Title: Operation of a Public Geologic Core and Sample Repository in Houstion, Texas

Abstract

The Bureau of Economic Geology's Houston Research Center (HRC) is well established as a premier regional research center for geologic research serving not only Houston, but geoscientists from around Texas, the U. S., and even the world. As reported in the FY05 and FY06 technical progress reports to the DOE, the HRC provides a state-of-the-art core viewing facility, two fully equipped conference rooms, and a comprehensive technical library, all available for public use. In addition, the HRC currently now houses over 725,000 boxes of rock material (as of January 2008), and has space to hold approximately 300,000 more boxes. Use of the facility has remained strong; the number of patrons averaged over 100 per month from June 1, 2006 to October 2007, and 90,000 boxes of core were donated to, and received by, the HRC during this time. Usage is a combination of individuals describing core, groups of geoscientists holding seminars and workshops, and various industry and government-funded groups holding short courses, workshops, and seminars. These numbers are in addition to the numerous daily requests from patrons desiring to have rock material shipped offsite to their own offices. The BEG/HRC secured several substantial donations of rock materials and cash totalingmore » approximately $2.2 million during the 2005-2006 operating period. All of these funds went directly into an endowment that UT is building in order to operate the HRC primarily off a portion of the interest generated by the fund. Specific details regarding the funds in the endowment are addressed in a table later in this report. Outreach during 2005 and 2006 included many technical presentations and several publications on the HRC. Several field trips to the facility were held for geoscience professionals and grade school students alike. Goals for the upcoming year involve securing a major donation of rock material and cash in order to approach full funding of the HRC endowment. Thanks to donations totaling $2.2 million from Shea Homes (heritage Unocal rock material),Chevron and others this operating year, the HRC endowment now totals $8,015,621. A major project underway for the HRC in FY2007 is improvement of the existing online core/log database into a geoinformatics-compatible, GIS-driven online system. Usage of the HRC has gone up every year and is now very respectable. This year we will strive to raise awareness of the HRC's 100,000-volume geoscience technical library. Our original business model targeted $10 million in endowment; after several years of operation we realize we require an $11 million endowment. We are 'on plan' and need only $$3 million to fully fund the endowment. To meet these goals in the 2007 operating year will require DOE support for the fifth and final year. DOW support will allow for {approx}$$600K in endowment growth and save using the fund for operation; lack of support will result in a net negative spread of up to $1 million, and set the plan way back. We recognize that DOE budgets for oil and gas research, against best efforts, have been cut substantially this year. Any support available for HRC operation, during continuing resolution or otherwise, would have a very positive impact on this critical final year of the original business plan.« less

Authors:

Tinker, Scott; DeJarnett, Beverly

Publication Date:

Tue Jul 31 00:00:00 EDT 2007

Research Org.:

University Of Texas

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

939857

DOE Contract Number:  

FG26-02NT15290

Resource Type:

Technical Report

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

02 PETROLEUM; 03 NATURAL GAS; EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES; OPERATION; TEXAS; INFORMATION SYSTEMS; DRILL CORES; PETROLEUM DEPOSITS; NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS