Published August 22, 2024
By Christine Reed
Eugene Holubnyak, in the University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources (SER), has been recognized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) as a 2024 recipient of a regional award for his technical expertise and exceptional contributions to programs focused on hydrogen transportation and storage.
SPE honors members among 13 regions worldwide who have contributed outstanding service and leadership to the society, as well as those who have made major professional contributions to their technical disciplines at the regional level.
Nominated by peers among the SPE organization, Holubnyak was named the recipient of an SPE Projects, Facilities and Construction Award for the Rocky Mountain North America Region and is listed among other awardees here. He will be formally recognized at an SPE dinner and ceremony later this year.
“I have been very active in this organization for years and am continually impressed by the opportunities created to share information among the profession,” says Holubnyak, director of UW’s Hydrogen Energy Research Center (H2ERC). “This is my first official recognition from SPE, and I am humbled and honored to receive this award.”
Holubnyak leads applied research and collaborates with Wyoming stakeholders to support the development of a hydrogen industry focused on serving the state’s existing energy customers and growing new markets.
Before joining SER in 2022, Holubnyak established himself as an expert in subsurface geological storage, with 14 years of experience in applied geoscience and energy-related research. He has been instrumental in building the new Center of Excellence in SER devoted to the emergent area of research and development along all aspects of the hydrogen supply chain, including production, transport, storage and use.
Through his leadership, the program has expanded and built capacity among faculty members and researchers at UW — resulting in several publications among prominent journals — and has grown a project portfolio to include research areas in natural geologic hydrogen and hydrogen production projects using blue hydrogen, stranded wind and integrated steam methane reforming.
Initially funded with support from the state of Wyoming, H2ERC also has garnered the support of multiple private entities — including Williams, the Anschutz Corp. and Tallgrass Energy — and has earned competitive funding to advance research from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy and the Wyoming Innovation Partnership.
“Eugene has done a tremendous job building the Hydrogen Energy Research Center and transforming it into a self-sustaining research entity,” says Scott Quillinan, SER senior director of research. “We are so proud to see him recognized by SPE on this well-deserved honor.”
About the Society of Petroleum Engineers
SPE is a not-for-profit professional association with 127,000 members in 145 countries engaged in the exploration and production of oil and gas and related energy resources. SPE is a key technical and professional resource providing opportunities to exchange information at in-person and online events and through training, publications and member programs.
