NEWSLETTER
May 1999

Recent Activities in Petroleum Research that have Attained National and International Recognition

• Polymer research and development aiding in improved oil recovery (TORP and C&PE).
• Extensive electronic information system via Digital Petroleum Atlas (http://www.kgs.ukans.edu/DPA/dpaHome.html ((KGS).
• Field demonstrations and laboratory analysis of petroleum recovery technologies in mature fields (TORP, C&PE, Geology, KGS).
• Commercialized petrophysical software development particularly suited to analyze wireline logs from older oil and gas fields and examine large data volumes to re-explore mature producing regions (KGS).
• High resolution seismic imaging (KGS, Geology).
• Application and development of refined geologic (including geostatistical) and engineering models and risk assessment suited to optimize recovery strategies and petroleum management decisions (KGS, TORP).

Current Alternative Energy Projects at the University of Kansas

• Fuel Cells: Development of high performance and long life Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells (C&PE).
• Biofuels including:
  • Specialty chemicals from soybean oil and soy-biodiesel (C&PE and Chemistry)
  • Assembly of engine and generator for demonstrating alternative fuels based on methanol, ethanol, and sugars (C&PE)
  • Cost analysis and service station planning for alternatively fueled vehicles in the Kansas City area and Wichita, Ks (C&PE)
  • Production of cetane improvers from soybean oil and yellow grease (C&PE); Ignition delay time analysis of alterative fuel blends (C&PE).
• Growth mechanism of high temperature superconducting films in MOCDV systems (high capacity cables, generators and motors to reduce cost and improve service of electrical generation) (Physics and Astronomy).

ERC Development Grant Awards (Seed Funds)

1999 marks the 4thyear that the KU Energy Research Center has offered seed funds to KU staff and faculty. The funds assist in developing and expanding energy-related research. The goal is to leverage seed funds to support development of new externally funded proposals that can be submitted through the ERC. A total of $73,887.00 has been invested in funding 13 projects in the past s. Spring,

1999 awards total $20,407 listed on ERC website (Funding Button). New research and external ding has been realized in energy Supply (conventional and renew Energy Consumption (efficiency and conservation), and Basic Energy Research.