Optim LLC, a tech start-up formed by two University of Nevada, Reno geophysics graduates, has harnessed the power of modern computing to dramatically reduce exploration costs for U.S. geothermal, oil and natural gas resources.
Optim is part of the state Legislature's Nevada Applied Research Initiative (NARI) program, a state University System-administered initiative that assists promising research and technology start-ups.
Bill Honjas and Satish Pullammanappallil developed the new proprietary technology for the Reno-based software and applications services company. The Optim commercial application automatically creates, analyzes, and sorts thousands of possible models to find the single model that best represents complex subsurface earth structure, a process that is critical for finding energy resources. The application, SeisOpt®, is being used to enhance development of Nevada's vast geothermal resources for electrical power production.
"Geothermal resources are generally found in more complex geology than oil and gas resources," said John Louie, associate professor in the university's Mackay School of Mines Seismological Laboratory. "SeisOpt is effectively addressing this problem at several locations in the western United States, including the Steamboat Hills geothermal field in south Reno." Louie served as Honjas and Pullammanappallil's graduate research adviser.
Honjas, Optim's chief executive officer, said use of Optim's technology minimizes the time-intensive and costly practice of drilling into the earth as a means of exploration.
"It is not uncommon for an exploration drill hole to cost $3 million," said Honjas, who received his master's degree in geophysics at Nevada in 1993. "By using Optim's application, the geothermal industry can minimize the number of drill holes needed to find these resources, which translates into lower development costs."
"Nevada currently ranks second behind California in geothermal electrical production," said Louie. "Optim's applications can help the state realize its full potential and be ranked first."
Pullammanappallil, who earned his doctorate at Nevada in 1994, said that modeling the earth's subsurface is one of the more complex applications for Optim's proprietary technology. The company takes advantage of the most powerful computing platforms available.
"Clients who started using SeisOpt on their desktops are now running our applications over the Internet on Optim's cluster super-computer or purchasing cluster computers of their own," said Pullammanappallil, Optim chief software developer. "Thus, SeisOpt is driving demand of such cutting edge, high-speed computing systems."
Optim plans to extend its success in locating energy resources to other fields. "The core of our technology can be used for solving challenging problems in such diverse areas as human resources management, communications, information technology and transportation," Honjas said.
By Pat McDonnell, (775) 784-1583; pmcdonnell@adv.unr.edu
University
of Nevada, Reno