Message from the Director Milind Deo

By Informatics @ EGI in News

January 21st, 2021Print Article

---

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Greetings for a healthy and productive 2021 from the Energy & Geoscience Institute (EGI) at the University of Utah. I am delighted to write to you as the EGI Interim Director. I have been a Professor at the University for over 30 years and have been associated with EGI for most of its existence in Utah. I recently assumed the EGI directorship role from Dr. Raymond Levey who retired at the end of 2020 after over 20 years of service. Under his leadership, EGI has become a premier energy research institute in oil and gas, geothermal energy, and carbon management. I would like to thank Ray for his many contributions to EGI and to the University.

As we all know, a confluence of unexpected and unforeseen events are today reshaping the energy landscape. EGI is well positioned to lead during this transition thanks to existing capabilities in petroleum research, unparalleled strength in geothermal energy, and growing capacity in carbon management and low-carbon technologies.

---

The Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE), a far-reaching US DOE project under the leadership of EGI Research Professor Dr. Joseph Moore achieved recent success in drilling its first deep well in hot, dry granite near Milford Utah. Other wells and exciting new research are planned at the site. EGI continues research in carbon sequestration and management, unconventional resources, and in targeted exploration regions around the world. EGI scientists are examining nanotechnology associated with energy processes in the Center for Multi-Scale Fluid-Solid Interactions in Architected and Natural Materials (MUSE) a US DOE Energy Frontiers Research Center (EFRC) at the University of Utah.

I would like to reiterate our commitment to serving the research needs of our Corporate Associates, sponsors and collaborators. The following general outline of our portfolio has been built on our conversations with you and your feedback. We will:

• embrace the data and digital revolution and work at making EGI knowledge available in this context,
• develop research in fundamentals of fluid flow, rock physics, and fractures that are crosscutting EGI research areas of geothermal, carbon management, petroleum geoscience and reservoir engineering,
• focus on integrated geoscience/producibility studies, build on existing projects in geothermal research and carbon management,
• and expand our research capabilities in areas related to Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) and sustainability.

Our educational activities will be consistent with this research agenda as we partner with colleges and departments across the University of Utah campus.

We sincerely thank you for your continued support and partnership. Please stay in touch as we evolve EGI to continue to play a significant role in energy research and education. I welcome your feedback and ideas.

---