Administration

Dr. Robert Balch

Director  

Dr. Robert Balch is the Director of the Petroleum Recovery Research Center located on the campus of New Mexico Tech. At the university he also holds Adjunct Professor positions in Petroleum Engineering and Geophysics and has been research advisor to more than 40 graduate students. During his 20 years at the PRRC he has been principal Investigator on a range of enhanced oil recovery projects focused on developing and applying solutions to problems at many scales using geological, geophysical, and engineering data. Dr. Balch is the Principal Investigator of the Southwest Partnerships Phase III demonstration project where 1,000,000 metric tonnes of anthropogenic CO2 is being injected for combined storage and EOR into a mature waterflood in North Texas. During the course of his work he has published more than 45 papers, is a frequent invited speaker, and has presented his research at more than 100 meetings or events. Dr. Balch has held an appointment as an Oil Conservation Commissioner for the State of New Mexico since June of 2011.

Nouraddine Benalil   

Systems-Network Manager/Industrial Liaison

Nouraddine Benalil is the PRRC's computer support manager and technical leader for internet, software, and hardware connectivity. In addition, he serves as PRRC's industrial liaison with our New Mexico hydrocarbon producers. He holds a B.S. in Physics with electronics option from New Mexico Tech.

Chyanne Carrillo

Administrative Coordinator

Chyanne Carrillo coordinates the Administrative Office at the PRRC, supporting the other Admin staff as well as the Research Groups and graduate students.

Jim McLemore

Coordinator Instrument Technician III

Jim McLemore provides technical laboratory support to all PRRC research groups, including design and fabrication of laboratory test devices and experimental equipment, lab safety review and policy development, and employee and student training in machine shop fabrication of tools and equipment. Jim has over 30 years experience working in PRRC laboratories. He holds a B.S. in Geology from New Mexico Tech.

Jennifer Raney, M.S.

Deputy Director

Research & Applications:

⦁ Background in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects and U.S. EPA Class VI permitting, CO2 enhanced oil recovery and produced water research. 

⦁ Legislative and public outreach for local, state, and federal agencies for energy research on Department of Energy grants. 

⦁ Tribal and community engagement with energy research applications in the western United States. 

Current projects: 

1) Carbon Utilization and Storage Partnership of the Western United States (CUSP), Department of Energy; https://www.cuspwest.org/ 

2) San Juan Basin CarbonSAFE Phase III: Ensuring Safe Subsurface Storage of CO2 in Saline Reservoirs, Department of Energy; https://www.sanjuancarbonsafe.org/ 

3) Permian Energy Development Lab, National Science Foundation; https://pedl.tech/ 

4) Navajo Nation Water Purification Program (N4WPP), Department of Energy https://www.nmt.edu/restore/

Rouke Wei

Associate Director of Operation and Finance 

PRRC - Administration

Rouke Wei oversee's administrative and business duties at the PRRC. Rouke offers pre-award and post-award fiscal administrative support to PRRC researchers and their sponsoring agencies. She also provides PRRC administrative, financial support, and guidance for the federal, state, and industrial contracts.