GCCC-BEG - The University of Texas System
The Bureau of Economic Geology, established in 1909, is the oldest research unit at The University of
Texas at Austin. The Bureau, part of The John A. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin, also functions as the State Geological Survey.
The Bureau not only curates the largest volume of subsurface core and cuttings in the United States at three world-class centers located in Houston, Austin, and Midland, but also runs a major Texas well log library, with nearly 1 million well records on file.
The Bureau serves as the Regional Lead Organization for the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council and Managing Organization for the Advanced Energy Consortium. Centers include the Gulf Coast Carbon Center and Center for Energy Economics. Bureau reports, maps, and other publications are available for a nominal price.
The Bureau of Economic Geology mission is to provide research and advice related to energy and
environmental issues and to perform Texas State Geological Survey functions as requested by the Texas State Legislature. Outreach efforts involve the public, State agencies, Federal agencies, private foundations, and industry. The Bureau conducts basic and applied research related to energy resources including oil, natural gas, and coal; mineral resources; coastal processes; Earth and environmental systems; hydrogeology; carbon sequestration; nanotechnology; energy economics; and geologic mapping.
The Bureau disseminates scientific knowledge by
- publishing research results in scientific journals, in Bureau reports, and on the Internet;
- conducting technology transfer workshops and schools;
- participating in professional meetings;
- training undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs by providing hands-on research experience with modern datasets; and
- promoting K-12 and public outreach.
Relevant project experience (most recent only):
Frio Brine Pilot I and II - 2003-2009 early highly collaborative and intensively monitored CO2 injection into brine funded by US DOE and conducted east of Houston, TX.
Southwest Partnership (SWP) Phase II study at SACROC - This project conducted monitoring
activities at Kindermorgan’s SACROC oil field, in particular showing no damage has occurred to
fresh water resources after >30 years of large scale injection.
SECARB Phase II (Stacked storage) - This project under the US Southeast regional carbon sequestration partnership Phase II program conducted at Denbury Onshore LLC Cranfield field tested monitoring strategies for a depleted oilfield brought under CO2 flood, and showed that leakage through existing wells was below detection.
SECARB Phase III (Early test) - This project under the US Southeast regional carbon sequestration
partnership Phase III program is underway. The project is testing novel monitoring strategies in brine downdip of a depleted oilfield brought under CO2 flood.
The Gulf Coast Carbon Center will serve as an advisor and expert reviewers in CO2CARE and provide consortium with relevant information from a US perspective.