Brian Shaffer

Experience

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  Alpha Natural Resources

  Jun 1989 - Apr 2015

  --Supervised staff of 3 geologists that provided geologic services to Alpha's Northern Appalachian mines in a safe, professional manner to insure that those mines maintained safety, productivity, profitability, and compliance with state and federal regulations.--Developed and instituted a systematic geology program for Amfire Mining Company that provided geologic services including exploration drilling management, database compilation and modelling, geologic mapping, geotechnical evaluations, and coal quality mapping. Initiated a similar geology program for Brooks Run Mining Company (Central WV).--Conducted geological investigations and mapping, in both longwall and low seam mines, to proactively identify adverse geologic conditions. Investigations and mapping were reported to mine management and engineering staffs in order to improve safety, productivity, and compliance, as well as to optimize mine layouts and to formulate geotechnical data for roof control plans.--Prepared reserve evaluations for active mines, company-based reserves, and prospects. These evaluations added value to Alpha Natural Resources by expanding their reserve base and contributed to the sustainability of active mining operations. Show less --Supervised field geologists and geology co-op students that provided geologic services, including the implementation and management of exploration drilling programs, the description and sampling of core samples, geologic database compilation and modelling, and geologic mapping, to Pennsylvania Services Corporation's longwall operations. Those services were provided in a safe, efficient manner to insure that the operations maintained safety, productivity, profitability, and compliance to state and federal regulations.--Managed geologic projects, including exploration drilling, geologic mapping, geotechnical evaluations for ground control and shaft installations, coal quality mapping, and coalbed degasification for Pennsylvania Services Corporation. --Developed geological reports and mapping techniques for longwall mining operations in order to proactively identify adverse geological conditions. Communicated the projected impact of the geologic conditions on mining activities through verbal and written reports to mine management and engineering staffs in order to improve safety, productivity, and compliance, as well as to optimize mine layouts and to formulate geotechnical data utilized in roof control plans. --Served as a geologic consultant on corporate engineering teams for several acquisition and mine development projects. Responsible for the preparation of reserve evaluations, geologic maps, and geotechnical reports for the projects. --Supervised exploration activities for several undeveloped coal reserve blocks in Greene County, PA. Approximately 250 exploration coreholes were drilled in order to further define and delineate coal thickness and geologic conditions in these reserve blocks. Show less

  • Sr. Manager Geology

    May 2010 - Apr 2015

  • Geologist, Sr. Geologist, Chief Geologist

    Jun 1989 - May 2010
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  NIOSH - Office of Mine Safety and Health Research

  Aug 2015 - Dec 2015

  Contract Geologist - Ground Control Branch

  Providing geologic and geotechnical services to the staff of the Ground Control Branch. I am involved with several research projects in underground coal mines. Assisted with the preparation of Safe Operating Procedures (SOP's) for point load testing and rock core logging and preparation. Observed and mapped geologic features in association with NIOSH-related ground control projects in West Virginia and Kentucky.

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  U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

  Jan 2016 - now

  Geologist Supervisor

  Project Chief for the U.S. Coal Resources and Reserves Assessment Project, which is located within the Central Energy Resources Science Center (CERSC) in the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood, CO. The U.S. Coal Resources and Reserves Assessment Project is tasked with conducting research to assess the geologic setting, availability, quantity, recoverability, and quality of coal beds on a regional scale. The project team is also involved with research to develop and test improved methodologies for defining coal reserves classifications based on a geostatistical approach, instead of the traditional distance from data points approach. Research is presented through technical presentations, open-file reports, and formal publications and professional papers.A coal resources assessment for the Little Snake River/Red Desert coal field in south-central Wyoming is nearing completion. Thirty-three coal beds have been evaluated. The Cherokee coal bed in the Overland Member of the Fort Union Formation is being modeled and detailed coal bed stratigraphy is being defined.Additional coal resources assessments are underway for the Rock Springs Uplift coal field (southwestern Wyoming), and the Yampa coal basin (northwestern Colorado). Future assessments are planned for the Raton Basin (Colorado/New Mexico border) and the Somerset Basin (central Colorado). Show less