TCU Shale Core Facility Mission
To provide a professional partnership between students, faculty, and leaders in the energy industry through cooperation, mentorship, research, and education.
About Us
The TCU Shale Core Facility (or “Core Lab”) began as an idea from our TCU Energy Institute’s Advisory Board and various faculty. In 2008, plans came together to have a facility to store Barnett Shale core. EOG Resources and Matador Resources were the first to deposit pallets of core. In 2010, a generous donation from Pioneer Natural Resources provided offices and a climate-controlled viewing area. Over the next five years, the 9,000 square foot facility became home to thousands of feet of core from all over the region. Today, we have a new 15,000 square foot location with additional storage, viewing and classroom space. The Core Lab, as it is widely known, is open for private viewings, tours, and research on the geology, sedimentology, petrophysics and geochemistry of core samples.
Carl Kurtz, Core Lab Technician
Carl has worked for General Motors, local law enforcement, is a former member of the Marine Corps, and is a recent graduate of TCU. He began working at the Core Lab while still a student, as he obtained his degree in Geology in 2014.
Dr. Ken Morgan, Director, TCU Energy Institute
Dr. Ken Morgan has degrees in geology, environmental engineering, and resource management. In 2008, he founded the TCU Energy Institute, and established an advisory board with 24 energy companies. He oversees the TCU Shale Core Facility, while chairing the Texas Metroplex Natural Gas Vehicle Consortium of 100+ companies and directing the TCU Energy Institute. Dr. Morgan has hosted dozens of countries here at TCU and has lectured extensively on resource mapping, energy technology, and emerging natural gas markets throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Core Lab News
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Questions?
Contact: Carl Kurtz, Core Lab Technician, 682-321-3964 or c.r.kurtz@tcu.edu