Tuesday - November 17, 2009 - In the Labs of NETL
Student Argonaut Emily Judah

After being awakened by some cold showers, the Argos headed down to a delightful breakfast in Morgantown, WV. We then packed into our vans and headed down to the National Energy Technology Lab (NETL). We started with what they call Extreme Drilling. We were met by Bill and Jamie, who head up NETL's Drilling Fluid Lab. I was extremely excited to see some of the equipment that they use to research the only drill in the world that goes down 30,000 feet and reaches temperatures well past 500 degrees Fahrenheit. I loved it when Bill said that "we are studying the economics of drilling, because they want to drill deeper, quicker, faster and better."

I was fascinated by an example he showed us. He really motivated me by saying that all a geologist needs in the field is a razor, a magnifying glass, and water. With these three objects, you can find out an amazing amount of information. For instance, you can determine whether a rock is metamorphic, sedimentary, or igneous; the types of grains the rock is made of; and how dense or compact it is.

Argos Emily and Cindy experimenting with the properties of different rocks with Bill and Jamie.

By dropping water and acid on a few core samples, you can quickly tell a lot about the rock's characteristics.

After our drilling experience, we met up with Grant Bromhal. He showed us some awesome examples of the pores in coal and shale and how they impact the behavior of gas that passes through them. This is a critical part of Dr. Guthrie's research, because it helps determine what the best rocks would be to capture some of the carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere while producing electricity.

He started by pouring water onto a sponge with large open pores. Immediately, the water was absorbed into the sponge. He then poured water onto an extremely dense sponge, and the water pooled on top. This was an interesting corollary that illustrated how CO2 moves through rocks, depending upon their density or porosity.

He then showed us one of the ways they illustrate this type of behavior: by pumping a blue dye into a ‘micromodel’ of rock cores. The model is used to help record and monitor the movement of fluid throughout the cores.

We then got to take an exciting look at some of the other high tech tools they are using at NETL. Dustin showed us how they have enhanced the same CT scanners that they use on humans to look inside rocks. We scanned samples of a golf ball, a baseball, and core of coal. We had to leave the room to watch from a safe distance. Right before our eyes, images of the core samples appeared on the screen. It was a completely different perspective compared to what you can see with your own eyes. The golf ball was dense, while the coal was filled with fractures that can act as air passageways. The baseball was unique from both of them -- it was dense in the middle and full of air passageways throughout the windings nearer the surface.

Injecting dye into micromodels of rock cores to illustrate how gas could behave as it passes through.

Emily and Dr. Guthrie reviewing their fieldwork.

We grabbed some pizza for lunch, and headed back to learn about some of the other research NETL is doing from Kelly Rose. Kelly is investigating some of the possibilities of using methane gas as an energy source. While a lot more research needs to be done before we could use it, there is enough methane in the earth right now that if we could harness only 1% of it, it could supply our world with energy for 80 years!

We said our goodbyes to the inspiring Dr. Guthrie. He was so good at explaining complex ideas to us -- I really feel like I have a much better understanding of a number of complicated issues in geology. I really enjoyed walking the mine with him, and seeing all that he studies up close and hands on. He encouraged us to continue on in our science studies and share our knowledge back home with others. Overall, it was really incredible opportunity to get to work with such an amazing scientist. I just can’t get over how much he knows. My head is full!

After we left NETL, we headed out on a brief but extremely fun non-geological adventure. At West Virginia University, they have designed some type of personal transportation system that we called the Egg! We jumped on to take a brief tour of the campus. We acted like we were on a monstrous roller coaster, hands in the air, reaching top speeds of 10mph. It may not sound like much, but the Argos agreed that it was more fun than putt-putt or bowling. We were definitely labeled tourists by the college kids!

Many people have asked what my favorite JASON experience is. That is a really hard question to answer, but I can tell you that the people I have met make the experience of learning science an inspiring, amazing journey that I will remember and cherish forever.

Howdy from West Virginia,

Argo Emily

Examining different drill bits at NETL. Some drills are tipped with diamonds to help bore through some of the hardest rocks deep beneath the surface of the Earth.

Inspecting core samples taken from deep beneath the surface of the Earth.