The Aqueous Geochemistry Laboratory provides analytical and sample processing support for measuring organic and inorganic constituents in natural waters. Instrumentation in the AGL includes:
The AGL facility also contains a large fume hood, analytical balance, digital pipettes, magnetic stirring hot plate, and a ASTM Type I nanopure water purification system.
Contact: Andy Elwood Madden, amadden@ou.edu
Executive Summary
Over the past two decades, seismic attributes have become crucial for mapping structure, stratigraphy, and quantifying reservoir properties. Our research group focuses on refining poststack and prestack data, calibrating attributes to geological and engineering standards, and utilizing advanced analysis techniques for unconventional reservoirs. We leverage comprehensive datasets including 3D surveys, production data, well logs, and more.
Our goal is to improve the accuracy of reservoir characterization and hydrocarbon estimation by addressing acquisition, processing, and imaging impacts on seismic attributes. We provide research reports and algorithm source code to sponsors for internal use and client services
Research Themes
When well-log and production data are properly aligned, broadband 3D seismic data becomes pivotal in delineating reservoir heterogeneity and compartmentalization. We've found that modern seismic attributes greatly enhance our ability to visualize stratigraphic and tectonic features, even surpassing classical seismic resolution limits. Notably, attribute images computed on limited offset and azimuth volumes from North and West Texas exhibit higher lateral resolution. Additionally, we've observed variations in feature illumination with offset and azimuth, particularly in land surveys rich in azimuths.
Our research focuses on four main goals: mapping reservoir compartments and fractures, optimizing seismic processing workflows for improved resolution, contextualizing seismic attributes with tectonic deformation and geomorphology, and developing predictive tools for guiding reservoir completion programs.
Contact: Heather Bedle, hbedle@ou.edu
The Computational Geophysics Laboratory includes several labs assigned to individual research teams and the Wick Cary Geoscience Processing & Imaging Center (GPIC).
Research Teams
Their mission is to provide critical computational infrastructure for research activities in near-surface geophysics, exploration geophysics, basin- to crustal scale imaging, earthquake seismology, and microseismic monitoring. The labs are equipped with Linux, Mac and Windows workstations, Linux servers, and data storage servers. The labs also have access to dedicated computing resources at the OU’s supercomputer center (http://www.oscer.ou.edu), which includes 7 dual 12-core nodes, 250TB storage nodes, and 390 LTO-6 tapes (~975 TB) for data archive.
The Wick Cary Geoscience Processing and Imaging Center (GPIC)
GPIC provides computer hardware, software, data, and user-support to students and researchers of the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy for both teaching and research activities. GPIC is the primary high-end interpretation and computational facility of the School of Geosciences. Through the generosity of exploration companies, national oil companies, and data brokers, GPIC enables access to high-quality 3D seismic (including multicomponent), electric log, image log, microseismic, and production data for both interdisciplinary research and education.
GPIC provides students education using state-of-the-art geophysical exploration and development applications via hands-on approaches. It provides the framework for laboratory exercises in reservoir characterization, seismic modeling and migration, 3D seismic processing, exploration geophysics, 3D seismic interpretation, and quantitative seismic interpretation. GPIC also serves as the computational platform for research in seismic processing and imaging, seismic geomorphology, computer-assisted structure and fracture analysis, reservoir characterization, and potential field imaging of the earth’s crust.
GPIC is housed in room 1010 Sarkeys Energy Center and includes 23 dual-monitor Windows 10 Dell Precision Tower Workstations (12-16 cores, 32 GB RAM). A Linux-based server cluster provides over 150 Terabytes of disk space and a total number of 132 dual cores. In addition, GPIC has access to dedicated processing power housed within OU’s supercomputer center (http://www.oscer.ou.edu), where very large jobs can also be run using a batch queuing system.
Software
Through the generosity of software vendors, the School of Geosciences has access to a suite of commercial and academic software packages which our faculty and students use for research and teaching.
Contact: Heather Bedle, hbedle@ou.edu
Instruments in the Critical Zone Biogeochemistry laboratory include a LI-COR LI7815 trace gas analyzer with a small volume introduction module, an Elementar Vario EL CNS analyzer for solids and liquids, and a Thermo Fisher MultiSkan SkyHigh microplate UV-Vis analyzer with wavelength scanning capability.
We also have two drying ovens, a freezer, a refrigerator, multiple shakers, a ball mill, a jar mill, a water purification system, a benchtop centrifuge with capacity to spin microcentrifuge through 50 mL centrifuge tubes up to 30,000 RCF, single and multichannel pipettes, multiple sets of soil sieves, and a full suite of reagents, glassware, and plasticware.
Our field equipment consists of soil carbon dioxide sensors, soil oxygen sensors, soil moisture sensors, campbell scientific datalogers, field-deployable fixed-potential redox sensors, augers with extensions, soil probes, a bulk density sampling set, and a LICOR smartflux soil trace gas flux system.
The Devon lab includes equipment for the preparation and analysis of rock and mineral samples by powder X-ray diffraction, including clay mineral separations. The lab is equipped for preparation of bulk rock samples, with tools such as a McCrone Micronizing mill, and for the treatment of rock samples for clay analysis, requiring a sequence of extraction steps involving a number of chemical and physical treatments. To accomplish the clay separations, the lab contains a centrifuge, a dialysis bath, desiccators, a drying oven, a furnace, a heating water bath, and a microbalance. We analyze samples at the Samuel Roberts Noble Microscopy lab on a state of the art 9kW Rigaku SmartLab X-ray diffractometer, with Hypix 3000 direct detector and many, many options for different types of data collection. For data analysis, updated software tools such as MDI Jade, MDI ClaySim, and Rigaku PDXL are interfaced with databases from the International Centre for Diffraction Data.
More about Devon Powder X-ray Diffraction and Clay Mineralogy Laboratory
Contact: Andy Elwood Madden, amadden@ou.edu
The electron microprobe laboratory is built around a fully automated CAMECA SX100 microanalyzer. The five wavelength-dispersive spectrometers, Thermo Ultra-Dry SDD energy-dispersive detector, and GATAN PanaCL/F cathodoluminescence detector (CL) are fully integrated for all analytical and imaging functions (x-ray, secondary electron, backscattered electron, absorbed current, and CL signals). The system provides quantitative elemental microanalysis of boron to uranium; digital acquisition of electron, x-ray intensity, and cathodoluminescence images; image analysis and other data processing routines.
More about the Electron Microprobe Laboratory
The experimental petrology laboratory has facilities for mineral synthesis, calibration of phase equilibrium reactions, and petrologic analogue or simulation experiments. In addition to sample preparation facilities, the experimental laboratory contains 18 externally heated cold-seal reaction vessels for routine operation to 850° C, 200 MPa, and two vessels capable of operation to 700° C, 400 MPa.
The mission of the field geophysics lab is to provide equipment for research and field-based teaching activities by students and faculty in the School of Geosciences. The lab includes a wide range of equipment for near-surface studies, basin- to crustal-scale geophysical imaging and monitoring, rapid aftershock responses, infrastructural monitoring, and field-based classes. The equipment includes:
Passive seismic stations
Active Seismic
Electrical Resistivity Imaging
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
Gravimetry
Magnetics
GPS + LiDAR
Contact: Heather Bedle, hbedle@ou.edu
This facility is used to assess the compositions and physical properties of fluid inclusions through microthermometric techniques. In addition to specialized sample preparation equipment, the laboratory includes a new Linkam TH600 programmable heating/freezing stage on a Zeiss Research Photomicroscope.
The Gas Hydrates Laboratory at the University of Oklahoma is fully equipped to conduct, monitor, and analyze gas hydrate thermodynamic and kinetic experiments. Two Parr® pressure vessels are used as hydrate reactors with external heating/cooling systems which can achieve experimental temperatures from -50 to 400 degrees Celsius. The reactors are instrumented with digital thermocouples and pressure transducers which are monitored and recorded with a custom designed Labview® system.
At OU we have an Axio Imager M2m microscope with scanning stage for fission-track analysis of zircon, apatite, and monazite. The fission-track laboratory is integrated with a New Wave 213 nm laser ablation (LA) system coupled with a PerkinElmer NexION2000 inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICPMS). The LA-ICPMS is run by the Mass Spectrometry, Proteomics & Metabolomics core is part of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Our system is set-up to run U-Th-Pb isotopic and concentration analysis plus few trace element concentrations. We have established methods for apatite, monazite, and zircon U-Th-Pb dating
OU’s High Resolution Mapping Raman User Center is housed within the School of Geosciences and managed by Dr. Megan Elwood Madden. The Renishaw InVia mapping Raman microscope and spectrometer utilizes both a 532 nm green laser and a 785 nm red laser, as well as the Wire 4.1 software for data analysis.
Contact: Megan Elwood Madden, melwood@ou.edu
At OU we maintain a Chipmunk Jaw Crusher, a tungsten carbide disk mill, a Jasper Cayon water table, a Franz magnetic separater, and heavy liquids. This set-up is suitable to follow a range of standard mineral separation procedures.
The organic geochemistry /stable isotope laboratories have wet chemistry facilities and instrumentation for the isolation and analysis of organic compounds from geologic materials.
Dr. Engel has an HPLC system, and a HP GC/MSD instrument used for the analysis of amino acids and peptides. He has a conventional stable isotope laboratory equipped with vacuum lines and a Delta E isotope ratio mass spectrometer for high precision stable carbon isotope analyses of organic matter and carbonates and stable oxygen isotope analyses of carbonates.
Dr. Engel also has a Thermo Delta V Plus isotope ratio mass spectrometer that is equipped for continuous flow as well as with a dual inlet for conventional off-line analyses. For continuous flow, the instrument is interfaced to a Costech Elemental Analyzer for stable carbon, nitrogen and sulfur isotope analyses and a Thermo TC/EA system for stable hydrogen isotope analyses. The instrument is also interfaced to a Thermo gas bench system for automated analyses of carbonates.
Dr. Liu has Agilent 1290 series ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) system equipped with an Agilent 6530 quadrupole time-of-flight (qTOF) mass spectrometer for high-resolution accurate mass analysis on pigments and polar lipids in various types of biological and geological samples. An Agilent 5977B Inert Plus MSD system is also installed in Dr. Liu’s lab for the analysis of small volatile compounds.
Contact: Michael Engel, ab1635@ou.edu or Xiaolei Liu xlliu@ou.edu
The shielded Paleomagnetics laboratory is used for paleomagnetic and rock-magnetic studies. Equipment includes a 2G cryogenic magnetometer with DC squids, AF and thermal demagnetizers, impulse magnetizer, field equipment, and several magnetic susceptibility systems including a AGICO MFK-FA1 Multifunction Kappabridge.
Contact: Shannon Dulin, sdulin@ou.edu
Paleontological research is concentrated at the Sam Noble Museum, which includes fully equipped labs for invertebrate paleontology, vertebrate paleontology and paleobotany. Large collection areas house more than 1 million specimens. In addition to museum collections, there are laboratory facilities for specimen preparation and visualization. Exhibits in the museum's Ancient Life Gallery are fully integrated into undergraduate classes (GEOL 1024; GEOL 3513; GEOL 5413), and allow detailed study of fossils ranging from trilobites to dinosaurs.
Invertebrate Paleontology
With nearly one million specimens from every major invertebrate fossil group, the invertebrate paleontology collection is among the most scientifically important in North America. It contains nearly 3,000 primary type specimens and about 7,000 figured specimens. The collection houses specimens from all over the world, with major strengths in Paleozoic age specimens from the mid-continent of North America.
Contact: David Wright wrightdf@ou.edu or Selina Cole colesr@ou.edu
Paleobotany & Micropaleontology
The paleobotany and micropaleontology collection contains over 150,000 catalogued specimens (e.g., leaf impressions) and slides (e.g., pollen and spores on glass slides, or ostracods in paper micromounts). It contains over 250 primary type and figured specimens. The collection houses specimens from all over the world, with major strengths in Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks from Oklahoma and the western interior of the United States.
Contact: Rick Lupia rlupia@ou.edu
The Physical and Environmental Geochemistry Laboratory is equipped for a wide range of low to moderate temperature geochemical experiments and field sample processing. Geochemical reactors of various types including polyacrylate columns, pressure vessels, and custom-designed batch reactors, as well as stir plates, water baths, and shakers, are used to synthesize analyze the reactivity and rates of natural and laboratory materials. The solution chemistry of field water samples and laboratory experiments are characterized with various electrodes and meters. calorimetric methods using a Thermo Scientific Genesys 10S scanning UV-visible spectrophotometer, and elemental analysis with a PerkinElmer AAnalyst 800 combined flame / graphite furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Graphite-furnace capability allows determination of elements in the ppb range. Kinetic Phosphorescence Analysis (KPA) allows determination of sub-ppb levels of dissolved uranium. Trace element work is facilitated by a Barnstead Nanopure Diamond ultrapure water system. A Coy Labs anaerobic chamber allows experiments to be conducted at low oxygen fugacity, mimicking many subsurface/deep water environments. A Quantachrome gas adsorption analyzer determines BET surface area and pore size distribution.
Contact: Andy Elwood Madden, amadden@ou.edu or Megan Elwood Madden, melwood@ou.edu
The RCML is directed by Dr. Matthew Pranter. Dr. Pranter and his students investigate the controls that stratigraphy, sedimentology, and structure play in regard to reservoir architecture, lithological and petrophysical-property heterogeneity, and reservoir performance. A fundamental goal is to assess the dominant controls on reservoir quality (both matrix and fracture) to more accurately map and model the spatial distribution of reservoir properties.
Contact: Matthew Pranter, matthew.pranter@ou.edu
The School of Geosciences has laboratories that are dedicated to:
Experimental Earthquake Physics and Geotribology Lab
This laboratory has three different experimental platforms:
Rotary Shear Apparatus
Experiments can be performed on solid rock specimens at loading rates consistent with earthquake nucleation and propagation. Further, at slow velocities, off-fault strain and radiated energy can be measured and analyzed, i.e., the ability to record a laboratory earthquake in the near-field at high rates. Additionally, this apparatus can run experiments on powdered gouge under dry and saturated conditions. In total this apparatus offers the ability to characterize the strength and slip behavior of different geologic materials as it relates to fault slip and earthquake physics.
Fracture Mechanics Apparatus
The testing apparatus has the ability to acquire fracture mechanical parameters from rock samples, including fracture toughness, subcritical fracture growth index, and the curves of stress intensity factor vs fracture velocity under saturated conditions (where fluid chemistry can be an experimental variable). Such measurements have direct application to operations that create fractures in the subsurface.
Bruker Tribometer System and Profilometer
This system, originally designed for engineering purposes, is used to test the friction/wear/hardness of geomaterials over a range of velocities and at various conditions. The capabilities of the platform allow for experiments that target such topics as fault mechanics, friction and wear along bimaterial faults, the evaluation of friction laws at high temperatures, and the mechanics of glacial sliding and silt production.
Experimental Rock Deformation and Poromechanics Lab (formerly the integrated PoroMechanics Institute)
The equipment in this lab offers an integrated approach to researchers of various disciplines including petroleum engineering, geology, geophysics, civil engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering to conduct general and applied research on the mechanics of porous materials, in particular, geomechanics applied to hydrocarbon exploration/production, geothermal energy production, and carbon dioxide sequestration.
Quantitative Grain Size and Grain Shape Analysis
Grain size and texture are measured in the lab using the Malvern Mastersizer 3000 and the Malvern Morphologi G3. The Malvern Mastersizer 3000 uses laser diffraction to measure grain size distributions of sediment samples. Different modules allow the measurement of a wide range of sample sizes and grain sizes (sub micron to 2 mm). The Malvern Morphologi G3 quantitatively measures particle size and 2-D shape by photographing and analyzing each individual grain. Grain metrics and bulk geometrical statistics are calculated with the Malvern software.
Contact: Lynn Soreghan, lsoreg@ou.edu or Mike Soreghan, msoreg@ou.edu
Executive Summary
The Social, Political, Earth & Environmental Research (SPEER) group is dedicated to advancing our understanding of the complex interplay between social, psychological, and environmental factors shaping public attitudes and behaviors related to climate change, severe weather, and energy policies. Our interdisciplinary approach bridges the gap between Earth sciences and social sciences, recognizing that human perceptions and actions are integral to addressing environmental challenges.
We strive to produce high-quality, comprehensive research that informs effective climate communication strategies and policy interventions. By examining the multifaceted influences on climate attitudes—including political ideologies, religious beliefs, personal experiences, and psychological constructs—we aim to provide insights that can help society navigate the pressing environmental issues of our time.
Our ultimate goal is to contribute to the development of more targeted and impactful approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation, fostering a more sustainable and resilient future for all.
Research Themes
SPEER encompasses a wide range of interconnected research themes:
Contact: Heather Bedle, hbedle@ou.edu
This laboratory contains research quality microscopes for graduate and undergraduate students, as well as faculty and researchers, to conduct petrographic research. It contains two Zeiss microscopes, including a Zeiss Imager Z1 which is capable of taking thin section photomicrographs. The lab also includes a Nikon reflecting light microscope and a Nikon binocular microscope.
