July 7, 2005

The Utah Geological Survey, for the second year, is soliciting geologic research proposals to help improve the characterization of Utah’s hydrocarbon reservoirs primarily at the play level, but also at the field, basin, or province scale.

The objective of the geologic research is to fulfill one or more of the following: (1) improve the state’s assessment of its hydrocarbon reserves and future hydrocarbon resource potential, (2) identify reservoir features, untapped compartments, or recovery techniques to encourage more effective exploitation of proven reserves, and (3) improve the understanding of the play’s depositional history, trapping mechanism, source rocks, and generation/migration of hydrocarbons to encourage exploration for new or untapped hydrocarbon reserves.

The proposal must represent original work that has not been published before. The research and all deliverables will become public domain and cannot be proprietary or copyrighted material.

The proposed geologic research can include but is not limited to: (1) resource assessment of one or more plays that builds on the work of the Utah Geological Survey, U.S. Geological Survey, and/or U.S. Department of Energy, (2) reservoir characterization and geologic modeling of a type field, region or play, (3) stratigraphic studies of hydrocarbon reservoirs including surface to subsurface correlations, (4) petrophysical studies of reservoir rock, (5) geochemical studies including source rock analysis, (6) basin modeling and analysis, (7) characterization or geologic modeling of unconventional hydrocarbon resources such as tar sands and oil shale, and (8) studies that build on work from the previous (FY 2005) research grants by the original grantees or others. Also, smaller, low-cost proposals that may involve compiling extensive previous work into usable databases will be considered.

The proposal needs to describe the: (1) planned research, (2) approach, (3) benefit to the State under one or more of the three targets outlined in the first paragraph, (4) deliverables (products), (5) time schedule for deliverables, and (6) a milestone schedule that can be used for tracking progress of the work.

Deliverables should include maps, cross sections, final interpretative report and databases, all in paper and electronic form (specify format), to fully support the research. Databases should contain well and sample locations, formation tops and thickness, porosity and permeability data, source rock chemistry, and any other data relevant to the proposed research. The databases and research, in general, should represent something that can be updated and built on in the future.

The deadline for submission of proposals is September 1, 2005.
All questions must be submitted via e-mail to Craig Morgan at: craigmorgan@utah.gov.

Answers will be given via an addendum posted on the solicitation website.
Questions submitted after August 26, 2005 may not be answered.