About the Proposed Center for Energy-Related Geologic Storage (ERGS)
Center for Energy-Related Storage (ERGS)
Oklahoma State University has joined forces with Texas A&M University to establish the National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Center for Energy-Related Geologic Storage, a new national hub for research on subsurface storage of fluids used or produced for energy activities.
What is the ERGS?
-A collaborative research hub between industry and academia
-Focus on safe, reliable and cost-effective underground storage of Co2, methane, hydrogen and compressed air
-Integrating geoscience, engineering and analytics to reduce project risk
-Supporting U.S. energy independence and market competitiveness
What Does the Research Center Offer?
- Early access to research resulting in the ability to shape priorities
- Risk reduction through advanced leak detection and predictive modeling
- Regulatory preparedness for evolving standards
- Cost-effective R&D through shared university expertise
- Direct workforce pipeline to skilled graduates and professionals
What Are Our Strengths?
- Texas A&M - Basin-scale geological assessments, storage risk methodology, seismic risk analysis
- Oklahoma State - Wellbore integrity, materials science, extreme condition testing and stakeholder communications
- Full-spectrum solutions from basin potential to area-specific risk assessment
- Designed to lead practical deployable industry applications
Why Now?
- Expand domestic energy-related fluids storage to strengthen U.S. energy security and safety
- Meet growing market demand for low-risk, cost-efficient energy-related fluid storage solutions
- Influence research that addresses operational challenges
- Accelerate deployment of proven industry-ready technology
Our Proposal
To address society’s future energy needs, the Earth’s subsurface offers solutions that can mitigate energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Geologic storage is the critical key component for both. This Industry-University Cooperative Research Center will address subsurface storage volume and storage security for fluids related to energy production and greenhouse gas mitigation by pursuing research in two primary areas: 1) storage capacity, and 2) risk related to leakage and other disturbances to the public.
Proposed research topics could include:
-Methods to support, update and improve USGS-style assessments of subsurface storage capacity
-Estimating and assessing leakage risk and seismicity risk from geological factors, risk from leaky wellbores, quantifying risk related to undocumented orphan wells, and of future risk from new wellbores
-Wellbore materials that mitigate and prevent leakage of fluids stored in the geological subsurface
-Integrating science and engineering, with communication and inclusive workforce development to help build stakeholder trust as the energy industry changes to meet societal demands