Energy research partnership

World Oil, July, 2002 by Robert E. Snyder

The Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) of the Texas A&M University System and the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) announced, at the recent Offshore Technology Conference, signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that creates a research partnership focused on ultra-deepwater petroleum development and unconventional resources. Under MOU terms, a new, not-for-profit, Texas company called Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) is being established--formalization is expected by the end of this summer. TEES brings to the partnership world-renowned scientists and industry-leading deepwater research capabilities. GTI, which brings with it a 25-year history of R&D management, will support an initial $7 million of research address goals.

Dr. Roland Haden, Vice Chancellor for Engineering and Director of TEES, believes cutting-edge research is needed to meet the nation's future energy needs, and that RPSEA will play a leading role. "RPSEA research efforts will leverage the strengths of the Texas A&M system and GTI, together with industry partners and other universities, to address America's need for increased natural gas and petroleum supplies," Haden said.

John Riordan, President and CEO of GTI added that the funding from GTI will enable significant R&D efforts to begin immediately. "GTI is looking forward to building on its past successes in gas supply research--one example being the key role we played in transforming coalbed methane from a substance with no commercial value into 7.5% of today's domestic natural gas production," Riordan said.

TEES is a research agency of the State of Texas and is part of the Texas A&M system. GTI is a not-for-profit research institution with substantial expertise in managing and developing new gas technology programs. The TEES, contact is Roland Haden; email: r-haden@tamu.edu.