UW Students Participate in SER’s Second Field Course on Natural Hydrogen Exploration

Building on the success of its inaugural offering, the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources (SER) recently hosted its second summer field course dedicated to natural geologic hydrogen exploration.

^{University of Wyoming students Gisella Mena Teran (left), Taiye Idahor and Fred Gyasse take samples in the field during UW’s School of Energy Resources’ summer field course dedicated to natural geologic hydrogen exploration Aug. 22-28. (Sara Buckhold Photo)}

The hybrid course, which took place Aug. 22-28, provided students with hands-on training in combining foundational geoscience with cutting-edge machine learning techniques to identify and analyze natural hydrogen occurrences.

The course forms a key educational pillar of the broader Wyoming Geohydrogen Exploration Initiative led by SER’s Hydrogen Energy Research Center (H2ERC), supported in collaboration with industry partner Hestia Energy Corp. and matched through a Wyoming artificial intelligence (AI) state matching appropriation.

The project aims to establish robust models for natural hydrogen formation, migration and trapping across Wyoming’s unique geological basins.

“We are excited to build on the foundation laid during last year’s inaugural course,” says Sarah Buckhold, H2ERC assistant research professional and leader of the course. “Geologic hydrogen represents a promising frontier in clean energy. By equipping students with a digital-first approach that combines physical field observation with machine learning models, they are, hopefully, leaving the course fluent in both traditional structural geology and the data science methods needed to process complex geophysical signals in the field.”

The one-credit course was co-led alongside Stuart Farris, Hestia Energy co-founder and chief technology officer. Farris also is an SER adjunct professor.

The curriculum blended intensive classroom instruction with a six-day immersive field experience. Participants explored how to pair traditional field methods, such as geologic mapping and advanced continuous subsurface sensing, with data-driven analytics and AI to map and evaluate potential natural hydrogen reservoirs.

Throughout the week, seven UW students gained direct experience learning how to recognize tracking markers for how hydrogen behaves over a specific geological region and to strategically measure data over those features.

“Field opportunities like this are invaluable for our students, giving them the chance to translate complex classroom concepts directly into real-world applications,” Buckhold says. “Simultaneously, this practical coursework directly advances crucial energy research and supports Wyoming’s broader economic and industry goals by developing real solutions right here in our state’s unique geologic basins.”

Dawn Wellman of Savannah River National Laboratory to Present at UW Oct. 7

Dawn Wellman, senior fellow for critical minerals and materials at Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), will speak at the University of Wyoming as part of the School of Energy Resources’ (SER) Distinguished Speaker Series Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Wellman will speak from noon-1 p.m. in the UW Energy Innovation Center’s Encana Auditorium. The free lunch presentation is open to all students, members of the campus community and the public.

Her talk is titled “Beyond Extraction: Understanding Critical Mineral Challenges for Resilient Supply Chains” and will offer an insider’s perspective on how cutting-edge research is turning into commercial reality.

In addition to her role at SRNL, Wellman is the science integration lead for the DOE’s Critical Materials Innovation Hub (CMI Hub) to break down the science, economics and real-world deployment of mineral extraction.

She previously managed strategic programs and partnerships for Copper R&D at Rio Tinto, where she directed the company’s North American critical mineral co-production strategy from copper and served on the CMI Industry Council. Her background includes over two decades at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, culminating in her role as director of the Earth Systems Science Division, as well as service as chief scientist for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Innovation and Development within environmental management.

“The School of Energy Resources has a robust history of meaningful partnerships with national laboratories, collaborating on high-impact projects that drive energy innovation,” says Christine Reed, SER director of outreach. “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Wellman from Savannah River National Laboratory. This marks the first time we’ve hosted a leader from SRNL as part of our Distinguished Speakers Series, and our critical minerals team, along with research partners across campus, are eager to connect and explore new opportunities for collaboration.”

A livestream of the lunchtime presentation can be viewed at https://uwyo.zoom.us/j/96992218550.

For more information, email Reed at christine.reed@uwyo.edu.

UW School of Energy Resources to Host Energy Roadshow in Gillette Nov. 4

The community is invited to explore the future of local energy innovation at an upcoming University of Wyoming Energy Roadshow public outreach event Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 5:30 p.m. at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette.

Organized to highlight the progress and next steps for the Wyoming Integrated Test Center (ITC) Enhancement Project, this interactive session will offer Campbell County residents an inside look at cutting-edge carbon capture research and energy projects taking place right in their backyard.

The event will kick off at 5:30 p.m. with a 30-minute presentation covering key updates on the ITC Enhancement Project and its role in strengthening Wyoming’s energy economy. Immediately following the presentation, attendees are invited to stay for a casual, interactive “Connect, Learn and Engage” open house session.

The capital improvement project focuses on expanding the capability and infrastructure of the Wyoming ITC, located adjacent to Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s Dry Fork Station. These enhancements will scale up testing capacities for advanced carbon capture, utilization and sequestration technologies, allowing larger-scale industrial technology demonstrations. Beyond emissions management, these capture technologies can provide captured carbon dioxide to support enhanced oil recovery initiatives and unlock stranded oil and gas resources across the region, creating new opportunities for economic growth and long-term energy leadership.

During the open house, community members can speak directly with representatives and project leaders from the Wyoming ITC while discovering other ongoing energy and infrastructure initiatives across Campbell County. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, share feedback and learn how these technological enhancements impact the local community and economy.

People who wish to submit questions in advance of the meeting or sign up to receive ongoing project updates and news can do so by visiting here. Presubmitting questions will help ensure top community interests and inquiries are addressed during the live presentation.

Admission is free and open to the public, and complimentary pizza and soft drinks will be provided for all attendees. A recording of the presentations will be made available at a later date for those unable to attend.

About the Wyoming Integrated Test Center

The Wyoming Integrated Test Center is a world-class test facility located at Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s Dry Fork Station near Gillette. Designed to provide space for researchers and technology developers to test carbon capture, utilization and sequestration technologies using actual coal-fired flue gas, the ITC serves as a global hub for advancing energy solutions and economic diversification in energy-producing regions.

UW Wind Energy Research Center and Airloom Energy Inc. Complete Space Force STTR Phase I Award

The University of Wyoming’s Wind Energy Research Center (WERC), along with Airloom Energy Inc., recently completed a U.S. Space Force Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project to evaluate the feasibility of a low-profile wind energy system tailored for deployment at Space Force installations.

Managed by SpaceWERX, the Space Force STTR program awards competitive grants to startups and small businesses developing technologies with commercial and defense applications that strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base.

The project, “Wing Energy for Resilient Basing and Assured Access to Space,” paired Airloom’s innovative wind turbine technology with WERC’s wind modeling expertise to address a fundamental technical gap in assessing wind energy potential at low altitudes.

Neal Rickner, Chief Executive Officer of Airloom Energy, served as the principal investigator with lead UW partner Michael Stoellinger, an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering and Co-director of WERC.

“Conventional wind turbines are often unsuitable for military bases due to their significant height, radar interference, and complex logistics,” says Rickner. “Airloom’s system replaces towered turbines with a track-mounted design that operates at approximately 25 meters above ground. The system is modular, transportable by standard trucks, and can be installed without heavy-lift equipment, making it uniquely compatible with the operational needs of defense installations.”

The UW side of the project focused on optimizing airflow mechanics and wind modeling.

“Providing reliable, independent power to military installations requires rethinking both turbine design and how we model wind resources,” says Stoellinger. “We were thrilled to partner with Airloom on this Space Force initiative. By combining their low-profile turbine technology with our high-fidelity wind modeling, we are developing the precise siting tools needed to rapidly deploy resilient, secure energy solutions for defense bases.”

Under the direction of Stoellinger and UW Professor Jonathan Naughton, WERC is a faculty-led Center of Excellence supported by the School of Energy Resources in collaboration with the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. It is dedicated to improving wind energy technology and its applications in Wyoming.

The Phase I objective was to produce a tool and siting methodology that enables the rapid evaluation of base-specific deployment feasibility, and to define a clear Phase II pathway for field demonstration.

For more information on WERC, visit https://www.uwyo.edu/ser/research/centers-of-excellence/wind-energy-research/index.html.

About Airloom Energy, Inc.

Headquartered in Laramie, Wyoming, Airloom Energy is transforming the renewable energy landscape with a low-cost, low-profile wind generation system. By utilizing vertical airfoils that travel along a modular, ground-based track, Airloom’s novel architecture dramatically cuts total mass, manufacturing complexity, and transportation overhead compared to traditional wind turbines. Backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Lowercarbon Capital, Airloom is unlocking low-cost, resilient clean power worldwide. Learn more at airloom.energy.

About SpaceWERX

As the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force and a division of AFWERX, SpaceWERX partners with small businesses, startups and nontraditional vendors to accelerate the development and transition of commercial space technologies to solve challenges facing Guardians. SpaceWERX strengthens the defense industrial base and delivers capabilities at speed and scale in a contested domain. Headquartered in Los Angeles, SpaceWERX identifies and transitions dual-use technologies across the commercial space ecosystem to meet operational needs. In partnership with Space Systems Command’s Commercial Space Office, SpaceWERX bridges innovation and acquisition to speed capability adoption. In fiscal year 2025, SpaceWERX awarded more than 300 contracts totaling $510 million. For more information, visit spacewerx.us.

About AFRL

The Air Force Research Laboratory is the Department of the Air Force’s primary scientific research and development center and one of six centers within Air Force Materiel Command. AFRL leads the discovery, development and delivery of technologies for air, space and the multidomain. With a workforce spanning seven mission areas at more than 40 locations worldwide, AFRL conducts research ranging from basic science to advanced technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.

UW Researchers Enhance Understanding of Hydrocarbon Phase Behavior in Mowry Shale Nanopores

Research recently conducted at the University of Wyoming’s Phase Behavior of Nanoconfined Fluids Lab provides new insight into how hydrocarbons behave when confined within shale nanopores. The work aims to improve understanding and prediction of fluid phase behavior in unconventional reservoirs.

The paper, titled “Phase Transition and Pore Criticality in a Natural Nanoporous Medium: Adsorption-Desorption and Calorimetry Experimentation and Equation-of-State Representation,” investigates the phase behavior of propane confined in Mowry Shale using adsorption-desorption measurements, differential scanning calorimetry and thermodynamic equation-of-state representation. The paper was published Sept. 23 in Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, a leading journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Funded under the competitive Mowry Shale proposal opportunity through the School of Energy Resources (SER), the study was written by Ephraim Kakra Owusu-Banahene, a Ph.D. candidate in UW’s Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, along with Morteza Dejam, an associate professor in UW’s Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, School of Computing and Hydrologic Science Interdisciplinary Program, and Hertanto Adidharma, a professor emeritus in UW’s Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.

“Shale formations contain extremely small pores, often only a few nanometers in size. Fluids confined within these pores behave differently from the same fluids in larger, unrestricted environments,” Owusu-Banahene says. “These confinement effects alter important properties, such as phase transition temperatures and pressures, making conventional descriptions of bulk fluid behavior potentially inadequate for fluids stored in unconventional reservoirs. While several works have looked at phase behavior and criticality in synthetic nanopores, transitioning findings to shale samples remained challenging for a variety of reasons.”

During its research, the team combined adsorption-desorption measurements, differential scanning calorimetry and thermodynamic modeling to investigate propane phase behavior in Mowry Shale. The two experimental methods showed closely agreeing capillary evaporation conditions, after which the three-line approach was used to determine the pore critical point.

Unlike results commonly reported for pure fluids in synthetic nanoporous materials, the pore critical point of propane in Mowry Shale exceeds the bulk critical conditions. The finding shows that natural shale can exhibit phase behavior that differs from idealized synthetic systems and highlights the importance of directly studying confined fluids in natural porous media.

“While the energy sector continues to diversify, oil and gas will remain an important part of Wyoming’s energy landscape for years to come, making it essential to improve our understanding of unconventional resources, such as Mowry Shale,” says Tim Fischer, oil and gas program manager in SER’s Center for Economic Geology Research, and lead of the Mowry Shale Project. “By studying how hydrocarbons behave within its nanoscale pore structure, this work can contribute to better characterization of the formation and, ultimately, to more informed approaches to evaluating and developing shale resources in Wyoming and beyond.”

The findings provide a foundation for further investigation of confined fluid behavior in shale and other natural nanoporous materials, where complex pore structures, mineralogy and surface properties may influence phase behavior.

To read the full paper, go to https://doi.org/10.1039/d6cp02502a.

UW SER 3D Visualization Center Launches Service Center, Adds Advanced Hyperspectral Facility

The 3D Visualization Center at the University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources (SER) has launched a dedicated service center, marking a major milestone in its expansion as a regional hub for spatial data, advanced image capture and software development.

^{James Amato, an associate research professional in UW’s School of Energy Resources, looks at a core sample under the mounted hyperspectral scanner in UW’s 3D Visualization Center.}

This new structure makes the center’s advanced technological capabilities broadly accessible to researchers across the university, external academic institutions and private industry partners.

Alongside this organizational transition, the center has completed construction of a state-of-the-art darkroom facility designed specifically for its mounted hyperspectral camera. The specialized environment enables year-round, high-resolution spectral scanning of geological core samples, eliminating the seasonal constraints of winter months and inclement weather.

“Formalizing the service center model represents a significant step forward in our mission to deliver decision-ready spatial data and advanced digital models,” says Kyle Summerfield, program manager of the 3D Visualization Center. “The completion of the darkroom allows hyperspectral data capture to continue outside of the field season and enables us to perform critical core and sample analysis in addition to airborne and tripod-mounted data acquisition. Our standardized service framework ensures that academic and industry partners alike can easily access our team’s specialized expertise.”

The center’s integrated service offerings cover the entire pipeline from physical data acquisition to interactive software deployment. The comprehensive suite of capabilities includes geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, software development and 3D modeling, alongside expert consulting and training. The center’s newly established hyperspectral remote sensing program introduces a new, cutting-edge technology that is gaining strong interest from private industry, particularly in the mining and energy sectors, positioning the center for new applied research and service opportunities.

The center also offers strategic consulting and hands-on training to help organizations design scale, and maintain their own GIS, remote sensing and immersive visualization programs.

“The specialized expertise and technological capabilities housed within the 3D Visualization Center are extraordinarily niche — we are one of only a handful of entities nationwide with this level of integrated spatial, imaging and software resources under one roof,” says SER Executive Director Pete Obermueller. “We are thrilled to launch this service center structure, enabling us to advance innovation across the University of Wyoming and sister academic institutions, while offering crucial capabilities to industry partners to reduce uncertainty and risk in mineral exploration and extraction.”

To ensure broad access, the center has instituted a tiered rate structure serving three distinct client groups that is available on the website. Organizations interested in partnering with the center, exploring rates or scoping research projects can contact the SER 3D Visualization Center directly at uw3dviz.com.

UW SER Receives New Excellence Fund to Support Hands-On Learning and Student Innovation

The University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources (SER) is the recipient of a key gift from Dave and Mary Crum to directly support transformative educational opportunities, workforce preparation, and practical research initiatives for energy students.

The newly established Dave and Mary Crum Excellence Fund in the School of Energy Resources is designed to foster academic and professional excellence by providing financial support for high-impact student experiences.

The charitable contribution will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the state of Wyoming to double the gift’s reach and institutional impact.

“Gifts of this nature are crucial in bridging classroom instruction with real-world industry application,” said SER Executive Director Pete Obermueller. “By providing targeted support for hands-on projects, internships, and professional conferences, Dave and Mary are directly empowering our students to acquire the skills, connections, and leadership experience required to excel in Wyoming’s evolving energy economy.”

Key opportunities supported by the fund include experiential learning initiatives, industry internships, conference participation, professional development programs, and seed funding for student-led, industry-aligned projects.

To maximize the impact on Wyoming’s workforce demands, preference for awards will be given to students pursuing degrees in electrical engineering and construction management.

“Both our academic and research programs at SER are built on deep interdisciplinary collaboration,” added SER Senior Director of Research Scott Quillinan. “Dave and Mary’s support will give students more opportunities to work across disciplines and to connect their education to applied research and to tackle real-world challenges facing Wyoming’s energy industries.

Both Dave and Mary are proud UW alumni who have championed education, engineering, and student opportunities across the state for decades. Dave was honored in 1999 as a UW Distinguished Alumnus.

In 1976, Dave and Mary founded Crum Electric Supply in Casper, growing it under his leadership into a premier regional electrical distributor spanning Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, and Utah, serving energy and industrial sectors throughout the Rocky Mountains. A prominent leader in the electrical wholesaling industry, he served as chairman of the National Association of Electrical Distributors and co-founded the Industry Data Exchange Association to modernize digital supply chain operations. Beyond his business achievements, he has remained deeply committed to Wyoming’s growth, serving as founding co-chair of the Wyoming Business Council along with Gov. Jim Geringer and as a member of the University of Wyoming Foundation Board.

Power Grid Operations Expert to Speak at UW in Joint Seminar

Bob Frost, a retired power grid operations expert, will speak at UW as part of the School of Energy Resources’ (SER) Distinguished Speaker Series on Wednesday, September 16.

Hosted jointly with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Frost will speak from noon-1 p.m. in the UW Energy Innovation Center’s Encana Auditorium. The free lunch presentation is open to all students, members of the campus community, and the public.

Frost spent 34 years at Portland General Electric, where he focused on reliable, compliant electric power grid operations. He started his career as a Nuclear Generation Plant Operator and retired as Manager of Grid Engineering and Compliance in 2023.

Throughout his career, he built expertise in generation, balancing authority operations, grid operations training, regulatory compliance, transmission operations engineering, transmission scheduling, collaboration through regional committee representation, and participation in the California Energy Imbalance Market.

His presentation will provide an overview of grid operations.

“We are pleased to have Bob here to talk about grid operations in a joint seminar with our electrical engineering and computer science colleagues,” says SER Director of Outreach Christine Reed. “So much of our focus is placed on resource extraction and development, making this a wonderful opportunity to explore the engineering side of the equation: how raw energy is harnessed, converted, and ultimately brought to consumers.”

A livestream of the presentation can be viewed at https://uwyo.zoom.us/j/98159789624.

For more information, email Reed at christine.reed@uwyo.edu.

UW Works with Wyoming DEQ-AML, UR Energy on Soil Reclamation Project Using Coal Char

The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Abandoned Mine Lands Division (WDEQ-AML), UR Energy USA and the University of Wyoming have formed a collaborative five-year research partnership to advance soil health and mine reclamation technologies. The project evaluates innovative soil amendments, including state-produced coal char, to accelerate the restoration of disturbed lands to productive native rangelands across Wyoming.

By partnering directly with UW, WDEQ-AML and industry are creating a real-world research environment to evaluate nascent reclamation practices and generate the scientific data needed to move promising applications toward commercial adoption.

“This collaboration serves as a force multiplier for our state,” says Josh Oakleaf, AML project manager and vegetation coordinator. “By combining cutting-edge research, state reclamation expertise and industry experience, we are validating Wyoming coal char technologies and bridging our energy legacy with sustainable land stewardship.”

The five-year initiative is structured across two distinct implementation phases. Phase I will encompass the first three years of the project, focusing on baseline testing, site setup on field plots, and initial application of coal char and other soil amendments to improve soil quality and enhance ecosystem recovery near the Little Medicine Bow River. Phase II covers the subsequent two years, shifting the focus toward a multiyear evaluation of soil health recovery, vegetation establishment, specialized microbial analysis and transferring proven technologies to active industry sites.

This effort brings together exemplary scientific research from the UW School of Energy Resources (SER) and the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources. The research teams will be led by principal investigator Jennifer Bell, an SER assistant professor of soil science and reclamation in the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources; and co-principal investigator Resham Thapa, an associate research professional in SER’s Center for Carbon Capture and Conversion. Their expertise will be focused on microbial ecology, reclamation and coal char as one of the soil amendments being investigated.

UW Professor Emeritus Pete Stahl, former director of the Wyoming Reclamation and Restoration Center, will provide guidance on semi-arid ecosystem recovery.

“Transforming Wyoming’s coal into high-value soil amendments allows us to turn local resources into practical environmental solutions,” Thapa says. “This research directly addresses land restoration challenges by stabilizing soil chemistry and giving native plant species the foundation they need to thrive.”

“Restoring these ecosystems requires looking beneath the surface at the living soil network and rebuilding the soil,” Bell adds. “By analyzing soil microbial communities and soil nutrients, we can track long-term biological recovery and ensure these restored rangelands remain resilient for decades to come.”

On the ground, field operations drawing on local industry experience will inform reclamation strategies. As part of its acquisition of Pathfinder, UR Energy owns the Shirley Basin and Lucky Mc mine sites in Wyoming’s Shirley Basin and Gas Hills mining districts. Pathfinder and its predecessors historically produced millions of pounds of uranium from these properties, primarily between the 1960s and 1990s, before conventional operations were suspended due to low market pricing. Research findings from this collaboration will directly inform active reclamation efforts across UR Energy’s Shirley Basin and Great Divide Basin project sites.

“Partnering with WDEQ-AML and the University of Wyoming gives us an extraordinary opportunity to apply state-of-the-art soil science directly to our operations,” says Ryan Schierman, vice president of regulatory affairs at UR Energy. “By combining historical industry context with innovative reclamation techniques, we can enhance land stewardship across the Shirley Basin and the Great Divide Basin while supporting sustainable solutions for Wyoming’s mining heritage.”

Additionally, the initiative supports workforce development by funding a dedicated Ph.D. candidate and multiple undergraduate students, creating a direct talent pipeline for future Wyoming reclamation professionals.

As part of the initiative, UW SER will provide Wyoming coal char produced through its ongoing coal-conversion research for field-scale evaluation as a soil amendment. Testing and research efforts are slated to begin immediately.

UW SER’s Rachel Ferrell Selected for Inaugural Leadership Wyoming Masterminds Coaching Program

Rachel Ferrell, director of business operations at the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources (SER), was selected to participate in the inaugural cohort of the Leadership Wyoming Masterminds Coaching Groups program.

Launched to foster executive growth and collaborative problem-solving across the state, the Masterminds program connects established leaders from diverse industries throughout Wyoming. Participants engage in peer-led coaching, strategic dynamic discussions, and professional development designed to elevate leadership capacity and drive impactful solutions for the state’s key institutions.

In her role at SER, Ferrell oversees financial operations exceeding $100 million and leads a team of six dedicated accounting and finance professionals, playing a critical part in supporting the school’s mission to advance energy-driven economic development and innovation in Wyoming. Her selection to the competitive Masterminds program highlights her commitment to continuous management development and strategic excellence.

“The University of Wyoming and SER have enjoyed a long partnership with Leadership Wyoming, the state’s premier leadership, and professional development organization,” says SER Executive Director Pete Obermueller. “It’s a partnership that continues with Rachel’s much-deserved acceptance into their newest program, Masterminds. Rachel’s participation is a testament to her dedication to leadership and desire to grow personally and professionally. We are thrilled to see her represent SER in this exciting new program.”

The Leadership Wyoming Masterminds program builds on the foundation laid by the organization’s flagship program, offering an intentional space for its alumni to collaborate with non-alumni and top executives in true peer coaching, while investing in their own and other Wyoming leaders’ professional growth.

“I’m honored to be part of the inaugural Masterminds group and to have the opportunity to learn with leaders from across Wyoming,” says Ferrell. “I’m especially looking forward to the peer coaching aspect of the program. There is a lot to learn from people who lead in very different industries and environments, and I expect the conversations will challenge me to look at things differently. My goal is to take those perspectives back to SER and continue to grow as a leader.”