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History and Establishment

TORP was established in 1974 by the State of Kansas to introduce Kansas oil and gas producers to the technical and economic potential of enhanced oil recovery methods.

Vision and Objectives

TORP's primary vision is to evaluate and maximize the potential of oil recovery processes in Kansas. This includes both tertiary oil recovery methods and more conventional technologies such as waterflooding. The program aims to investigate and develop new processes, refine existing ones, and disseminate information on these technologies to the Kansas oil industry.

Key Focus Areas

Outreach and Technology Transfer

TORP engages in regular meetings with Kansas and regional operators to identify their needs. The program conducts workshops and training courses in cooperation with the oil and gas community, providing multi-disciplinary solutions to industry service and development needs.

Internal and External Services

TORP offers a range of services, including:

• Core lab services
• Lab support
• Technical services
• Field services These services are designed to support regional operators and include laboratory experiments and field tests to demonstrate the feasibility of new technologies.

Collaborative Research

TORP participates in collaborative research by having technical members act as principal investigators (PIs) and co-PIs on proposals to secure funding. The program collaborates with various research groups and associates to advance oil recovery technologies.

Research and Development

TORP conducts research and development in several areas, including:

• Tertiary oil recovery processes
• Waterflooding
• Reservoir engineering and geology for characterizing Kansas oil reservoirs
• Emerging subsurface energy ventures such as natural hydrogen, Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS), Enhanced Geothermal Systems, and Critical Minerals.

Educational and Training Programs

The program educates students and operators in the technology of tertiary oil recovery and efficient reservoir management. TORP also partners with other organizations, such as the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council (PTTC), to offer workshops and training courses. For example, they have hosted workshops on CCS/CCUS and the status of conventional and unconventional Improved Oil Recovery (IOR) processes.

Infrastructure and Facilities

TORP has developed a research facility at the University of Kansas equipped to handle laboratory experiments related to oil recovery. The program also collaborates with oil and gas producers to implement field tests and demonstration projects.

Oversight and Advisory Board

The project is overseen by an advisory board that includes representatives from the Kansas Oil and Gas Industry, service companies, the Department of Geology, and major oil and gas companies. This board provides feedback and suggestions on research, field demonstration projects, and technology transfer needs of the industry.

Recent Activities

Recent activities include hosting workshops such as "CCS/CCUS and the Energy Industry" and "Status of Conventional and Unconventional IOR Processes in the Post-COVID, Energy Transition Era." TORP has also unveiled lab and field services and advertised them during the 2021 Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (URTeC).

By combining research, education, and industry collaboration, TORP plays a crucial role in advancing oil and gas recovery technologies in Kansas and contributing to the broader energy sector.