The Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering has been a premier research institution since its founding in 1919. The energy industry relies heavily on the expertise and innovation of MPGE researchers and the impact our studies have on the energy industry, the State of Oklahoma, and the world.
MPGE is dedicated to advancing cutting-edge research and education in reducing carbon emissions through innovative capture technologies, geologic storage, and CO₂-based product development. The department collaborates with industry and government partners to develop scalable, economically viable solutions for a low-carbon future. Its multidisciplinary faculty lead projects ranging from subsurface modeling to policy and lifecycle analysis of CCUS systems.
Research at OU in the Integrated Core Characterization Center (IC3) encompasses the use of non-traditional and diverse data sources to develop new insights into reservoir and equipment performance. Our work provides novel perspectives for reservoir characterization from the nano- to the km-scale, from SEM images to seismic facies mapping for both petroleum engineers, geoscientists, and petrophysicists. Additionally, we develop workflows to help engineers exploit the operational characteristics of equipment to schedule maintenance, avoid unplanned disruptions, and streamline operations, thereby reducing costs and enhancing efficiency.
Our drilling research focuses on the integrated processes of oil well drilling, completion, well construction, and wellbore stability. It aims to optimize drilling techniques, improve completion methods, and enhance the structural integrity of wells. Emphasis is placed on minimizing fluid loss and lost circulation, reducing drill string vibrations, and ensuring wellbore stability in complex geological conditions to minimize non-productive time. The research explores advanced drilling fluids, casing, cementing practices, and real-time monitoring technologies. On the completion side, our studies include the development of efficient hydraulic fracturing techniques, environmentally responsible fracturing fluids, and advanced high-temperature packer systems to ensure zonal isolation and well integrity under extreme conditions. By addressing these challenges, our research contributes to safer, more efficient drilling and construction of oil wells.
MPGE faculty members are investigating how to improve hydrocarbon recovery in both conventional and unconventional reservoirs. They are investigating multiple factors that control the cost effectiveness in EOR operations such as rock type, type of solvent, timing of starting EOR process, etc. These, and other questions, are being addressed both experimentally and modeling.
OU MPGE faculty have been actively involved in various aspects of geothermal research for over two decades. The research activities span several areas of reservoir development, including reservoir geomechanics, drilling, stimulation, zonal isolation technologies, and investigation of seismicity for reservoir characterization. Advanced world-class experimental capabilities and modeling place OU in the forefront of EGS and superhot geothermal R&D. Number of MPGE faculty are actively involved in DOE sponsored geothermal research with significant activity in the Utah FORGE initiative and Newberry superhot EGS demonstration project. The faculty have also developed collaborative research with several geothermal operators, service, and technology providers.
MPGE develops and applies new knowledge of geomechanics through experimental and modeling activities to create solutions and advancements for a variety of engineering endevours related to hydraulic fracturing. In addition to conventional rock mechanics testing, the center performs large-scale hydraulic fracturing tests under true triaxial condition, tracer test, high-temperature and high-pressure tests, triaxial shear test, and fracture propagation and coalescence tests.
Our faculty are advancing research in hydrogen as a clean energy carrier, with a focus on efficient production, safe storage, and reliable transportation. Efforts are underway to develop scalable hydrogen production methods using technologies such as catalytic chemical looping and non-thermal plasma, which enable low-emission conversion of natural gas and biomass into hydrogen. Our CCL project encompasses a wide range of areas, including reactor design (for both cold and hot flow systems), catalyst development, plant design, and economic analysis. Our NTP project explores a transformative approach to designing catalysts that are compatible with plasma systems. Researchers are also exploring the use of existing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen transport, addressing challenges related to material compatibility and infrastructure adaptation. In the subsurface, studies are examining how hydrogen interacts with well construction materials, cap rocks, and reservoir rocks to assess the feasibility and safety of underground hydrogen storage.
Our research in natural gas engineering focuses on three interconnected areas critical to optimizing production and recovery. First, we investigate enhanced gas recovery in tight and shale gas reservoirs through CO₂ and N₂ injection, aiming to improve recovery efficiency, while assessing reservoir performance under different injection strategies. Second, we develop models for gas and condensate transport in complex pipeline networks, addressing multiphase flow dynamics, pressure drop behavior, and flow assurance challenges. Third, we advance thermodynamic modeling techniques for retrograde condensate systems to improve dew point prediction, quantify condensate dropout, and support field-scale production optimization.
Fundamental questions are related to how best to calculate original hydrocarbon in place in both conventional and unconventional reservoirs, and also how best to recover the hydrocarbons. This is being addressed by performing SCAL including measurement of mechanical properties, seismic properties, flow properties and distribution of fluid in the reservoirs.
The Reservoir Geomechanics and Seismicity Research at OU is recognized as a world-class experimental and numerical modeling research center. Current research focuses on experimental investigation of reservoir stimulation, propped and unpropped natural fracture response to thermo-poromechanical processes, in-situ stress determination and its variation by coupled processes and rock heterogeneity. The group has successfully completed several industry and DOE-sponsored projects (over 15 million dollars in value); most recently one dealing with stimulation characterization for enhanced geothermal systems which was recognized by GTO as a Success Story.
Our research group also combines reservoir simulation with experimental design methods, specifically space filling designs, and reinforcement learning methods for multiobjective optimization. Applications include the simultaneous optimization of field recovery while also minimizing operational costs and scheduling conflicts. Our expertise also extends to real-time or near real-time data assimilation. This allows operators to maintain a suite of reservoir models that are updated synchronously with the arrival of new data, as opposed to traditional history matching that relies on using a long historical record of dynamic data to update, typically, a single reservoir model. In this fashion, we are able to provide a suite of reservoir models conditioned on all available static data (such as core, well logs, and seismic data, as well as, geologic interpretation) that are updated as and when new data becomes available.
The Integrated Core Characterization Center at OU uses lab-based experiments in tandem with fundamental atomistic/molecular simulations to reshape our understanding of the nanoscale fluid-fluid and rock-fluid interactions in shales. We specifically focus on enhanced oil recovery processes and in several field studies have shown the remarkable agreement between theory and experiment across nine orders of magnitude of time- and length-scales.
OU MPGE has led various innovative experimental and theoretical research projects, investigating petroleum production engineering. Studies in the areas of artificial lift, multiphase liquid-gas flow, flow assurance, downhole separation, data-based production surveillance, solid transportation, water treatment, and methane emission are within this group. Several large-scale experimental flow loops are available and equipped with cutting-edge sensors to test various aspects of fluid flow in wellbores and surface lines. These facilities are mostly located in the Well Construction Technology Center of The University of Oklahoma.
This research area focuses on developing implementable, science-based solutions to environmental, safety, and governance and educational challenges. Our research improves sustainability practices, advances safety technologies, and strengthens education and governance systems to support responsible decision-making and long-term resilience of the energy system. Specific areas of focus include reducing methane emissions, lowering water usage operations, human and machine interactions in operations, developing tools and support structures towards expanding the reach and impact of academic institutions, in addition to developing and adapting evidence-informed improvements to the STEM student experience within the undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
The Well Construction Technology Center is an advanced technology research center that incorporates high pressure, high temperature fluid flow applications using both field scale and lab scale equipment for the oil industry.
The Integrated Core Characterization Center consists of the complete Amoco Rock Physics Laboratory. This lab has unparalleled industrial, commercial, and academic capabilities and offers the widest range of measurement and research opportunities in the industry. Originally established as a seismic velocity measurement laboratory, it evolved into an integrated facility that provides a vast array of petrophysical, seismic, and rock mechanics capabilities.
