Max Copus
I am a master’s student in WMU’s Carbonate Petrology and Characterization Lab investigating sedimentary units that can confine and permanently store carbon dioxide in the Michigan Basin. My experience includes compiling wellbore integrity data for the Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education and interning with DTE Vantage, where I supported CCS site characterization, Class VI permitting, pore-space leasing, and community engagement. I earned my B.A. in Public Administration from Saginaw Valley State University and enjoy collecting and polishing agates, agatized fossils, and Australian opal, as well as fishing.
Research
Confining units within Michigan’s Cambrian-Ordovician carbon-storage system remain poorly characterized because they were historically uneconomic to develop. As CCUS development and initiatives increase, understanding these formations is critical for safe, permanent COâ‚‚ storage.
As part of the Department of Energy funded “Advancing CCUS in the Michigan Basin” project, I conduct integrated geological characterization of the Prevost 1-11 core (Bay County, MI), focusing on the Glenwood Formation with additional study of the St. Peter Sandstone, Trenton, Black River, and Utica Shale Formations. My work combines thin section petrography, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy to define the mineralogical, petrological, and geochemical properties that dictate the formation’s reservoir sealing capacity.
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Contact
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