Biology

Three geoscience graduate students from WKU’s Department of Geography and Geology gave presentations on June 19 related to their thesis research under the direction of Dr. Michael May, Professor of Geology.

The students made their presentations in Covington, where at least 200 oil and gas professionals convened for the 77th annual meeting of the Kentucky Oil & Gas Association (KOGA).

• Kort Butler of Portage, Wis., presented Evidence for Diagenetic Compartmentalization of the Big Clifty Sandstone Reservoir in Warren and Butler Counties, Kentucky.
• Jeremy London of Bowling Green presented Geologic Factors Controlling Hydrocarbon Accumulation in Sub-Pennsylvanian Paleovalleys in the Illinois Basin.
• Andrew Reeder of Bowling Green presented Three Dimensional Subsurface Visualization of the New Albany Shale and Corniferous Production: A Joint ArcGIS and Petra Software Study.

The WKU students were invited to present at the conference as an effort to encourage outreach and communication between active oil and gas industry personnel and students at the Commonwealth’s universities. The next KOGA meeting is scheduled for Sept. 12 in Bowling Green, where WKU will again play a vital role in technical presentations.

“This meeting was great for our graduate students to participate in because they were able to network with companies doing business in Kentucky,” Dr. May said. “We are becoming better known as a petroleum-based geology program, which surprised but also delighted many of the company leaders attending the conference.”

Dr. David Keeling, Geography and Geology Department Head, noted: “Dr. May’s leadership in developing resources and curricula redesign to meet the growing needs of the oil and gas industry has been impressive. With a state-of-the-art software lab and growing research opportunities in the ‘oil patch,’ the department and WKU are developing a strong reputation for excellence in geologic research, training and student placement.”

Contact: Dr. Michael May, (270) 745-6891.