Meet Kristin M. Carter, Vice President (2016-17)

Kristin Carter serves as assistant state geologist for the Pennsylvania Geological Survey and manages the Survey’s Economic Geology Division. Kristin has worked as a petroleum geologist for the Survey since 2001, and her current research efforts include carbon capture utilization and storage, enhanced oil and gas recovery, unconventional reservoirs and deep brine injection opportunities. In addition, she is the business manager of Pennsylvania’s oil and gas well database, known as EDWIN (Exploration and Development Well Information Network). Prior to joining the Survey, Kristin worked as a consulting hydrogeologist in the private sector for almost a decade, first with Environmental Resources Management Inc. (Annapolis, Md.) and then Crouse & Company (Monroeville, Pa.). As a consultant, Kristin worked on many projects involving groundwater flow and quality at sites throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, contaminant fate and transport in bedrock and unconsolidated aquifers, beneficial use of coal combustion by-products for mine reclamation and spring water source characterization. Kristin holds a master’s degree in geological sciences from Lehigh University and a bachelor’s degree in geology/environmental science (double major) from Allegheny College.

Kristin M. Carter Vice-President of DEG 2016-17

In addition to her full-time work, Kristin is a certified Master Water Well Owner; an advisor to the board of directors of the Friends of Drake Well Inc.; and a member of the Pittsburgh Association of Petroleum Geologists, Pittsburgh Geological Society and Women’s Energy Network-Appalachia Chapter.

Kristin is a member of the Division of Environmental Geosciences (DEG), Energy Minerals Division (EMD) and Division of Professional Affairs (DPA). She also previously served as DEG’s the Special Issues editor (2009-10), editor-in-chief (2010-14) and managing editor (2014-16).

Meet Barbara G. Kutchko, Managing Editor (2016-17)

Barbara Kutchko is a senior research scientist with the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), specializing in wellbore isolation, oil well cementing and subsurface materials characterization. She has a doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University’s Civil and Environmental Engineering and a master’s in geology from the University of Pittsburgh.

Barbara works with oil and gas companies, government agencies and universities to evaluate current cementing practices and research needs, to ensure the safe placement of cement related to offshore drilling, shale gas production and carbon storage. This includes leading and collaborating with teams of diverse researchers, professors, students and industry experts to plan, manage and execute research related to energy production.

Barbara G. Kutchko - Managing Editor Spheres of Influence 2016-17

Barbara also serves as the principal investigator for a groundbreaking evaluation of foamed cement systems at in situ wellbore conditions. She works to mitigate the environmental impacts associated with offshore and onshore drilling and cementing. She supports the development of environmentally and socially sustainable shale resources and researches the effects of carbon storage and acid-gas injection on well cements. Her research has informed federal policy and increased scientific understanding of the chemical reactions that occur in geological formations under carbon sequestration conditions. She currently represents NETL on the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) Cement Subcommittee 10C, which develops and maintains standards on various oil and gas wellbore cementing procedures for the U.S. petroleum industry and is actively involved in the foamed cement work group.

In addition, she is a member of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board. She is the recipient of a 2016 Pittsburgh Women in Energy award and a 2015 Energy Award in Upstream. In 2014, she received a Federal Executive Board (FEB) Excellence in Government Award for outstanding contributions to science and/or information technology.