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Research at UL focused on oil and gas exploration received a $715,000 boost recently for its Gulf Petro Initiative.
The initiative seeks to develop advanced technologies for oil and gas exploration using the capabilities of the Louisiana Immersive Technologies (LITE) Center.
U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, announced the grant Tuesday and worked to help the university secure the grant from the Department of Energy.
"As oil prices continue to climb, increasing American energy production is critical to meeting this pressing challenge, and this grant will help professors and students at UL-Lafayette develop the next generation of production techniques to generate more oil in the most responsible ways possible," Boustany said in a press release. "I am excited UL-Lafayette continues to lead the way in energy production technology and innovation. Their continued success is directly tied to America's ability to become more energy independent."
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But that research is awaiting the funding, said Ali Ghalambor, head of UL's petroleum engineering department and director of the initiative. It could be a few months before the project is fortified with the grant, he said.
The project will combine the research of the university's petroleum engineering department, its Energy Institute and the LITE Center in the development of advanced technologies in recovery from deep water and pressure-depleted reservoirs.
Other areas of research would include the incorporation of advanced visualization into exploration and production techniques and unconventional hydrocarbon recovery and production, such as methane from oil and gas hydrates in the Gulf of Mexico.
The research will "revolutionize" petroleum exploration, stated Bob Stewart, UL's vice president of research.
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