History
The Rock Physics Laboratory (RPL) was donated by the Unocal Corporation to HARC's Geotechnology Research Institute in 1994, subsequently transferred to the University of Houston in 2003. It is one of only a few such laboratories in the United States and the only laboratory in the Houston area solely dedicated to rock physics.
Mission
As a public, research-oriented facility, RPL supports the research efforts of the oil and gas industry by conducting research in rock physics and by providing analytical and evaluation services. The primary goal is to carry out industry oriented research, investigate reservoir rock properties, and integrate them with logging and seismic technology to solve common exploration and production problems. RPL also works with industry to provide technical services on proprietary projects.
Our goal is to measure, characterize, and deliver systematic fluid and rock properties for seismic application. Our results provide our sponsors with the direct ability to forward calculate properties as well as to develop application techniques and methods to extract fluid and rock properties from seismic data. Currently we concentrate in three general areas:
- Frontier exploration, including ultra-deep reservoirs with high temperatures and pressures;
- Reservoir characterization and monitoring including calibration of time-lapse seismic monitoring of various recovery processes;
- Unconventional resource development such as tight gas sands, heavy oil sands and oil shales.
