About
MGRRE Content
Mission
Western Michigan University’s Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education facilitates basic and applied geological research, trains students for geoscience careers and promotes educational outreach.
Although primarily focused on Michigan’s energy, natural resources and environment, MGRRE’s activities also relate to general geology and Great Lakes issues. Educational aspects of natural resource utilization and management are addressed at the K-16, post-graduate, professional and general public levels.
MGRRE’s primary focus area is on the state of Michigan; this focus also encompasses a national and international sphere of interest.
MGRRE is committed to preserving and researching the collections of cores, samples and data that are maintained at its facility; these collections are also used for educational purposes. These materials comprise the largest and most diverse collections of Michigan subsurface geological samples and data.
Goals
- Train the next generation of geoscientists through providing student-centered learning experiences with industry partners.
- Acquire and preserve geological cores, samples and well data to be used in education and research for both current and future generations.
- Establish and maintain academic and industry partnerships to research Michigan’s underground formations and develop test sites to evaluate and implement geological carbon sequestration.
- Conduct research to help implement new technologies and field demonstrations to increase domestic energy production and sequester CO2.
- Conduct research to better understand Michigan Basin geological formations as they relate to global geological processes.
- Assemble current and comprehensive data about groundwater aquifers.
- Produce detailed geologic maps of surface and shallow geological materials and structures.
- Increase domestic oil and gas recovery through new technologies and field demonstration sites with industry partners.
- Develop classroom programs with backyard geology modules to motivate and educate K-12 students.
- Implement professional and public outreach programs to explain the science and benefits of technological advances in energy recovery and CO2 capture and storage.
At Western Michigan University’s Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education, we develop workshops that are offered both in-house and at external regional locations. At these workshops, petroleum professionals present their research findings, address cutting-edge technologies and cost-effective techniques. Since 1994, several thousand professionals have attended our workshops and report using the information they learned there. These workshops are developed through collaboration with industry members, governmental agencies, service companies and other universities.
MGRRE’s oil and gas research and outreach programs are tailored to provide Michigan’s operators with new information about exploration ideas and technologies that encourage development and production in an environmentally responsible manner. For these companies, undertaking costly research activities is not a viable option; they must gain education and access to technology from outside their doors, a key function provided by MGRRE.
At MGRRE, we know that industry relies on us for cutting-edge data, as evidenced by the over 10,000 hits per month that our databases receive. As such, we also distribute data and research results through our webpages and make our cores, samples and well records easily accessible on-site.
MGRRE’s industry outreach program, conducted in our capacity as a Petroleum Technology Transfer Council satellite center, was previously funded through the Department of Energy. Even though no funding has been available to workshop presenters throughout the country for several years, we continue to carry out this work thanks to generous industry donations and user fees.
Partnerships
The MGRRE facility maintains partnership arrangements with:
- EGLE Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
- Michigan Basin Geological Society
- Michigan Oil and Gas Association
- Michigan Technological University
- Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership
- Petroleum Technology Transfer Council
Partnerships with these entities involve research, outreach and educational programs. These partnerships have generated significant financial support for the MGRRE facility and its many programs.
Supporters
Over 150 individuals, companies and organizations have provided financial support to help MGRRE continue its programming and maintain its proven standard of excellence. In particular, MGRRE would like to thank:
In the United States, a generation of industry and academic scientists is beginning to retire, creating a shortage of geoscientists in the workforce. This shift comes at a time when geoscientists are needed more than ever to address complex climate questions, manage the nation’s coastlines, find water resources, help balance urban and industrial development with environmental protection and help us use earth resources wisely and frugally. The Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education offers unique opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students to become involved in projects with faculty, academic departments and industry representatives.
Through experience-based training, often with industry mentors, our students have the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world issues and problems in these areas:
- Sedimentary geology
- Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage
- Underground natural gas storage
- Energy resource geology
- Glacial geology
- Hydrogeology
- Environmental geology
- Land planning
- Governmental regulation
- Earth science education
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