New UW Publication Supports Subsurface Characterization and Resource Evaluation in Sweetwater County

Researchers at the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources (SER) have published a data article supporting subsurface characterization and resource evaluation for carbon storage projects, conventional oil and gas activities, and geothermal energy.

The “Data in Brief” publication details comprehensive drill-stem test (DST) data from key geological formations in Sweetwater County, a region with high potential for carbon dioxide sequestration.

Part of the Class VI Database project, the data compilation is a result of efforts led by Abdeldjalil Latrach, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering and graduate research assistant in SER’s Center for Economic Geology Research (CEGR). Latrach developed a workflow for extracting and analyzing legacy DST reports, making them accessible to the scientific community for various applications.

“This project aims to build a comprehensive and reliable subsurface dataset for Sweetwater County by integrating data from various sources,” Latrach says.

Co-authors include Lily Jackson, an associate research professional in CEGR and principal investigator on the Class VI project, and Christian Martinez, a recent UW finance graduate and CEGR research assistant.

The team is contributing to the creation of a data-verified Class VI geologic database that will be used to accelerate Wyoming’s carbon management initiatives in collaboration with the Wyoming State Geological Survey and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. Once completed, the repository will serve as a vital resource for developers and regulatory agencies within the state.

“Digitizing legacy pressure data was time-consuming but valuable,” Martinez says. “This dataset improves our understanding of subsurface pressure conditions and lays a foundation for researchers, industry professionals and regulators to enhance site characterization, optimize well design, streamline permitting processes and attract investment to Wyoming.”

The publicly available dataset enhances transparency in energy development projects in the state and fosters collaboration among researchers and stakeholders by providing a common, accessible resource for analysis and innovation.

“Streamlining access to centralized and verified reservoir properties datasets is crucial for accurate geological models, reducing uncertainty and accelerating responsible technology deployment in Wyoming,” Jackson says. “Abdeldjalil and Christian have done exceptional work synthesizing and analyzing complex data.”

The Data in Brief can be accessed at www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352340925004287?via%3Dihub.