News & Events

2014 Shale Gas Innovation Contest Finalists Named in $100,000 Contest

On May 15, 2014, the Shale Gas Innovation & Commercialization Center (www.sgicc.org) will announce the four winners of their Shale Gas Innovation Contest.  More than 80 applicants entered this year’s competition, and 13 Finalists have been named.  Each winner will receive a check for $25,000. Click on http://www.sgicc.org/shale-gas-innovation-contest.html  to register for this free event

The Finals Event will be held from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM on Thursday, May 15, 2014 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Southpointe, PA. Attendees will hear from industry leaders Chevron Technology Ventures and GE Oil & Gas at the event, plus O&G Consulting Firm ADI Analytics CEO Uday Turaga. Additionally, the 13 Finalists will make presentations, and Matt Henderson from the Marcellus Center for Outreach & Research (PSU MCOR) will provide a snapshot of the regional shale energy play and NG/NGL Utilization Options.

A reception will immediately follow the presentations.  Representatives from each of the companies will be there to highlight their shale gas innovation concepts.  This year’s event also includes finalists and exhibitors from the state of West Virginia thanks to a grant from the Benedum Foundation that has allowed the SGICC to expand the contest to include WV entrants through the 2016 contest.

The Finalists are:

  • Advanced-Tec Materials, LLC

Micron sized rigid foam particles used as an additive for high performance drilling muds

  • Carbon Fiber Composites, Inc.

An “out of autoclave” process to produce lower cost high strength carbon fiber composites for use in O&G applications where corrosion resistance is paramount

  • DocuCluster

Internet accessible search tool for courthouse/ public records, providing automated analysis and mapping of records including simultaneous searching of every database

  • Dynamo Micropower, Inc.

Modular 10KW micro-turbine with novel fuel delivery system that allows it to operate on a variety of liquid and gaseous fuels while only requiring annual maintenance

  • Imperial Systems, Inc.

Particulate collection & control equipment that improves safety, while lowering emissions and energy use while transferring the sand in the frac process

  • KCF Technologies, Inc.

SmartDiagnostics® system that enables low cost predictive maintenance for rotating O&G Equipment

  • LaserSense, Inc.

“Robust Laser Interferometer (RLI)” device that could measure vibration and acoustic emissions (AE) down hole during drilling operations

  • NG Innovations, Inc.

“C-FIT” unit identifies the density and amount  of fluid being transported and identifies the loading/unloading points, and tracks and date/time stamps truck movement via satellite

  • Odum & Lambrou Innovations, LLC

Double walled fire tube glycol regeneration system that cuts start up time in half, reduces fuel gas costs, extends the life of glycol, prolongs fire tube life and greatly reduces maintenance

  • OPTIMUM Pumping Technology

High-performance manifolds for reciprocating NG compressors that eliminate pulsation control bottles and their vibration-related failures, improving compressor reliability and operating efficiency

  • Quantum Vortex, Inc.

Hydrodynamic siren for boosting O&G production from new/ existing wells, or stripper wells through ultrasonic cleaning

  • TM Industrial Supply

Filtration technology to effectively coalesce and separate NGL’s and other contaminates from NG through the use of Gas Flow Membrane Technology

  • U. of Pitt (Radisav Vidic)

Controlled mixing of Mine Drainage and flowback water to deliver desired quality of the blended water in terms of lower sulfate content and salinity for use in fracing process

This year’s contest was co-sponsored by Ben Franklin Technology Partners (http://www.benfranklin.org), ANGA (www.anga.us), Aquatech (www.Aquatech.com), Baker Hughes (www.bakerhughes.com), Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (www.cabotog.com), CONSOL Energy (www.consolenergy.com), Chesapeake Energy (www.chk.com), Chevron (http://www.chevron.com/ctv/), EQT (www.eqt.com), First National Bank (www.fnb-online.com ), GE Oil & Gas (http://www.ge-energy.com), Little Pine Resources (http://littlepineresources.com), the Marcellus Shale Coalition (http://marcelluscoalition.org), PPG Industries (www.ppg.com) , Praxair (www.praxair.com), Range Resources (www.rangeresources.com), Seneca Resources (www.natfuel.com/seneca), and Williams (www.williamsinthenortheast.com).