Mead Trip Spurs Saudi Interest In UW Research

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Gov. Matt Mead tells The Associated Press that his trip to Saudi Arabia last week has succeeded in drawing interest to energy research going on at the University of Wyoming.

He says officials from Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals will be visiting UW soon.

UW scientists are doing specialized research that could have application to extracting oil from underground formations that are tough to tap.

Mead was accompanied on the trip by Mark Northam, director of the UW School of Energy Resources.

Mead says that while no commitments have been made by the Saudis, their decision to make a trip to Laramie is encouraging.