Earth Sciences Division Staff: Tim Kneafsey

Biographical Summary

Timothy Kneafsey P.E., Ph.D. is a geological scientist and mechanical engineer at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He has performed laboratory and field experimental studies on a variety of topics including heat transfer and mass transport in fractured and porous rock; measured hydrological, geophysical, and geomechanical properties of hydrate-bearing sediments and supercritical CO₂-bearing rock; studied the transport of acid gases in geothermal systems; visualized fluids (liquid and gas) flow through coal and measured geophysical properties related to coal-bed methane; and investigated issues related to CO₂ sequestration including CO₂-induced density driven brine advection. Dr. Kneafsey has used a variety of visualization tools in his investigations including direct and differential imaging, spatially resolved infrared thermometry, and x-ray CT scanning; and has a patent for a CT scanner design. Dr. Kneafsey holds bachelor of science degrees in mechanical and civil engineering from the University of New Mexico, a masters of science degree in civil engineering from the University of California at Berkeley, and a doctorate in civil and environmental engineering, also from the University of California at Berkeley.  He is a registered Civil Engineer in California.

Research Interests

Experimental studies in reservoir processes and subsurface hydrology, including multiphase flow, phase change, thermal processes, thermal-chemical processes, gas hydrates, coal bed methane, and carbon dioxide sequestration.  Other interests include imaging as a tool to investigate flow processes..

Education

• Ph.D., Civil/Environmental Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, 1996, Minors: Chemical Engineering, Transport in Porous Media
• M.S., Civil/Environmental Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, 1989, with honors
• B.S., Civil Engineering, University of New Mexico, 1987, with distinction
• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of New Mexico, 1983, with distinction

Professional Experience

• Mechanical Engineer, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 2007 - Present
• Geological Scientist, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1999 - 2007
• Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1996 - 1999
• Graduate Research Assistant, University of California at Berkeley, 1991-1996
• Environmental Engineer, Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, San Francisco, California, 1989 - 1991
• Environmental Engineer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, San Francisco, California, 1987 - 1989

Honors and Awards

Regents Fellowship, University of California at Berkeley 1988 - 1989

Teaching Experience

• Teaching Assistant, University of California at Berkeley 1992 - 1993
• Secondary School Mathematics Teacher, U.S. Peace Corps, Holy Rosary Secondary School, Pujehun, Sierra Leone, 1983 - 1985

Research Supervision

• Matthew Walsh, Ph.D. Student, Colorado School of Mines, Capillary Pressure of hydrate-bearing sediments
• Arvind Gupta, Ph.D. Candidate, Colorado School of Mines, Gas hydrate imaging, heat and mass transfer in gas hydrate-bearing porous media
• Heather Elsen, Ph.D. Student, University of California at Berkeley, Gas hydrate formation and dissociation in porous media
• Nefeli Moridis, Undergraduate Student, University of Texas, Gas Hydrate image analysis
• Gordon Wu, Undergraduate Student, University of California at Berkeley, Validation of thermal property estimation technique
• Jacob Pruess, Undergraduate Student, University of California at Berkeley, Portable x-ray CT Scanner, various investigations
• Paul Reiter, Undergraduate Student, Princeton University, Portable x-ray CT Scanner

Lab and Journal Services

• Earth Sciences Division Safety Committee Chairperson/Member, 2005 - Present
• LBNL Building Emergency Team Member, 2001 – 2009
• Guest Editor, Energy Conversion and Management, 2006

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