Slope Alaska Conventional Oil/Gas Plays
Projects and Funding:
2017-2021 Arctic Science and Engineering Endowment Research Grant (Lead PI) ($100,000) “Reinvigorating Arctic Oil/Gas Exploration With New Shelf-edge Exploration Concepts”
2018-Present ConocoPhillips Sole Industry Research Grant (Sole PI) ($174,139) “Linking Brookian Outcrops to the Subsurface to Understand Reservoir Distribution, Connectivity and Heterogeneity, North Slope, AK”
2018-2020 ENI Research Subcontract with UT-Austin (Sole PI) ($20,000) “Evaluating Depositional Process Change and Associated Reservoir Quality in Beaufortian Deposits, North Slope, AK”
2019-2021 ENI Research Subcontract with UT-Austin (Sole PI) ($20,000) “Evaluating External Controls on Reservoir Distribution and Quality in Brookian Topsets, North Slope, AK”
Related Products:
[Internal reports, abstracts and several publications in revision]
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Zhang, J., Flaig, P., Wartes, M., Aschoff, J., Shuster, M. ,2021, Integrating stratigraphic forward modelling, inversion analysis, and shelf-margin records to delineate sediment sources: An example of Cretaceous Colville Basin, Arctic Alaska: Basin Research, v.33, no. 5, DOI: 10.1111/bre.12543
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*Aschoff, J.L., Nolan, S., Suranovic, B. and Jones, V.I., 2020, Context, internal characteristics and controls on Brookian shelf-edge deltas, North Slope, AK: Insight from integrated seismic facies mapping and core description: Alaska Geological Society, Anchorage Alaska, February 2020
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*Foster, P.A., and Aschoff, J.L., 2020, Preliminary Outcrop Reservoir Characterization and Modeling of the Cretaceous Nanushuk Formation at Slope Mountain, North Slope, Alaska: AAPG Abstracts with Programs [this presentation was not possible due to COVID-19 travel restrictions]
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*Jones, V. and Aschoff, J.L., 2020, Sedimentary Process and Depositional Model for the Badami Reservoir, Canning Formation, North Slope, Alaska: AAPG Annual Meeting, Houston, TX [this presentation was not possible due to COVID-19 travel restrictions]
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*Suranovic, B. and Aschoff, J.L.,, 2020, Comparison of Highstand and Lowstand (SED) Deltaic Deposits in the Brookian Sequence, North Slope, Alaska: Implications for Predicting Reservoir Presence and Quality: AAPG Annual Meeting, Houston, TX [this presentation was not possible due to COVID-19 travel restrictions]
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*Nolan, S. and Aschoff, J.L., 2019, Distribution and Geologic Controls on Brookian Shelf-edge Delta Successions: NPRA North Slope, AK: AAPG Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX
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*Nolan, S. and Aschoff, J.L., 2018, Distribution and Geologic Controls on Brookian Shelf-edge Delta Successions: NPRA North Slope, AK: Alaska Geological Society Annual Meeting, Anchorage, AK
Tight Gas Sands
Projects and Funding:
2011-2015 [DOE] Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (Lead PI) Research Grant ($1.1 Million) "Predicting higher-than-average permeability zones in tight-gas sands, Piceance Basin, CO: An Integrated Structural-Stratigraphic Analysis"
Related Products:
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Aschoff, J.L., Plink-Bjorklund, P. and Trudgill, B.D., 2016, Predicting higher-than-average permeability zones in tight-gas sands, Piceance Basin, CO: An integrated stratigraphic and structural analysis, RPSEA- Department of Energy RPSEA Final Report 112 p.
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Aschoff, J.L., Plink-Bjorklund, P. and Trudgill, B.D., 2015, Predicting higher-than-average permeability zones in tight-gas sands, Piceance Basin, CO- Department of Energy Fact-sheet #08122-40, 2 p.
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Aschoff, J.L. and Edwards, S.A., 2013, Stratigraphic controls on tight-gas sandstones: Insight from regional sequence-stratigraphic outcrop-to-subsurface correlation of the Upper Williams Fork Formation, Piceance Basin, CO, RPSEA-Department of Energy Year-end Report #08122.4
Sedimentary Basin Dynamics Research
Cordilleran Foreland Basin
Funding:
National Science Foundation Grant NSF Grant 2018-2024 “Collaborative Research: Linking sediment dispersal, stratal architecture, and tectonic subsidence mechanisms in the Late Cretaceous Cordilleran Foreland Basin”
Other funding sources: ConocoPhillips, Uinta Basin Joint Industry Consortium, Utah Geological Survey Grant 2008-2011
Related Products:
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Li. Z. and Aschoff, J.L., 2023, Location, Extent, and Magnitude of Dynamic Topography in the Late Cretaceous Cordilleran Foreland Basin: Insights from 3D Flexural Backstripping: Basin Research [PR] DOI: 10.1111/bre.12706
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Li. Z. and Aschoff, J.L., 2022, Shoreline evolution in the Late Cretaceous North American Cordilleran foreland basin: An exemplar of the combined influence of tectonics, sealevel, and sediment supply through time: Earth-Science Reviews, v. 226, pp. 1-37 [PR] DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.103947
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Li, Z. and Aschoff, J.L., 2021 Constraining the Effects of Dynamic Topography on the Development of Late Cretaceous Cordilleran Foreland Basin, Western United States: GSA Bulletin v.134, 1-2, pp. 446-462, DOI: 10.1130/B35838.1
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Aschoff, J.L. and Steel, R.J., 2011, Anomalous clastic wedge development during the Sevier-Laramide transition in the Cordilleran Foreland Basin, USA: GSA Bulletin; DOI: 10.1130/B30248.1
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Aschoff, J.L., and Steel, R.J., 2011, Anatomy and development of a low-accommodation clastic wedge, Upper Cretaceous, Cordilleran Foreland Basin, USA: Sedimentary Geology; DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2010.10.006
Alaska Coleville Foreland Basin
Funding:
ENI Research Subcontract with UT-Austin (Sole PI) 2019-2021 “Evaluating External Controls on Reservoir Distribution and Quality in Brookian Topsets, North Slope, AK”
Related Products:
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Zhang, J., Flaig, P., Wartes, M., Aschoff, J., Shuster, M. ,2021, Integrating stratigraphic forward modelling, inversion analysis, and shelf-margin records to delineate sediment sources: An example of Cretaceous Colville Basin, Arctic Alaska: Basin Research, v.33, no. 5, DOI: 10.1111/bre.12543
Students Involved:
Brock Rust, Fox Hills S.s.
Jared Rountree, Uinta-Piceance Basins, CO Forward stratigraphic modeling
Geologic Mapping and Other Research
Detrital Zircon Geochronology
Funding:
National Science Foundation Grant NSF Grant 2018-2024 “Collaborative Research: Linking sediment dispersal, stratal architecture, and tectonic subsidence mechanisms in the Late Cretaceous Cordilleran Foreland Basin”
New Subproject
2023-Present
New Constraints on Timing and Kinematics of the Uinta Mountains Uplift from Detailed Mapping, Growth Strata Analysis and Detrital Zircon Geochronology
Geologic Mapping
Funding:
National Science Foundation Grant NSF Grant 2018-2024 “Collaborative Research: Linking sediment dispersal, stratal architecture, and tectonic subsidence mechanisms in the Late Cretaceous Cordilleran Foreland Basin”
2009 USGS EdMap Grant
2009 Utah Geological Survey Grant
Selected Products:
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Young, A., and Aschoff, J.L., 2024, Detailed Growth-strata Mapping and Facies Analysis of Upper Cretaceous to Paleogene Strata, Tabby Mountain, UT: Insight into Kinematics of the Uinta Mountain Uplift, GSA Cordilleran Section Meeting, Spokane, WA
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Valora, P.M. and Aschoff, J.L., 2012, Geologic map and sections of the Thistle 7.5 Quadrangle: Insights into tectono-stratigraphic development of the Southern Provo Salient, Utah: Utah Geological Survey Misc. Publication #12-1
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Aschoff, J.L. and Schmitt, J.G., 2004, Geologic map of the 1:24,000 Dell, MT 7.5’ quadrangle, Cordilleran Fold and Thrust Belt, Southwestern Montana: Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Open File Report #520, 30 p.
Students involved:
Patrick Foster, North Slope, AK (MS)
Anna Young, Unita Mountains, UT (BS)
Brock Rust, Fox Hills SS, WY (MS)
Kristina Butler, Fox Hills SS, WY (BS)
Parker Volera, Thistle Mtn Quadrangle, UT
PUBLICATIONS AND DATASETS
(UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
Find pdf's of reports and papers with published data repositories are below