2012 Ph.D. in Geology, University of Utah

2004 M.S. in Geochemistry, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

2000 B.S. in Geology with Geochemistry Option, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Research Interests:

My research has focused on integrated application of advanced simulation coupled with real-world field trials and experimental validation. This approach is crucial for optimizing the design and performance of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), predicting and mitigating fluid-rock interactions that impact reservoir performance, and rigorously evaluating the subsurface dynamics essential for geothermal energy and subsurface energy storage solutions. My current research interests include:

• Fracture sustainability, including rock weakening, fines migration, scale management, and proppant placement and diagenesis
• Utilizing water geochemistry as a diagnostic tool for understanding created and natural fracture contributions to EGS flow paths
• Geomechanical and geothermal energy storage
• Predicting and managing thermal decline
• Tracer applications in EGS
• Low-cost exploration methods
• Hybrid power and thermal systems, including opportunities for thermal solar and nuclear, subsurface storage, critical minerals extraction, and water treatment
• The nexus of water and energy, and providing an abundance of both sustainably

Beyond my technical experience, I am deeply passionate about fostering collaborative and multidisciplinary research environments. In my career, I have consistently demonstrated my ability to build internal and external networks, engage diverse stakeholders, and lead cross-functional teams to achieve ambitious objectives. I believe that tackling the complex challenges of scaling geothermal energy and energy storage, particularly at a site as vital as Utah FORGE, demands an integrated approach that harnesses the expertise from varied scientific and engineering disciplines. I am eager to contribute my vision for creating such a dynamic and productive research ecosystem at EGI.

Professional Experience:

Dr. Kristie S. McLin is Director, Research and Science at the Energy and Geoscience Institute and P.I. of the Utah FORGE project. In this role, Dr. McLin leads the development and implementation of the Geothermal research program in collaboration with the Utah FORGE team and EGI leadership.

Dr. McLin served in numerous roles within ConocoPhillips, including Director Subsurface Technology Development, Manager Fluid Characterization, Manager Petroleum Geochemistry and Basin Modeling, Senior Advisor Supply Chain Sustainability, Water Management Project Lead for the Mid-Continent Business Unit, and Senior Geologist in Reservoir Quality Prediction. Prior to joining ConocoPhillips, Dr. McLin conducted geochemistry research related to exploration and production of geothermal systems at the Energy and Geoscience Institute at the University of Utah and consulted on these topics for industry.

Geothermal:

McLin, K.; Norman, D.; Kyle, P. Mapping faults in the Lightning Dock known geothermal area, Animas Valley, New Mexico, using soil CO2 flux measurements, Proceedings, Twenty-Ninth Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering (2004)

McLin, K.; A soil CO2 gas survey over the Lightning Dock known geothermal resource area, Animas Valley, New Mexico, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, M.S. Thesis (2004)

McLin, K.; Moore, J.; Hulen, J.; Bowman, J.; Berard, B.; The geochemical effects of injection into geothermal reservoirs, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting (2005)

McLin, K.; Kovac, K.; Moore, J.; Kaspereit, D.; Berard, B.; Xu, T.; McLin, R.; Hulen, J.; Modeling the geochemical effects of injection at Salton Sea Geothermal Fields, CA, Geothermal Resources Council Transactions v. 30 pp. 507-511 (2006)

Norman, D.; Dilley, L.; McLin, K.; Moore, J.; Applying fluid inclusion stratigraphy analyses to geothermal systems, Goldschmidt Conference (2006)

McLin, K.; Kovac, K.; Moore, J.; Adams, M.; Xu, T.; Modeling the geochemical effects of injection at Coso geothermal field, CA; comparison with field observations, Proceedings, Thirty-First Workshop of Geothermal Reservoir Engineering (2006)

Park, J.; Norman, D.; McLin, K.; Moore, J.; Modeling amorphous silica precipitation: a strategy to reduce silica precipitation near Coso injection wells, Proceedings, Thirty-First Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering (2006)

McLin, K.; Moore, J.; Hulen, J.; Bowman, J.; Berard, B.; Mineral characterization of scale deposits in injection wells; Coso and Salton Sea geothermal fields, CA, Proceedings, Thirty-First Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering (2006)

Norman, D.; Dilley, L.; McLin, K.; Moore, J.; Understanding EGS Fluid Injection in Light of Fluid Inclusion Gas Analyses, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (2006)

McLin, K.; Moore, J.; Park, J.; Norman, D.; Mineralogy and fluid inclusion gas chemistry of production well mineral scale deposits at the Dixie Valley Geothermal Field, USA, Proceedings, Thirty-Third Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering (2008)

McLin, K.; Brinton, D.; Mandalaparty, P.; Jones, C.; Moore, J.; The chemical and thermal stability of proppants under geothermal conditions, Geothermal Resources Council Transactions v. 34 pp. 397-402 (2010)

Karra, S.; Ayling, B.; Han, W.; Lichtner, P.; Lu, C.; McPherson, B.; McLin, K.; Moore, J.; Pan, F.; Rose, P.; Xu, T.; Simulation studies on Enhanced Geothermal Systems with CO₂ as a working fluid, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (2011)

McLin, K.; Brinton, D.; Moore, J.; Geochemical modeling of water-rock-proppant interactions, Proceedings, Thirty-Sixth Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering (2011)

Brinton, D.; McLin, K.; Moore, J.; The chemical stability of bauxite and quartz sand proppants under geothermal conditions, Proceedings, Thirty-Sixth Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering (2011)

McLin, K.; Brinton, D.; Moore, J.; The chemical and thermal stability of proppants under geothermal conditions, AAPG SPE SEG Hedberg Research Conference (2011)

McLin, K.; Moore, J.; Bowman, J.; McCulloch, J.; Mineralogy and fluid inclusion gas chemistry of production well mineral scale deposits at Dixie Valley geothermal field, USA, Geofluids v. 12 is. 3, pp. 216-227 (2012)

McLin, K.; Evaluating fluid-rock interactions in geothermal and contact metamorphic systems, University of Utah, PhD Dissertation (2012)

Metamorphic Geochemistry:

McLin, K.; Bowman, J.; Kaszuba, J.; Influence of salinity on T-X(CO₂) stability of talc and the possible role of fluid immiscibility in development of the talc zone, outer Alta aureole, Utah, Geological Society of America Meeting (2008)

Geochemistry Applications in the Petroleum Industry:

Jweda, J.; Deptola, T; Gross, B.; Michael, E.; McLin, K.; Hofer, R.; Assessing drainage dynamics in the Eagle Ford using produced water geochemistry, Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (2019)

Long, H.; Michael, E.; Bordoloi, S.; Liu, Y.; Rajappa, B.; Weaver, B.; McMahan, N.; McLin, K.; Integrating oil and water geochemistry to assess SRV and DRV in the Bakken/Three Forks hybrid play, Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (2020)

Wang, Y.; Esson, F.; Michael, E.; Perez, I.; Biurchieva, B.; Hoang, P.; McLin, K.; Applications of time-lapse geochemistry (TLG) to Delaware Basin field development, Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (2021)

Song, Y.; Michael, E.; McLin, K.; Mahlstedt, N.; Horsfield, B.; Potz, S.; Mangelsdorf, K.; Compositional fractionation of petroleum fluids during migration and production: a Bakken case study with Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry, Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (2022)

Wang, Y.; Pate, C.; Martin, C.; Zhang, G.; Poros, Z.; Tasrianto, R.; Jennings, D.; Whiteman, W.; Dark, J.; McLin, K.; Esson, F.; McCarthy, A.; In-situ H2S origins and occurrence in the Delaware Basin, Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (2023)

Completion Design Optimization:

Darneal, C.; Friehauf, K.; McLin, K.; Rajappa, B.; Zhou, H.; Hoang, P.; Hammond, J.; Swan, H.; Impact of completion design on various infill scenarios: a data driven Permian case study, Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (2021)

Jweda, J.; Bone, R.; El-Sobky, H.; Nguyen, V.; Carman, P.; Long, H.; Beveridge, W.; Warren, L.; Bonnie, R.; Jiang, T.; Hoyt, J.; MacMillan, A.; McLin, K.; A systematic laboratory and model-based surfactant screening workflow for enhanced recovery via wettability alteration in the Eagle Ford, Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (2023)

Reservoir Quality Prediction:

McLin, K.; Morantes, J.; Csoma, A.; Quantification and interpretation of multiple generations of quartz cements: improving reservoir quality predictions in clastic reservoirs, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting (2013)

Li, Z.; Csoma, A.; Morantes, J.; McLin, K.; Luczaj, J.; Kirschner, R.; Tucker, S.; Burns, F.; Dean, P.; Carbonate cementation in clastic reservoirs: Browse Basin, Australia, AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition (2015)

Water Management:

McLin, K.; Freeman, J.; Aarekol, S.; McKean, E.; Sharma, R.; Rincon, J.; Speaker, J.; Permian unconventional water management: collaboration to develop full cycle solutions, SPE Produced Water Handling & Management Symposium (2015)

Shields, A.; Sharma, R.; McLin, K.; Bjornen, K.; Jenneman, G.; Freeman, J.; Mesa, W.; Three years of water treatment in the Permian: a ConocoPhillips case history, Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (2015)

Sharma, R.; McLin, K.; Bjornen, K.; Shields, A.; Hirani, Z.; Adham, S.; Fit-for-purpose treatment of produced water for hydraulic fracturing-a Permian Basin experience, International Petroleum Technology Conference (2015)

Soil Gas CO₂:

McLin, K.; Soil gas CO₂ emissions over the Bravo Dome field in the Amistad area of New Mexico, New Mexico Geological Society Spring Meeting (2003)

Geologic Maps:

Kelson, Keith I.; Bauer, Paul W.; Diehl, Kristie S.; Shapo, Danielle; Kelley, Shari; Geologic map of the Taos Quadrangle, Taos County, New Mexico. New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Open-file Digital Geologic Map OF-GM 043, (2001)

Patents:

US20190016611A1; Processes for removing oil from separated water streams; Inventors: Kristie S. McLin, Ramesh Sharma, Gregory A. Deslaurier, Reinaldo G. Carrasco, James B. Buzan; Assignee: ConocoPhillips