UND hosts Applied Geoscience Conference Nov. 18

UND students in the Harold Hamm School of Geology & Geological Engineering will host an Applied Geoscience Conference Wednesday, Nov. 18, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Central Time, via Zoom. It will be hosted by Stephan Nordeng, associate professor of geology & geological engineering. 

The virtual conference is aimed at students in science and energy-related fields. It will showcase student research and feature talks from academia and industry professionals.

It is a collaborative effort between the Harold Hamm School of Geology & Geological Engineering and student organizations in petroleum engineering and geology & geological engineering. The School is part of the UND College of Engineering & Mines.

The conference includes sessions on geophysical methods, drilling risk management and implementation, geomechanics research, careers, rock physics modeling, geothermal energy, subsurface data analytics, and rig integration methods. The final session will be a one-minute thesis competition for graduate students.

Stephan Nording, associate professor of geology & geological engineering, will give opening and closing remarks. Petroleum Engineering student Mason Brisben will serve as moderator.

The schedule follows.

• 11 a.m.: Opening remarks
• 11:05 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.: Geophysical Methods by Blair Schneider, associate researcher and science outreach manager, Kansas Geological Survey
• 11:30 – 11:55 a.m.: Drilling Risk Management and Implementation by Joey Husband, vice president of Nabors Global Drilling
• 11:55 a.m. – 12:20 p.m, ARMA and the Possibilities of Research in Geomechanics for Undergraduate and Graduate Students by Joe Morris, ARMA president and program leader for nuclear effects and fossil energy solutions at Lawrence Livermore National Lab
• 12:20-12:45 a.m.: Importance of Educational and Career Versatility, and Strategies for Staying Relevant in a Rapidly Evolving World by Maitri Erwin, principal program manager, Microsoft Azure for Energy
• 12:45 – 1 p.m.: Break and Games
• 1 – 1:25 p.m.: Rock Physics Modeling by Manika Prasad, professor, Colorado School of Mines
• 1:25-1:50 p.m.: Geothermal Energy: From Field Work to Outreach by Kelly Blake, division director for the Navy Geothermal Program Office
• 1:50 – 2:15: Subsurface Data Analytics and Machine Learning by Michael J. Pyrcz, associate professor, University of Texas at Austin
• 2:25 – 2:40 p.m.: MPD Rig Integration Methods by Jon Goodenough, MPD rig integration manager, Managed Product Resources
• 2:40 – 2:55: One-Minute Thesis Competition
• 2:55 – 2:58 p.m.: Closing remarks and thank yous
• 2:58 – 3 p.m.: Grading and award for One-Minute Thesis Competition

Register for the conference here.

For more information, please contact Chioma Onwumelu, geoscience research assistant, Harold Hamm School of Geology & Geological Engineering, chioma.onwumelu@und.edu.