Message from the Director

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The close of the summer months is always an energizing time at EGI, as we welcome students back to campus and faculty and University staff return from holidays renewed and looking forward to a new semester. EGI is delighted to announce that Dr. Tony Doré has joined EGI as the new Global Chief Scientist and Senior Advisor to the Director. Tony’s invaluable experience and expertise will be a significant asset to EGI and our corporate members. We’re also in the midst of planning and preparations for the 2020 Slovakia International Technical Conference - Transform Margin Workshop & EGI Short Courses to be held in May, 2020 in Smolenice, Slovak Republic. We encourage you to save the date for this informative event based in Europe, especially those members who were unable to attend US-based Conferences and events. The Carbon Science & Engineering Research Group at EGI headed by Professor Brian McPherson…

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EGI Global Chief Scientist & Senior Advisor to the Director

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EGI is delighted to announce that Dr. Tony Doré has joined EGI as Global Chief Scientist and Senior Advisor to the Director.  Many of EGI’s members, staff, and partners have met Tony over the years, during his highly distinguished career at Equinor (formerly Statoil).  Tony will remain at his home base in London and also serve as a key liaison to EGI’s European members. Originally from Derbyshire, England, Tony obtained his PhD from University College London and joined the petroleum industry in 1977. He held senior technical and leadership positions with Equinor for 20 years, including VP Exploration Americas (2002-2008), VP North America (2008-2011) and Senior Advisor to Exploration Management (2012-2019). He currently holds an Honorary Professorship at Durham University, and has been awarded the Petroleum Group Medal (2006), Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2010 for services to geology, the AAPG Special Award, (2011), the William Smith Medal…

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Analytical Prediction of Gas-in-Place (GIP): Improved Technologies for Shale Gas Systems (SGS)

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Dr. John McLennan, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering & Dr. Marylin Segall (formerly EGI) correspondence: jmclennan@egi.utah.edu EGI Reference: I 01382 Overview This technical note highlights the storage mechanisms of gas in shale and outlines methods for determining gas-in-place from field and laboratory methods. A predictive model has been developed that can estimate gas-in-place using mineralogy, fundamental geochemical properties and best estimates of current in-situ temperature and pressure. There are direct and indirect methods for estimating gas-in-place. We are familiar with direct methods— such as canister desorption— where a physical core sample is recovered and the evolved gas is measured. After correcting for gas lost during recovery and residual gas, total gas-in-place can be locally determined. Alternatively, if core is not available, or if exploration and appraisal data are available, indirect methods have appeal. One type of indirect method is well logging. Another indirect method is predictive modeling. The predictions can…

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2020 Transform Margin Workshop & Field Excursion

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UPDATE: RESCHEDULED for December 14–17 due to Covid-19 crisis. Smolenice, Slovak Republic: 18–20 May, 2020 Save the Date now for a week of Transform Margins workshop featuring current research by academic and oil industry teams, 18–22 May, 2020. Transform Margins Workshop will take place at Smolenice Castle Slovak Academy of Sciences Smolenice Conference Center outside Bratislava, Slovakia. Workshop Details 18–20 May Transform Margins Workshop II (starts with 1-day field trip on the Vienna pull-apart basin) Read More

EGI Oceans Central & North Atlantic Study: Complete and Available for Immediately Delivery

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The EGI Oceans Central & North Atlantic Evaluation of the Stratigraphy & Petroleum Systems study was completed and delivered to sponsors in July and is available for sponsorship to all EGI members. This study has devised and applied an integrative workflow involving chronostratigraphy, paleoenvironment, pyrolysis, palynofacies, and kinetics to qualify the source rock systems of the Central and North Atlantic conjugate margins (Figure 1). The project has established a unified high-resolution (+/- 0.5 Ma best resolution) Mesozoic and Cenozoic chronostratigraphy with the delineation of regional unconformities for the 41 stratigraphically deepest available DSDP-ODP-IODP sites, industry, and COST wells that display four stratigraphic intervals with source rock potential on a regional scale. These intervals have been characterized in considerable detail for source rock properties such as richness, quality, preservation, maturity and kinetic parameters. A new organic matter end-member classification is proposed for the Central and North Atlantic source rocks with two…

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Dr. Sudeep Kanungo Receives Geology & Geophysics Research Assistant Professorship

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EGI extends an enthusiastic congratulations to our own Research Associate Dr. Sudeep Kanungo, who has received an auxiliary appointment to the Department of Geology & Geophysics at the University of Utah.  Dr. Kanungo’s appointment as Adjunct Associate Professor recognizes his substantial contributions to advancing the Department’s and University’s mission, as well as that of EGI and our Corporate Associate members. Sudeep's appointment compliments his role as EGI Research Associate and lead for the EGI Oceans program. Read More

Science Diplomacy at Work: EGI and Utah FORGE Host Serbian Energy Industry Leaders

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This spring, EGI hosted six professional exchange visitors from Serbia through the Open World Leadership Center for a presentation and discussion of the Utah FORGE geothermal project.  The group of emerging professionals and leaders was invited to visit the U.S. as part of a Congressionally sponsored program examining renewable energy and the transition to market competition in the energy industry. EGI’s Dr. Joseph Moore presented an overview of the FORGE project’s cutting-edge research into geothermal power and its potential impact on renewable energy production. Delving into the basics of geothermal energy, through geothermal energy deployment, all the way to advanced scientific discussion of the mechanisms for testing and proving Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) technologies, Dr. Moore and the group set the stage for a visit to the FORGE site in Milford, Utah the following day. Located in the Milford energy corridor, the Utah FORGE site afforded the opportunity to visit…

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EGI Education & Training Opportunities

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The global experience, expertise, and industry-relevant geoscience research conducted by EGI researchers and engineers are the fundamental building blocks for the knowledge, design, and delivery of Field & Short Courses offered to EGI members. Course participants are taught by thought-leaders in the energy sector who bring an independent perspective to the major challenges facing the industry today. Your EGI Member Benefits at Work Membership includes one week of instructional services and training provided by leading experts in the fields of geology, geophysics, and engineering. Training agreements between CA members and in-country governments can be arranged for visiting scientists to come to Salt Lake City. EGI staff can also be scheduled for in-country short courses. Certificate programs are available for individuals and groups. EGI can tailor course focus to fit the needs of your business, location, or level of experience. Visit our Education & Training pages on our website for course…

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2019 Geothermal Design Challenge Winners

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Geothermal Design Challenge™ Data Visualization contest. Contributed by Utah FORGE The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO), in partnership with the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), hosted the student competition that launched in January and concluded in April. The student competition challenged teams to research FORGE data, interpret information and create a data visualization portfolio that recommended a location within the FORGE footprint where an enhanced geothermal reservoir could be created with minimal environmental consequences. Teams of 2 or 3 members researched data, interpreted information and created a data visualization portfolio that tells a compelling story about geothermal energy. Take a look at the winning portfolios and read more about the competition and winning designs at the Utah FORGE website. Read More

Project and Research Updates at EGI – Q1 & Q2 2019

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The first half of 2019 saw the kick-off of newly In Progress projects as well as Completion of another EGI Oceans projects, and release of three projects from their 2-year period of Confidentiality. All active projects are open for sponsorship from their launch throughout the two-year period of confidentiality and include both Regional and Thematic studies. Recently Released projects are available to all EGI members for download from EGIconnect. In Progress Research Projects EGI Oceans: South Atlantic I 01350 - Source Rock Reclassification in selected sites Southern Caribbean Sediment Sources & Sinks I 01343 - Development history of the Southern Caribbean Thermal History of Transform Margins I 01341 - Evaluation with application to reservoir rock distribution and source rock distribution and thermal history. Source Rocks of the North and Central American Basins I 01344 - An ArcGIS Atlas Source Rocks in Space and through Time I 01020_2 – North and Central America and Eurasian Basins Source Rocks of…

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Where Are They Now? EGI Alumni Accolades and New Endeavors

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EGI congratulates University of Utah and EGI alumni Richard Boakye and Spencer Nish on their new roles, both with the California Department of Conservation Department of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR). Both Richard and Spencer recently joined DOGGR as Engineering geologists in the agency’s Coastal District. EGI also extends our congratulations to Waqar Ahmed, former EGI Research Assistant, on receiving his PhD. EGI strives to engage and support the students, scholars, and emerging professionals who represent the future of the energy industry, providing exposure to and collaboration with some of the foremost thought-leaders in the energy sector today. EGI is proud of the accomplishments our alumni have achieved. Richard Boakye previously worked for the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) as a Utilities Engineer in their Gas Safety and Reliability Branch. At CPUC, Richard inspected and audited privately-owned utility companies within the State, distribution construction projects, and conducted inspections of…

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Message from the Director

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EGI wishes everyone a happy and prosperous new year as we enter 2019 with gratitude for your continued support and partnership.  We look forward to a productive and exciting year in which you’ll see several EGI research projects advance and our innovative Research Services bring ever greater value in helping your business answer the scientific questions that drive the energy industry. Reviewing 2018, we are proud of many milestones and high points.  In May, EGI hosted one of our largest ever CA Technical Conferences in Salt Lake City, Utah. The highly interactive event was an opportunity for members to connect with EGI scientists, staff, and colleagues while engaging in a series of technical presentations, short courses, and field courses with some of the foremost experts in their field. In June, the U.S. Department of Energy announced the selection of the University of Utah’s EGI-based Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal…

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Save the Date – 2020 EGI International Technical Conference and Transform Margins Workshop

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The Conference and Technical Workshop will take place at Smolenice Castle Conference Center outside Bratislava. Save the Date now for a week of Transform Margins workshop featuring current research by academic and oil industry teams followed by the EGI Technical Conference in Europe, 18–22 May, 2020. Preliminary details: Monday, 18 May: Transportation provided from the Vienna, Austria airport to Smolenice Castle Conference Center. This drive from Vienna to Smolenice includes a field excursion component focused on the classical Vienna pull-apart basin. Tuesday-Wednesday, 19–20 May: Two days of Transform Margin workshops. The Workshop structure will include invited talks to be followed by open discussion. Thursday-Friday, 21–22 May: EGI CA Technical Conference in Europe. For the first two days, after dinner, we will conclude with a plenary session on the topics of the respective day. The Conference will be followed by four optional half-day short courses: Michal Nemčok: Structural architecture and development…

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Look What’s New in Research at EGI

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Designed collaboratively between sponsoring companies and EGI scientists, sponsorship of current EGI Research Projects provides Sponsors with the unique opportunity to shape the project and gain independent insights, interpretations, and evaluations of company-specific questions. All active projects are open for sponsorship from their launch throughout the two-year period of confidentiality and include both Regional and Thematic studies. Recently Released projects are available to all EGI members for download from EGIconnect. New EGI Research Projects EGI Oceans: Central & North AtlanticI 01229 - Evaluation of the Stratigraphy and petroleum systems EGI Oceans: South AtlanticI 01350 - Source Rock Reclassification in selected sites Southern Caribbean SedimentSources & SinksI 01343 - Development history of the Southern Caribbean. Thermal History of Transform MarginsI 01341 - Evaluation with application to reservoir rock distribution and source rock distribution and thermal history. Source Rocks of the North and Central American BasinsI 01344 - An ArcGIS Atlas Source Rocks of Gondwana Continents and MarginsI 01345 - ArcGIS Database and Maps Version…

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