Funders
The initial training program development was funded by a gift from ExxonMobil and General Electric to Colorado School of Mines, The Pennsylvania State University, and The University of Texas at Austin. Ongoing development and implementation funding is provided by gifts from ExxonMobil, General Electric, and the Environmental Defense Fund to the three universities. The three universities designate a ‘gift’ when there are no specific required deliverables, no memoranda of agreement, nor any contracts as part of the funds transferred to the university.
The detailed curriculum was developed at the sole discretion of the three universities (principal investigators and instructors).
Project Leadership Team
- Dr. Linda Battalora, Teaching Professor, Petroleum Engineering Department, Colorado School of Mines
- Mr. James Ladlee, Interim Assistant Director of Energy, Entrepreneurship, and Community Development Programs
- Dr. Hilary Olson, Lecturer and Research Associate, Petroleum & Geosystems Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
Content Experts
- Mark Clement, retired, East Texas Oil Field Case Study
- Mike Parker, Environmental & Regulatory Consultant Parker Environmental and Consulting, Retired, ExxonMobil
- Bill Sydow, Director, Nebraska Oil & Gas Conservation Commission
Colorado School of Mines Faculty
- Mike Batzle *, Professor, Department of Geophysics
- Alfred William Eustes III, Associate Professor, Department of Petroleum Engineering
- Steve Sonnenberg, Professor, Department of Geology & Geological Engineering
- Dr. Azra Tutuncu, Professor, Petroleum Engineering Department, Colorado School of Mines
Penn State Faculty
- Mike Arthur, Professor, Department of Geosciences
- Terry Engelder, Professor, Department of Geosciences
- Mr. James Ladlee, Extension State Program Leader for Energy Entrepreneurship and Community Development, Penn State
- David Yoxtheimer, Hydrogeologist, Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research
University of Texas at Austin Faculty
- Matt Balhoff, Associate Professor, Department of Petroleum & Geosystems Engineering
- Paul Bommer, Senior Lecturer, Department of Petroleum & Geosystems Engineering
- Dr. Hilary Olson, Lecturer and Research Associate, Petroleum & Geosystems Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
- Jon Olson, Chairman and Professor, Department of Petroleum & Geosystems Engineering
* We wish to acknowledge Dr. Mike Batzle, a highly recognized geophysicist who specialized in reservoir fluid properties and rock physics research studies. Mike was a passionate teacher and had a unique personality that enabled him to bond with people from all ages and backgrounds. Shortly after shooting his Top Energy Training lecture, he unexpectedly passed away. We acknowledge his contributions to the Top Energy Training project. We were very fortunate to know him and work with him closely in preparation of the first two courses. He will be deeply missed not only by us at Top Energy Training, but by the entire geoscience community.
Production
Courses 1 & 2
We would like to acknowledge WPSU Penn State who developed the course, instructional videos, and interactive content. The team consisted of a talented group of instructional designers, producers/directors, editors, videographers, multimedia specialists, art director, animators, web developers, project managers and technical staff and support.
We would like to acknowledge the marketing contributions and media support provided by Striker Communications.
Research and writing support was provided by Anna Went, Dan Walsh, Sanchit Khurana, and Anukalp Narasimharaju.
Special thanks to Channel Austin and Rocky Mountain Audio/Video Production, Unlimited.
Courses 3 & 4
Disco Learning Media, Inc.
Alpheus Media
Other organizations and agencies
- Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
- Environmental Defense Fund
- IOGCCC –Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
- Texas Railroad Commission
Institutional Support
Senior Leadership
- Ramona Graves, Professor and Dean, Colorado School of Mines, CERSE
- Tom Murphy, Director of Penn State’s Marcellus Center of Outreach and Research (MCOR)
- Jon Olson, Professor and Chair, Department of Petroleum & Geosystems Engineering, UT Austin
- Kate Domico, Executive Director, Learning Design and Public Media, Penn State
Finance
- Patti Hickman
- Bob Igo
- Isabel Reinert
Administrative Support
- Dori Coy
- Angela Harbst
- Morgan Reightler
- Emilia Clayton
Location Access
- Clean Earth
- Ensign Energy Services
- Noble Energy Wells Ranch, Colorado
- New Pig Energy
- Shell Appalachia
- Terra Aqua Resource Management (TARM)
Photo/Video Attribution
- 123RF/Antonio Ribeiro
- Alphasense Ltd
- American Oil & Gas Historical Society (AOGHS)
- Mike Arthur
- Associated Press
- Baker Hughes
- Michael Black
- Jim Blecha
- Paul Bommer
- Amy Castner
- Chesapeake Energy
- CP Geosystems
- Department of Natural Resources
- Drake Well Museum
- Drilling Contractor 2015. All rights reserved
- Terry Engelder
- Diane Espy
- Gaston Museum
- Huntington Digital Library Archive
- iStock
- KEP LLC
- KTLA
- LA Public Library
- Jim Ladlee
- Library of Congress
- Loco Steve, Orpington, UK
- Mather & Bell
- Gary Mitchell
- NASA
- National Film Board of Canada
- NPR
- PA*IRIS/WIS
- PETEX
- Prism Gas Detection and PVT. LTD.
- Project Gutenberg (http://bit.ly/1J5CJEK):
- Schlumberger
- Shutterstock
- Society of Petroleum Engineers, All Rights Reserved
- StateImpact, NPR
- State of California
- The Drake Well Museum/Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission
- The Huntington Library, San Marino, California
- Azra N. Tutuncu
- UCLA Film and Television Archive
- Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo — Istituto di Scienze della Terra
- University of Aberdeen (United Kingdom)
- University of Pittsburgh
- USDA
- USGS
- USGS, SOFIA
- Bill Wallace, WPSU Penn State
- WVSORO
- Hee Yun Yang
Special Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Michael Black and Jim Blecha for contributing photos to significant portions of this website. Michael Black contributed several drilling and completion photos. Jim Blecha contributed western and southern state photos, as well as photos in Canada.
Web site design & development by Jeffrey M. Phillips for Disco Learning Media, Inc.
Additional Image Credits
Petroleum Geology and Engineering
Hydrocarbons and Petroleum Geology
- Plate Tectonics
Image: “Folding Gasteretal” by Woudloper is licensed under CC BY SA 1.0
Petroleum Technology
The Drilling Process in Detail
- Wireline Tools
Image: “Wireline Grease-head” by Schwindj is licensed under CC BY SA 4.0
Formation Evaluation
- Sample Coring
Image: “Diamond Core” by Blastcube is licensed under CC BY SA 3.0 - Mud Logging
Image: “Mud Log” by Mudgineer is licensed under CC BY SA 3.0 - Well Logging
Image: “Well Logging Cabin and Wire” by Ciacho5 is licensed under CC BY SA 3.0
Environmental Concerns
The Global Water Cycle
- Surface Water and Watersheds
Illustration: Courtesy Robert Szucs. - Private Well Types
Header: “Eketorp water well01” by Håkan Svensson is licensed under CC BY 3.0.
Water in Oil and Gas
- Water Use by Sector
Header: “Irrigation” by Brad Smith licensed under CC BY NC 2.0. - Water Jurisdictions
Header: “Niagara Falls” by Greg Knapp licensed under CC BY 2.0. - Water Rights
Header: “iss038e023651” Courtesy NASA. - Trends in Water Consumption
Header: “Ballys & Bellagio fountain, Las Vegas” by Steven Straiton licensed under CC BY 2.0. - Thermoelectric Power Generation
Header: “Power Station” by shipley43 licensed under CC BY 2.0. - Floods
Header: “Water Buffalo” by Michael Levine-Clark licensed under CC BY NC ND 2.0. - Hydraulic Fracturing
Header: “Fracking Operations” by Joshua Doubek licensed under CC BY SA 3.0. - Water Recycling
Header: “Purple” by John Loo licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Other Environmental Concerns
- Erosion Control
Header: “Erosion” by Aaron licensed under CC BY 2.0. - The Impact and Prevalence of Oil Spills
Header: “Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill – Gulf of Mexico” by Kris Krug licensed under CC BY NC SA 2.0. - Solids Disposal and Monitoring
Image: “Mudloggers collecting samples out of the shaker” by Joshua Doubek via Wikimedia Commons licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 - Air Quality Trends
Header: “Hot Air Balloon Ride” by mirsasha licensed under CC BY NC ND 2.0. - Air Sampling
Header: “Liftoff at Sunrise” by Malcolm Carlaw licensed under CC BY 2.0. - Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material
Header: “Trinity Site Fence“ by marsupialrobot licensed under CC BY NC ND 2.0.
Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Social Responsibility
- Environmental Regulation & Legislation
Header: “Capitol from top of Washington Monument” by Tyrol5 is licensed under CC BY SA 3.0. - Field First Aid
Header: “First aid kit” by Marcin Wichary is licensed under CC BY 2.0. - Social License to Operate
Header: “Rain and the Sun” by Marketa licensed under CC BY SA 2.0.
Emerging Concerns and Communications
Underground Injection
- Enhanced Oil Recovery
Header: “GlassPoint EOR Kern County CA” by GlassPoint Solar licensed under CC BY SA 3.0. - Geothermal Case Study
Header: “Gramercy Park in October 2014” by MusikAnimal licensed under CC BY SA 4.0.
Induced Seismicity
- Faults & Folds
Header: “Agios Pavlos” by Olaf Tausch licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License - Interactions with Pre-existing Faults
Header: “faultfinder_48” by Doc Searls licensed under CC BY SA 2.0. - Traffic Light System Approach
Header: “Stoplight” by Doc Searls licensed under CC NC SA 2.0. - DFW Airport Evidence
Header: “Dallas Airport” by Dzung Tran licensed under CC BY ND 2.0. - Public Concerns of Oil & Gas Operations
Header: “Fracking Operations” by Joshua Doubek licensed under CC BY SA 3.0.
Introduction to Subsurface Containment
- Subsurface Containment
Header: “Aliso Canyon leak well pad 2 CREDIT- Earthworks (23807396891)” by EARTHWORKS licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Rhetorical Strategies
- Introduction to Rhetorical Strategies
Header: “Typewriter” by Mike McKay licensed under CC BY 2.0. - Logos
Header: “Baker Street Sign” by Sonyhamster licensed under CC BY 3.0. - Fallacies
Header: “Showing the Strain” by Brian Smithson licensed under CC BY 2.0. - Ethos
Header: “Greece-0120 – Caryatids” by Dennis Jarvis licensed under CC BY SA 2.0. - Pathos
Header: “Peace Monument in Washington, DC” by Jamieadams99 licensed under CC BY SA 3.0. - Style
Header: “Farmer meet Roughneck” by Jan Buchholtz licensed under CC BY NC ND 2.0. - Diction
Header: “Library” by Stewart Butterfield licensed under CC BY 2.0. - Tone
Header: “Macro Photography – Colour Pencils” by Tasumi1968 licensed under CC BY NC ND 2.0.
Knowing Yourself & Social Networks
- Introduction to Knowing Yourself & Social Networks
Header: “Social Network Visualization” by Martin Grandjean licensed under CC BY SA 4.0. - Personality Traits
Header: “puzzle” by Theodore C licensed under CC BY ND 2.0.
Chart: “MyersBriggsTypes” by Jake Beech licensed under CC BY SA 3.0. - Cognitive Biases
Header: “James Webb Primary Mirror” by NASA/MSFC/David Higginbotham.
Chart: “Cognitive Bias Codex” by John Manoogian III licensed under CC BY SA 4.0. - Communication Styles
Header: “Communication” by Mike McKay licensed under CC BY NC ND 2.0. - Social Networks
Header: “Social Network Analysis Visualization” by Martin Grandjean licensed under CC BY SA 3.0. - Strong Ties & Weak Ties
Header: “Tied Down” by Yiannis Theologos Michellis licensed under CC BY SA 2.0. - Reciprocity
Header: “ladder to ?” by Anthony licensed under CC BY SA 2.0.
Difficult Situations
- Introduction to Working Through Difficult Situations
Header: “Hedge Maze” by Eric Fidler licensed under CC BY NC 2.0. - What Makes it Difficult?
Header: “Tangled” by Quinn Dombrowski licensed under CC BY 2.0 - The Importance of Questions
Header: “Question” by Wee Sen Goh licensed under CC BY NC 2.0. - Clarity in Communications
Header: “ DP1M2389 ” by David Law licensed under CC BY 2.0. - Authenticity and Trust
Header: “Dakota Access Oil Pipeline (DAPL)” by Tony Webster licensed under CC BY NC SA 2.0. - The Language of Trust
Header: “Waiting for Godot” by rogiro licensed under CC BY NC 2.0. - Who Values What?
Header: “Staircase” by Colin Tsoi licensed under CC BY ND 2.0.
