Oil, Gas, and Energy Commons^™

High-Throughput Robotic Ethanol Inhibition Assays For Engineered Thermophilic Biofuel Strains, Kevin He, Daniel Olson, Marybeth Maloney, Anthony Lanahan

Wetterhahn Science Symposium Posters

Ethanol stress assays are commonly used to evaluate microbial tolerance, metabolic adaptation, and fermentation performance. However, manual liquid handling introduces variability across replicate wells and small-volume pipetting steps, limiting reproducibility and throughput. This study developed an automated OT-2 robotic workflow to generate replicated ethanol concentration gradients for high-throughput inhibition assays in engineered thermophilic biofuel strains. Kinetic plate-reader measurements were used to quantify ethanol-dependent growth responses under anaerobic fermentation conditions. The reasearch question is: How do engineered thermophilic biofuel strains differ in ethanol-dependent growth inhibition under anaerobic fermentation conditions, and can automated robotic assays improve the reproducibility of these measurements? Can …

Co2 Enhanced Oil Recovery In The Dickinson Lodgepole Mounds, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Fact sheet about CO₂ enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in the Dickinson Lodgepole Mounds of Stark County, North Dakota. Includes geological information and how stored CO₂ increases local oil production.

Agrivoltaics Swot Analysis For Implementation In The United States, Vani Ramesh

Undergraduate Research Posters

Agrivoltaics is the implementation of solar installations alongside agricultural land in order to improve the efficiency of land usage in both industries. Research in European and Asian countries developing agriculture and solar developments in tandem has indicated that implementation in the United States, including Virginia, is feasible and beneficial. The US has the highest energy use per capita in the world, with the increase of various technologies has resulted in land developments using higher energy levels than previously. While Virginia’s energy demand has increased with the addition of data centers. Increased energy demand and food security requirements have unearthed policy/political …

Understanding And Managing Parent–Child Well Interactions In The Bakken, Kyoung Min, Xue Yu, Nicholas A. Azzolina, Darren D. Schmidt, Bethany A. Kurz, James A. Sorensen

EERC Publications, Papers, & Presentations

This study proposes actionable strategies to mitigate parent–child interactions and negative production impacts. Key approaches, including wider well spacing, optimized stimulation designs, and refracturing, minimize interference while enhancing recovery efficiency.

Binary Solid/Liquid Equilibrium Of Mixtures Of Thermally Robust Salts And Molecular Compounds For Use As Heat Transfer Fluids, Jared Ridge Mathews

Poster Presentations

Fossil fuels, contributors to climate change that may bear catastrophic consequences, power the entire world. The human species is almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels for energy, but other sources of renewable and environmentally friendly energy must be developed. Concentrated solar power (CSP) is a promising source of renewable energy with hampered potential—better heat transfer fluids (HTFs) are needed for it to be economically feasible. Currently, the HTFs in industrial use are predominantly either synthetic oils or nitrate-based molten salts. Synthetic oils are only stable up to 400 °C, and molten salts often have high melting temperatures, making them prone …

Coal Creek Carbon Capture, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Fact sheet about Coal Creek Carbon Capture project, a CarbonSAFE initiative. The Coal Creek Carbon Capture project is investigating the feasibility of developing safe, permanent geologic storage of CO₂ captured from Coal Creek Station.

Investigating H2s Occurrence In Bakken Oil-Producing Wells Using Sulfur Isotopes In Gas, Water, And Rock Samples, Alexander V. Chakhmakhchev, Marc D. Kurz, T. Austin Mcrae, Xue Yu, Arash Abarghani, Darren D. Schmidt, Nicholas A. Azzolina, Bethany A. Kurz, James A. Sorensen

EERC Publications, Papers, & Presentations

This work investigated multiple mechanisms that can potentially lead to H₂S in the oil production stream of Bakken wells, including TSR, BSR, source rock generation, migration from deeper or shallower formations that contain H₂S, and geomechanical mechanisms related to reservoir stimulation work.

Field Implementation And Surveillance Of Gas Injection Enhanced Oil Recovery In The Bakken, Jin Zhao, Lu Jin, Nicholas A. Azzolina, Xincheng Wan, Steven A. Smith, Nicholas W. Bosshart, James A. Sorensen

EERC Publications, Papers, & Presentations

A series of activities were performed in this study to explore real-time visualization, forecasting, and control methods for improved reservoir surveillance during EOR processes.

Enabling More Efficient Solar Thermal Energy Production And Storage, Allan Wilson

Poster Presentations

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) stores & transfers energy using a Thermal Energy Storage Fluid (EIA AEO 2022)

The Port Of San Diego's Maritime Clean Air Strategy: Enhancing Public Health With Innovative Clean Air Strategies, San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative, Gabriela Yamhure, Alexis Padilla

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

The Port of San Diego (The Port), established in 1962 under the Port act, is the Maritime agency that manages and stewards the thirty-four miles of coastal working waterfront along the San Diego Bay. The Port develops and promotes commerce, navigation, recreation, a healthy environment and fisheries around the San Diego Bay, contributes billions to San Diego’s economy, and is home to international cargo and trade operations. In a concerted effort to lessen greenhouse gas emissions impact of operations on local, often underserved communities, the Port developed and is implementing a Maritime Clean Air Strategy (MCAS), an update to the …

Pcor Partnership Atlas, Wesley D. Peck, Kari Suedel, Kyle A. Glazewski, Kevin C. Connors, James A. Sorensen, Charles D. Gorecki, Brian P. Kalk, John A. Harju

EERC Maps and Infographics

The Plains CO₂ Reduction (PCOR) Partnership Atlas provides a profile of CO₂ sources and potential storage locations across the PCOR Partnership region. The revised sixth edition of the Atlas provides an up-to-date look at PCOR Partnership initiative activities, including additional regional characterization and updates on commercial projects. Additional background information on carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is included to give a better understanding of how CCUS addresses concerns about climate change while allowing future energy needs to be met.

Pathway To Bakken Eor, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Fact sheet on the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) potential of the Bakken Formation.

More Than Energy: Coal As A Mineral Resource, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Brochure on Carbon Ore, Rare Earth, and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Initiative, an Energy & Environmental Research Center and U.S. Department of Energy project. Explores the benefits of utilizing lignite coal from the Williston Basin.

Preview: What Is The Overall Picture?, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Maps and Infographics

Infographic on the Carbon Ore, Rare Earth, and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Initiative, an Energy & Environmental Research Center–U.S. Department of Energy project, featuring flowcharts depicting potential pathways from unmined lignite to final products

Bpop Prospectus, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Prospectus for Bakken Production Optimization Program (BPOP) 4.0.

Data-Driven Analysis For Causality Of Parent–Child Interactions In The Bakken, Kyoung Min, Alexander V. Chakhmakhchev, Xue Yu, Nicholas A. Azzolina, Darren D. Schmidt, Bethany A. Kurz, James A. Sorensen

EERC Publications, Papers, & Presentations

This study 1) evaluates the effect of parent–child interaction on productivity by assessing depletion effects and the impact of different completion designs and 2) investigates how refracturing strategies affect parent–child interactions.

Laboratory Simulations Of H2s Generation In The Bakken Petroleum System, Alexander V. Chakhmakhchev, Bethany A. Kurz, Timothy O. Nesheim, David J. Miller, Carol B. Grabanski, Saptashati Biswas, Marc D. Kurz, Nicholas A. Azzolina, James A. Sorensen

EERC Publications, Papers, & Presentations

This work focuses on quantifying the H₂S generation potential of the Madison Group and Bakken Formation source rocks during the maturation process.

Developing A High-Efficiency Method For Field-Scale Simulation Of A Tight And Naturally Fractured Reservoir In The Williston Basin, Xincheng Wan, Lu Jin, Tao (Todd) Jiang, James A. Sorensen, Chenyu Wu, Ahmed Merzoug

EERC Publications, Papers, & Presentations

A novel FDO (fracture and DRV optimization) workflow was proposed in this study to better reproduce the production and water injection history of a tight reservoir with natural fractures in the Williston Basin. Compared to most of the published work in this area, the FDO workflow can significantly improve the simulation efficiency for field-scale simulation models considering the presence of a complex natural fracture network.

Carbon Capture, Utilization, And Storage, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Fact sheet about carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and the Energy & Environmental Research Center’s CCUS capabilities. Includes information on the Plains CO₂ Reduction (PCOR) Partnership initiative, Brine Extraction and Storage Test (BEST), Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE), Red Trail Energy Carbon Capture and Storage, a feed study at Coal Creek Station, Bell Creek and Cedar Creek anticline projects, and Partnership for CO₂ Capture (PCO₂C).

Why Are My Rates Going Up? An Examination Behind Nv Energy's Recent Electric Rate Increase, Grace Zielinski

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

96% of Nevadans live in NV Energy's service territory. Rate increase directly connected to natural gas consumption rate increase. Recent Californian heatwave raised demand for Natural Gas, straining supply and increasing prices. NV Energy does not make profit over recent increase. Electric rate increase implemented to cover the Natural Gas price increase.

Carbon Capture, Utilization, And Storage, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Fact sheet about carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and the Energy & Environmental Research Center’s CCUS capabilities. Includes information on the Plains CO₂ Reduction (PCOR) Partnership initiative, Brine Extraction and Storage Test (BEST), Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE), Red Trail Energy Carbon Capture and Storage, a feed study at Coal Creek Station, Bell Creek and Cedar Creek anticline projects, and Partnership for CO₂ Capture (PCO₂C). [This item is an outdated or superseded version and retained for historical purposes only. It may no longer reflect current information, policies, or practices.]

Refracturing In The Bakken – An Analysis Of Data From Across North Dakota, Chantsalmaa Dalkhaa, Nicholas A. Azzolina, Alexander V. Chakhmakhchev, Bethany A. Kurz, James A. Sorensen, Charles D. Gorecki, John A. Harju

EERC Publications, Papers, & Presentations

This presentation will summarize work conducted by the Energy & Environmental Research Center, in close coordination with the state of North Dakota and several Williston Basin oil and gas operating companies through a research program called the Bakken Production and Optimization Program (BPOP), and will cover 1) a review of the wells that have been refractured in the North Dakota portion of the Bakken petroleum system (BPS), 2) an evaluation of production performance of the refractured wells, 3) an assessment of refracturing economics, and 4) an assessment of the potential economic impact of a broad refracturing program applied throughout the …

Experimental Evaluation Of Enhanced Tight Oil Recovery Performance By Microbubble Co2 And Microbubble Rich Gas In North Dakota Plays, Yang Yu, Christopher J. Beddoe, Xiqiu Xue, Alexander V. Chakhmakhchev, John A. Hamling, Steven A. Smith, Bethany A. Kurz

EERC Publications, Papers, & Presentations

This study effort was undertaken to 1) provide a first-of-a-kind evaluation of a microbubble CO₂ enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique for application in tight unconventional plays, 2) compare the performance of microbubble CO₂ injection with continuous-phase CO₂ injection for Red River EOR applications in North Dakota, and 3) investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of microbubble EOR by using a rich gas mixture in low-permeability formations to assess microbubble rich gas EOR performance relative to microbubble CO₂ EOR performance.

Investigation Of Produced Gas Injection In The Bakken For Enhanced Oil Recovery Considering Well Interference, Lu Jin, Bethany A. Kurz, Mojtaba Ardali, Xincheng Wan, Jin Zhao, Jun He, Steven B. Hawthorne, Aldjia Boualam Djezzar, Yang Yu, Donald Morris

EERC Publications, Papers, & Presentations

To better evaluate the feasibility of applying produced gas injection for EOR in the BPS (Bakken petroleum system) under realistic constraints, a series of field data analyses, modeling/simulations, and experimental activities were performed in this study to fulfill the following two objectives: 1. Design a pilot test to evaluate the technical feasibility of increasing oil production through EOR from the Bakken pool utilizing produced gas while accounting for well interference effects. 2. Investigate a variety of HnP strategies to improve gas injection and oil production performance, as well as maximize achievable EOR benefits with a limited volume of gas that …

Statistical Analysis Of The Petrophysical Properties Of The Bakken Petroleum System, Aimen Laalam, Habib Ouadi, Ahmed Merzoug, Abderraouf Chemmakh, Aldjia Boualam, Sofiane Djezzar, Ilyas Mellal, Meriem Djoudi

EERC Publications, Papers, & Presentations

This paper aims to generate permeability-porosity data-driven models for the Bakken formation, representing an unconventional reservoir within the Williston Basin in the US, using 426 core data with a wide range of porosity and permeability.

Completion Optimization In The Bakken Petroleum System Using Data Mining, Alexander V. Chakhmakhchev, Nicholas A. Azzolina, Bethany A. Kurz, Xue Yu, Chantsalmaa Dalkhaa, Justin T. Kovacevich, James A. Sorensen

EERC Publications, Papers, & Presentations

Therefore, the primary goal of this study was to identify optimal completion practices using publicly available well completion and production information and applying data-mining techniques that could accommodate nonlinear relationships.

Rare-Earth Elements, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Fact sheet about the importance of rare-earth elements, how they are utilized, their supply risk, and information about the lignite industry.

Sustainability & (Em)Powering Community Based Action In Chula Vista, San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative, Gabriella Medina, Darbi Berry

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

The City of Chula Vista (Chula Vista / the City) has already begun to experience the localized impacts of climate change through record-breaking heat waves, droughts, and wildfires. In response to the impacts of climate change posing a threat to Chula Vista residents’ quality of life, the City declared a climate emergency in March 2022. This declaration advanced the City’s commitment to update its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction goals, strengthen existing efforts like the City Operations Sustainability Plan, and encourage new City-wide and voluntary actions by residents and businesses. The Chula Vista DIY Sustainable Home Toolkit (Toolkit) is a best …

Review Of The Effects Of Asphalt Fume Emission (Vocs And Pahs) In Vitro, In Vivo And Human Studies, Omran Taqi, Nastassja Lewinski, Elham Fini, Eran Rozewski, Judith Klein-Seetharaman

Undergraduate Research Posters

Review of the effects of Asphalt fume emission (VOCs and PAHs) in vitro, in vivo and human studies

Omran Taqi, Nastassja Lewinski¹

1) Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Background

Asphalt is abundantly available around human operations including road paving and roofing sites. However, their emissions and fumes (specifically volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)) have been found to have adverse effects on health. Asphalt fumes are a class 2A carcinogen and exposure can increase the risk of lung cancer, asthma, headache, fatigue, and other cardiovascular diseases.

Methods

We used …

Pcor Partnership Atlas, Wesley D. Peck, Earl P. Battle, Kari Suedel, Kyle A. Glazewski, Kevin C. Connors, James A. Sorensen, John A. Hamling, Charles D. Gorecki, Edward N. Steadman, John A. Harju

EERC Maps and Infographics

The Plains CO₂ Reduction (PCOR) Partnership Atlas provides a regional profile of CO₂ sources and potential storage locations across the PCOR Partnership region. The sixth edition provides an up-to-date look at PCOR Partnership initiative activities, including additional regional characterization and updates on commercial projects. Additional background information on carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is included to give a better understanding of how CCUS addresses concerns about climate change while allowing future energy needs to be met.