University R&D Around the World

Abstract

R&D on Campus As the task of finding and producing hydrocarbons becomes more difficult, complex, and costly, the number of universities focusing on finding solutions has risen. Whether the frontier is heavy oil, deep water, or remote locations, efforts within academia are under way to solve the next generation of technical challenges confronting hydrocarbon E&P operations. Because many noteworthy research and development (R&D) efforts exist at universities all over the world, the intent is not to cover all of them but to present a sampling from many geographical locations. Part 2 of this article will appear in the October issue of JPT. The Pennsylvania State University was chartered in 1855 as Farmers’ High School, located in Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA. In 1862, the school officially changed its name to the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania. The US Congress passed the Morrill Land-Grant Act in 1862. The act donated federal public land to each state. When each state sold the land, the proceeds were to be used for the endowment, support, and maintenance of at least one college where not just traditional classical studies would be offered, but agriculture and engineering would be taught in a new, practical, scientific manner. Competing with five other schools, the Agricultural College received the Pennsylvania land-grant endowment in 1863 when the state legislature designated the college the land-grant institution of Pennsylvania. Penn State remains Pennsylvania’s only land-grant institution. The school’s name was changed to Pennsylvania State College in 1874. The college was elevated to university status in 1953 and renamed The Pennsylvania State University. Penn State has taught petroleum-related classes since 1896 and today has an active upstream research program including studies on such topics as fluid dynamics, reservoir engineering, and improved oil and gas recovery. In addition, Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences established the Institute for Natural Gas Research in 2013, and several Penn State colleges fund the Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research, the university’s education and research initiative on unconventional gas plays.