The initial objective of the cluster was to bring together a research team with the primary goals of developing methods for integration of research results, and development of a cross-trained reservoir characterization team to train a new, wholly integrated earth scientist. The team includes members from Montana Tech, the University of Montana and Montana State University. The integrated research has fostered new understanding of the interaction of reservoir parameters, and has suggested additional avenues of research. An advisory board composed of petroleum industry representatives insures that the projects undertaken will be of maximum benefit to the end users of the technologies and methodologies developed.
Industrial support is requested for the continuation and expansion of our research.
Research is conducted using modern computer facilities, which include several workstations and industry standard software packages. The petroleum reservoir selected for the initial characterization project was the Rabbit Hills oil field in north-central Montana.