Comprehensive Transportation and Energy Systems (CTEs) - Strategic Research Roadmap
Author(s):
C.A. Quiroga
Publication Date:
November 2015
Abstract:
In recent years, the United States has experienced a boom in energy production, particularly in extraction of oil and natural gas from shale formations and wind power generation. While the energy sector has had a positive impact on the Texas and US economies, energy developments, particularly those that rely on hydraulic fracturing technology, generate enormous amounts of truck traffic on state, county, and local roads. In recent years, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) has developed a significant amount of expertise in critical areas related to energy developments. However, many of these initiatives are single efforts responding to specific sponsor needs. There is a need for a comprehensive approach to improving the overall management of transportation systems in all areas of the state with significant energy developments. TTI's vision is to create a world-class research environment for transportation and energy systems that provides much-needed solutions and innovation in this field. The Comprehensive Transportation and Energy Systems (CTES) initiative at TTI will provide a focal point to conduct research, technology transfer, and technical support services to address critical transportation infrastructure needs in all areas where energy development business processes interact with transportation systems. This report describes a framework to achieve the initiative's goals in the form of a strategic research roadmap that will guide future research and technology transfer activities. The report summarizes lessons learned from three regional workshops and discussions with stakeholders, describes the themes that make up the strategic research roadmap, and provides a list of proposed research ideas along with the corresponding research need statements. The report includes a recommended $9 million plan of research expenditures over a four-year period. To put the projected expense into perspective, the $9 million research plan is only slightly more than half the cost to develop one new horizontal well in Texas. This translates to $188 - $234 per new completed well, based on the number of projected well completions over the next four years.
Report Number:
TTI/SRP/15/161503-1
Electronic Link(s):
Document/Product
http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/161503-1.pdf
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