Petroleum & Natural Gas Research
The Energy Institute has an active research presence within the domestic petroleum and natural gas community. Research is conducted on the extraction, processing, and utilization of petroleum and natural gas. Examples of research activities include:
- Characterization of dispersed organic matter to determine a maturation state and hydrocarbon source rock potential
- Testing of oil field shaped-charge perforators
- Study of damage to rock permeability by shaped charges
- Study of loose sand flow into wells
- Optimize oil recovery in marginal water flood operations
- Environmental benign drilling and production techniques
- Optimize hydrodynamics attendant to well drilling
- Ultra sonic technology for oil well standardization
- Characterization of fluid viscosity and surface tension
- Characterization of reservoir grain structure, porosity, and multiphase relative permeability
- Study of reservoir formation permeability damage using selective extraction and chemical characterization of soluble species and elemental and x-ray diffraction of remaining mineral phases
- Disposal/ utilization of produced brine water
- Development of value-added products from Penn-grade crude oil
- Fluorometric characterization of asphalt
We are also active in various other initiatives. They include:
- Penn State GeoFluids Consortium - This is the 3rd industry consortium of this type
- Penn State GeoSystems Initiative - This is a non-overhead bearing program supported by industry.
- Endowment support - We raise money for and we track finances. Another is not posted but is the Heller endowment fund.
- NSF support and Ocean Drilling Program support