UW Announces $2.5 Million Donation to Support Oil Recovery Research

The University of Wyoming and Governor Matt Mead announced Tuesday, April 4 that Alchemy Sciences Inc. donated $2.5 million in funding to support oil recovery and production research.

Michael Pishko, college of engineering and applied science dean, said the donation will also help establish a UW petroleum engineering faculty chair, allowing the department to recruit and retain the best faculty in that area.

Pishko said some of the work done by the Center of Innovation for Flow in Porous Media, headed by UW Associate Professor of Petroleum Engineering Dr. Mohammad Piri, is what drew the interest of Alchemy Sciences Inc.

“Their work in the area of enhanced oil recovery from what are called ‘unconventional reservoirs’ is some of the most cutting edge in the world and has the potential to make a real difference in the amount of oil and gas we can recover from shale formations,” Pishko said.

This donation is tied directly to the university’s Tier-1 Engineering Initiative, whose goals include elevating UW’s College of Engineering and Applied Science to national prominence in undergraduate and graduate education and research and to significantly fuel economic development in Wyoming, according to a UW news release.

The announcement was made in Cheyenne in the Kendrick Gallery. Speakers included Governor Mead, UW President Laurie Nichols and Alchemy Sciences Inc. CEO Jacob Thomas. Dr. Piri was also present.