NC West Virginia News

The West Virginia University Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources is enhancing education and research with a $500,000 gift to support laboratory upgrades.

The gift from the BHE GT&S Foundation supports improvements to the reservoir engineering and core analysis lab, located in the Mineral Resources Building on the Evansdale Campus. Statler College students and faculty use the lab’s resources to measure rock properties for coursework and research projects focused on characterizing and modeling oil and natural gas reservoirs to improve recovery operations.

The BHE GT&S Foundation supports programs focused on health, education, community, and the environment. The renovated facility will be known as the BHE GT&S Foundation Core/Reservoir Lab in recognition of the Foundation’s generosity.

Samuel Ameri, professor and chair of the petroleum and natural gas engineering program, said state-of-the-art teaching and research laboratories enable the petroleum and natural gas engineering program to recruit prospective students, provide experiential learning for students, foster research opportunities for students and faculty, and welcome industry leaders to host guest lectures and demonstrations.

“The petroleum and natural gas engineering program, already one of the highest caliber programs of its kind in the country, is now even better thanks to the generosity of the BHE GT&S Foundation,” Ameri said.

“Support like this helps our department recruit high-quality students from across the country and around the world, and it enables our faculty and staff to continue educating and graduating petroleum and natural gas engineers ready for the future. We value our relationship with the BHE GT&S Foundation, and we are truly grateful for the Foundation’s belief in our institution and support of our efforts to impact our industry in positive ways.”

Paul Ruppert earned his bachelor’s degree in petroleum and natural gas engineering from WVU in 1986, which launched his career in the natural gas industry. He is currently president of BHE GT&S LLC., an interstate natural gas transmission and storage company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, with operations in 10 states.

Ruppert said the lab has an important role in teaching students to understand and evaluate formation properties.

“I am proud to be a WVU alumnus," Ruppert said. "And am pleased that the BHE GT&S Foundation can contribute to the University’s future success. Everyone appreciates the important work that WVU does to educate future leaders."