OU lands $6 million to test critical mineral recovery from oil and gas wells
The three-year Shale 2.0 project could put Oklahoma’s existing energy infrastructure to work supplying materials for technology, manufacturing, and defense.
NORMAN (OBV) — The University of Oklahoma received a $6 million National Science Foundation award to develop technology that could recover critical minerals from existing oil and gas wells.
The project, called Shale 2.0, will explore extracting nickel, titanium, manganese, vanadium, and rare earth elements from shale formations without drilling new wells or mining rock at the surface.
Those materials are important to industries including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, energy, and defense. If successful, the approach could strengthen domestic supplies while creating additional economic opportunities for Oklahoma’s energy industry.
“This is a public-private partnership by design,” said Matt Hulver, OU vice president for research and partnerships and the project’s principal investigator.
OU said university, state, and industry partners will provide dollar-for-dollar matching funds. Partners include Mewbourne Oil Company, Continental Resources, Smoketree Resources, and the Hamm Institute for American Energy.
Researchers will develop fluids to extract minerals underground and technologies to separate them at the surface. Oklahoma’s extensive geological data and mature wells in the Anadarko Basin provide a foundation for testing the approach.
The project began Oct. 1 and is expected to conclude Sept. 30, 2029. Planned outcomes include a validated technology platform, a commercialization roadmap, and a workforce development plan involving Oklahoma State University, CareerTech, community colleges, and industry partners.
