Energy & Environmental Research Center
15 North 23rd Street , Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States

The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) is recognized as one of the worlds leading developers of cleaner, more efficient energy to power the world and environmental technologies to protect and clean our air, water, and soil.

At Our Core

Our people are our greatest asset. Our team of over 200 is sought after worldwide to solve energy and environmental challenges in innovative ways. Our multidisciplinary team gives us the ability to approach a problem from all angles.

Who We Are

• To lead the world in developing solutions to energy and environmental challenges.
• To provide practical, pioneering solutions to the worlds energy and environmental challenges. We accomplish this mission through our people, our partnerships, and our priorities.
• Five core values are the fundamentals our staff incorporates into everything we do. Work you can be proud of begins with people we are proud of.
• The leadership team defines our vision and goals and keeps us on the path to innovation and success.
• We are working in partnership with clients to develop, refine, demonstrate, and commercialize marketable products that provide practical solutions to real-world challenges.

History

The EERC was officially founded in 1951 as the Robertson Lignite Research Laboratory, a federal facility under the U.S. Bureau of Mines. However, the EERCs roots date back to the 1890s when Earl Babcock, a chemistry professor at the University of North Dakota (UND), began studying the states vast lignite coal resources and investigating potential uses for them.  The work of Babcock and others at UND led to the establishment of the Bureau of Mines laboratory on the university campus in 1951. In 1977, the facility became a federal energy technology center under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). In 1983, the center was defederalized and became part of UND.  Since its defederalization, the EERC has evolved to conduct research on all fossil fuels, as well as renewable and alternative fuels, and has become a world leader in the field of pollution prevention and environmental cleanup technologies.

Oil & Gas

Oil production in the Bakken Formation has propelled North Dakota to one of the top oil-producing states in the U.S. and has had a major economic impact. Were a leader in the design and implementation of clean and efficient oil and gas exploration, development, and production technologies.  Working with state and industry leaders, we are a respected partner in developing technologies to enhance safety and efficiencies throughout the industry. From working with new technologies to eliminate pipeline leaks to using enhanced oil recovery to extend the life of a well, we lead the way in research focused on resource assessment, management, and optimization of exploration and production performance.

Innovative Solutions for Biomass and Renewable Fuels 

A total-systems energy approach means research in all sources of energy. We are dedicated to the research and development of renewable fuels and technologies along with the commitment to an all-encompassing integrated energy approach. By developing biomass fuels for heat, power, and transportation, we are working to advance all of North Dakotas energy resources. We work with industry to overcome technical, economic, and social barriers to commercial utilization of alternative fuels. For decades, weve developed essential technologies to produce economical fuels and chemicals from renewable agricultural resources.  Our researchers were the first to develop 100% domestic, renewable jet fuel for the U.S. Department of Defense. The fuel meets aviation fuel screening criteria, providing a pathway to providing energy security to the U.S. military and the entire nation.  

Oil Production

Optimization Were collaborating with partners to improve incremental oil recovery rates in unconventional formations, and reduce the environmental footprint. Our success is demonstrated in the results: weve increased well productivity and the economic output of North Dakotas oil and gas resources, decreased environmental impacts of wellsite operations, and reduced the demand for infrastructure construction and maintenance through the Bakken Production Optimization Program (BPOP).  BPOP is led by the EERC and funded by program members and the North Dakota Industrial Commission. Its an exemplary model demonstrating that state law makers, state regulator, and industry can work together for positive results for shareholders and taxpayers alike.

Bakken CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery and Storage

While the use of CO2 in conventional reservoirs is a widely applied practice, its use for EOR in tight oil reservoirs like the Bakken is a relatively new concept. Were working on solutions for large-scale injection of CO2 into the Bakken to increase oil production and reserves, which will also result in the geologic storage of significant amounts of CO2. Weve conducted laboratory and modeling activities to examine the potential for CO2 storage and EOR in the Bakken. The goal of this multidisciplinary research is to provide industry with insight regarding the potential to use CO2 for EOR in the Bakken and Three Forks Formations.

SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS

• Resource assessments, CO2 EOR, and geophysical interpretation
• Measurement, monitoring, and verification systems
• Petroleum engineering, geologic characterization, and reservoir simulation, including geophysics and seismic characterization
• Geological analysis techniques, including petrophysical, geomechanical, and minimum miscibility pressure testing
• Information systems design and data management
• Produced fluids processing and pipelines
• Well pad environmental challenges: emissions and technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM), reduced gas flaring, and wastewater management and remediation