The logo for the SDL.

Subsurface Dynamics Laboratory

The Subsurface Dynamics Laboratory focuses on subsurface resource definition and assessment, especially where dynamic simulation is part of the evaluation. This small group of highly experienced professionals represents 42 years of oil and gas industry experience, 37 years of national lab experience, and 5 years of academic research and teaching experience. The SDL develops technical products that inform economic decisions related to exploring, developing, and producing subsurface resources in Kansas. Our work is funded through state, federal, and private partnerships.

Statewide Arbuckle and Crystalline Basement Faulted Framework Mapping

This work supports natural hydrogen and carbon capture and storage project evaluation across the state and is supported by the State of Kansas, the US Geological Survey, and the Department of Energy.

Image shows a 3-D computer generated model of the Arbuckle Zone across Kansas,

Hydrogen and Helium Reactive Transport Simulation

Fundamental research application that supports gas development in the state and across the globe. A first-of-its-kind reactive transport simulator (STOMP-H2) is under development at the KGS. This work is supported by the State of Kansas and The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources.

Image shows an example of the the reactive transport simulations.

Geophysical Evaluation and Interpretation of Kansas Seismic Data

This work focuses on evaluating several 3-D reflection seismic surveys obtained by the KGS as part of multiple US DOE grants. The current evaluation is utilizing OpendTect software (https://dgbes.com/software/opendtect)--a free open-source seismic interpretation for visualizing, analyzing and interpreting 2-D, 3-D and 4-D seismic data. The current work is supported by the State of Kansas.

Image shows computer-generated visualization of seismic data.

Critical Mineral Resource Assessment

Raw material resource assessment for critical mineral resources in Kansas. Critical Mineral research is focused on quantifying and building predictive and testable models of subsurface critical mineral resources in Kansas. This work is funded by multiple US Geological Survey Earth MRI grants, the US Department of Energy, and an NSF Engine grant (awarded to the University of Missouri-Kansas City).

Image shows an example of the data from critical mineral sample evaluations.

Conferences 

  • Bhattacharjee, S., Bream, B. R., Gumble, J., White, M., 2025, Basin scale screening methodology for carbon sequestration: Insights from statewide modeling of the Arbuckle Group of rocks in Kansas (at SEPM Energy Transitions Conference 2025).
  • Bream, B. R., Bhattacharjee, S., White, M., and Gumble, J., 2025, Preliminary screening approach to support carbon sequestration efforts in Kansas (pdf) (at CCUS 2025). 
  • Bream, B. R., Bhattacharjee, S., White, M., Gumble, J., and Newell, D. l., 2025, Regional static modeling in Kansas and Nebraska to support the development of a new natural hydrogen numerical simulator (at Geological Society of London: Energy Group: Natural Hydrogen Understanding the Geoscience 2025).
  • White, M. and Bream, B. R., 2025, Numerical simulation of stimulated hydrogen generation at varying serpentinization rates: Impacts and benefits of code comparisons (at Geological Society of London: Energy Group: Natural Hydrogen Understanding the Geoscience 2025).
  • White, M., White, J., Haagenson, R., Camargo, J., and Bream, B. R., 2025, Code comparison study for modeling geologic hydrogen (at RMAG - 2025 North American Helium and Hydrogen conference).
  • Andrzejewski, K., Bhattacharjee, S., Peterson, A., and Bream, B. R., 2024, The Precambrian Basement Rocks of Kansas (at GSA Annual Conference 2024) .
  • Bhattacharjee, S.,  Andrzejewski, K., Peterson, A., and Bream, B. R., 2024, The Precambrian Basement Rocks of Kansas (at DMT 2024).
  • Bhattacharjee, S., Andrzejewski, K., and Peterson, A., 2024, An Integrated Approach to Subsurface Mapping at the Kansas Geological Survey (pdf), (at DMT 2024).
  • Bhattacharjee, S. and Bream, B. R., 2024, An Integrated Screening Approach to Support Carbon Sequestration Efforts in Kansas: 3D Faulted Framework Model of the Arbuckle Group & Precambrian Basement (at GSA Annual Conference 2024).
  • Bream, B. R., 2024, CUSP State of the States - Kansas (at Carbon Utilization and Storage Partnership of the Western US Annual Meeting 2024).
  • Bream, B. R., and Gumble, J., 2024, Current subsurface evaluation efforts at the Kansas Geological Survey (at KU TORP annual meeting 2024 – Tertiary Oil Recovery Project).
  • Bream, B. R., Gumble, J., and White, M., 2024, Subsurface CCS evaluation for a KS midstream operator (at CUSP-West Annual meeting 2024 – Carbon Utilization and Storage Partnership).
  • Bream, B. R., and Oborny, S., 2024, Critical Minerals in coaly strata of the Cherokee-Forest City Basin (FE0032056) (at 2024 NETL Resource Sustainability Project Review Meeting).