Louisiana Geological Survey

Founded: 1934
Full Time: 21
Part Time: 1
Budget: 906,704.00

Director: Chacko J. John
3079 Energy, Coast & Environment Building/LSU
Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Telephone: 225/578-5320 FAX: 504/388-3662 E-Mail: chacko@lgs.bri.lsu.edu
Website: http://www.lgs.bri.lsu.edu

Research Areas:

Every state in the U.S. has a State Geological Survey. The modern Louisiana Geological Survey (LGS) began operations at LSU in 1931 and was officially established in 1934 by the Louisiana Legislature under state legislative Act 131. The LGS is part of LSU and is administratively under the LSU Center for Energy Studies. The Basin Research Institute (BRI) merged with the LGS on July 1, 2000, and is now called the Basin Research Energy Section of the Louisiana Geological Survey.

The LGS carries out applied and fundamental geologic research in the areas of Louisiana's surface and subsurface geology, mineral resources, and ground water. LGS also does statewide geologic mapping, producing maps and reports designed to encourage both economic development and environmental protection. The LGS also studies geologic hazards, landslides, and active faulting, producing maps and reports designed to identify such hazards and to minimize their impacts. Earth science educational materials are provided to school teachers when requested. The LGS works cooperatively on research contracts with several state and federal agencies including the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Transportation & Development, the Office of Emergency Preparedness, and U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Basin Research Energy Section, (formerly the Basin Research Institute) established in 1984, conducts geological and energy related environmental research associated with Louisiana's hydrocarbon producing basins. The section research program is primarily aimed at assisting independent operators who generally lack the staff or resources to conduct such research. It provides limited number of opportunities and the use of its facilities for students to work with research staff on technical projects thus providing them with practical experience for developing their future professional careers.

The LGS has a well-organized cartography section that produces maps, atlases, illustrations, slides, and exhibits, both in support of LGS research and for other LSU departments and State agencies.

Areas of Expertise:

LGS has research expertise in the areas of petroleum geology, geologic mapping, reservoir characterization, cartography, geoarcheology, basin analysis, coastal geology, energy related environmental impacts, hydrogeology, subsurface petroleum geology, environmental geology, wetland impacts, coalbed methane and geographic information systems.

Special Capabilities and Facilities:

(1) Experienced professional staff, with wide range of expertise,
(2) LGS has a resource center with a large collection of electric logs and cores from Louisiana,
(3) State of the art cartographic section,
(4) Capability of working on multidisciplinary research projects with other research units, (5) Laboratory facilities and research equipment not presently available at LGS are easily accessible at other departments at Louisiana State University.

Research Equipment:

Cartographic facility well equipped with state of the art computers and printers. LGS Resource Center with large collection of electric well logs and well cores. The LGS Core Repository and well log library are component collections of the Louisiana Museum of Natural History. Laboratories well equipped for petrography, thin section preparation, core examination, computer plotting and geographic information systems. A hydrology laboratory is currently being set up. Two vehicles for field work.

Keywords:

1005000 Earth Sciences
1005005 Geology
1005018 Petroleum Science
1005021 Sedimentology
1005023 Stratigraphy
1007010 Environmental Impacts
Cartography
Hydrogeology
Geographic Information Systems
Desktop Publishing
Geologic Mapping