Energy Exploration Technologies Developed At Savoy Field Research Facility

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -Forests, rolling meadows and a beautiful river - at first glance it is hard to believe that this is one of the most active field research areas in the United States. Now the Savoy Field Research Facility at the University of Arkansas, in the northwest corner of the state, may be a key component to locating and producing domestic oil reserves.

The newest area of research at the Savoy facility is emerging technologies relating to energy exploration and enhancement. Because many of the relevant geological features are on or near the surface at Savoy, diagnostic tools can be tested accurately without the need to dig deep, and very expensive, wells. But Savoy also has deep formations, including low-permeability aquifers that simulate the dynamics of a petroleum reservoir. Although the Savoy facility accurately models petroleum reservoirs, the absence of petroleum means the research can be conducted without damage to the environment.

"It is unquestionably the best university-owned site in the United States," enthuses Jack Cole, professor of mechanical engineering. "And it is far better than anything available in industry."

Cole speaks from experience. His 14 years in research and development at Conoco and 26 patents for subsurface characterization tools have given him a broad perspective in field research. His work has positioned the University of Arkansas at the forefront in developing and testing tools for in-well seismic imaging and a new method for in situ physical properties logging.

"Savoy is an ideal laboratory," explains Cole. "It is large, environmentally quiet, and hydrologically dynamic. The same important geological features that make it an ideal site for hydrologic studies also make it an ideal site for energy-related research."

The Savoy Field Research Facility comprises 3,100 acres about 15 miles west of the main campus. It serves as a state-of-the-science field-scale laboratory and has more than 100 data-collection sites installed and operational. A true multidisciplinary facility, it is home to research projects in hydrology, geosciences, petroleum engineering, animal sciences and environmental engineering, to name just a few broad areas.

Initial research at the Savoy facility focused on the effects of large-scale animal production on water quality. This continues to be an important area of research at Savoy.

"This is an exciting facility because of the wide range of research activities it supports," said Van Brahana, professor of geology and coordinator of the Savoy facility. "We have research supported by the US Department of Agriculture, the US Geological Survey, the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, and many other agencies and industry partners."

Although the largest and most easily identified petroleum reservoirs in the United States have been discovered, substantial reserves may still exist, both onshore and offshore, in geologically complex settings that are difficult to characterize with existing tools and methods. Development and testing of new tools at the Savoy facility can substantially reduce the cost and risk of exploration for domestic oil.

"Only three other universities - Texas, Oklahoma and MIT - have geoscience and engineering facilities even remotely comparable," noted Cole. "However, none of these has such a fortuitous geologic setting. It is ideal for research on rock mechanics and fracture flow."

Several petroleum companies have already indicated interest in beta testing equipment at the Savoy facility. Such collaboration would allow University of Arkansas students and researchers access to and experience with the most sophisticated equipment available.

Cole’s group is also teaming with national laboratories and other universities in a consortium to develop new in-well seismic imaging technologies and methods. Tools currently under development have at least an order of magnitude higher resolution than existing surface seismic tools and can allow the detection of fractures behind steel casings.

"Savoy has enormous potential as a fracture-mapping facility for cost-effective, proof-of-principle research," explains Cole. "Its unique geology means the expensive surface equipment normally associated with well logging and in-well imaging is not required. And it is essentially free from man-made background noise, which can cause data acquisition problems."