Kansas Geological Survey to expand drill core storage, analysis capabilities

LAWRENCE — Construction will begin next month on a 5,500-square-foot addition to the Kansas Geological Survey Drill Core Library in the West District of the University of Kansas Lawrence campus. The new building will almost triple the amount of storage space for the extensive collection of core — rock samples collected when drilling a well — maintained by KGS, and it will more than double the laboratory space scientists and engineers use to analyze these materials.

“Scientists of the Kansas Geological Survey, universities throughout the state and experts from a range of industries use the KGS core storage and analysis facilities on a daily basis,” said Jay Kalbas, KGS director and state geologist. “This core library and lab extension will fundamentally change the way we work. It will allow us to access, process and study materials far more efficiently than ever before and house highly specialized core analysis equipment in one central location.”

The addition will be named the Watney Extension, in honor of the late Lynn Watney, a longtime KGS senior scientist who conducted energy research throughout the state and who was responsible for establishing the core repository. Groundbreaking is scheduled for the week of Jan. 8.

Core comprises a cylinder of rock usually 2 inches to 4 inches in diameter and hundreds or even thousands of feet long. Each provides a window into the subsurface that allows geologists to gain an understanding of how natural resources — including oil and natural gas, groundwater and critical minerals — are distributed and move through the subsurface. Scientists analyze the rock layers in core to determine their mineral makeup, ages, material properties and the environments in which they formed.

The KGS Drill Core Library preserves cores, many donated by companies for safe storage, from 6,500 wells in Kansas for future study. Most core is stored at the West District core library or in a satellite storage facility north of Lawrence.

“The KGS is one of the largest public core depositories in the United States, with more than 73,000 boxes of rock. Not only do we continue to accept donations of Kansas core, but we’re drilling our own for research and service work,” said Nikki Potter, KGS associate director. “But we’re in a difficult position because we’re at more than 80% capacity. Other state geological surveys have had to dispose of core because they don’t have the space to store it, and core is very expensive to replace. Collecting 2,000 feet of core can cost half a million dollars.” 

“The Kansas Geological Survey is recognized nationally and internationally for its water and energy science, its work on geological hazards, and our impacts in geospatial information integration and IT,” Kalbas said. “But many may not understand how exceptionally rare it is for a science organization to have full core drilling, analysis and storage capabilities. The state of Kansas has recognized how important these capabilities are, and, together with private donors and federal grant funding agencies, have worked to make this new facility a reality.”

In addition to storage space, the building will greatly expand analytical capabilities at the KGS and help transform the KGS into a state-of-the-art Midcontinent core facility with advanced capabilities not commonly available in other labs. It will include a new lab for analytical equipment and space to conduct educational outreach activities.

With federal grant funding, KGS acquired a Geotek Multi-Sensor Core Logger, which measures the mineral makeup of core at extremely high resolution. The core logger and other advanced equipment will be housed in the new addition.

“This instrument is a game changer for our analytical capabilities and forms the foundation of a range of new cutting-edge core analysis instruments KGS staff are working to secure through additional grants,” Kalbas said.

With these investments, the KGS aims to create an analytical hub that supports initiatives such as hydrogen and carbon storage, identification of domestic sources of critical minerals, and better definition of oil and gas reservoir properties.

“Many places have good core facilities,” Potter said. “What sets us apart, first, is the sheer volume of our collection and that it’s available for research to the public for a nominal fee. Second, few laboratories — only a handful in the United States — provide access to core scanners.”

The space also will enable the KGS to train the next generation of scientists, supporting vital and sustainable research and education for the region and beyond.

“Most of our scientists and engineers also work closely with students, training them how to curate and utilize these rare geologic materials. The Watney laboratory and storage facility will be critical to the training and education of countless undergraduate and graduate students,” Kalbas said.

Cores in the KGS Drill Core Library are accessible to the public. During construction, public access to core stored at KGS will be limited. Olivia Jones, KGS assistant scientist and core library manager, manages the collection and assists scientists and members of the public who request access to specific core.

The Watney Extension will be constructed west of the existing KGS Drill Core Library on Constant Avenue. Funds for the building, designed by PGAV Architects in Westwood, come from a one-time state appropriation of $3.8 million. Construction should be completed by the end of 2025.

The Kansas Geological Survey is a nonregulatory research and service division of KU. KGS scientists study and provide information about the state’s geologic resources and hazards, including groundwater, oil and natural gas, rocks and minerals, and earthquakes.