GE Oil & Gas started construction on 100,000 square foot Global Research Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and announced a Technology Collaboration Agreement with Devon Energy Corporation to accelerate the development and testing of products in the field.

The Research Center will be a hub for global oil and gas innovation and field testing of products to determine commercial viability, the company said. Scheduled to open next year, its Center is part of a three-year effort to triple R&D investment in the oil and gas industry.

“Focused on accelerating mid- to later-stage oil and gas technologies, the Oklahoma Center will capitalize on its close proximity to GE customers and to an important oil and gas producing region. The Center will focus on solutions related to production systems, well construction, water use optimization, CO2 solutions and energy systems, and will draw on the company’s cross-business expertise to drive breakthroughs in the oil and gas space,” company officials said.

In the interim, GE is leasing temporary office space in the City Place Tower in downtown Oklahoma City. GE will collaborate with Devon Energy on driving technology advancements for artificial lift systems used for increasing the flow of liquids from production wells, advanced drilling technologies and water treatment solutions.

Lorenzo Simonelli, President/CEO, GE Oil & Gas said, “GE is committed to leading the unconventional resource revolution and technology is the core of how we will win in this space. Through increased R&D investment, the creation of tech hubs, like Oklahoma City and Rio de Janeiro, and new partnership models, we are getting closer to our customers and bringing best-in-class technologies to market quicker. This approach is helping our customers be more efficient and productive and delivering growth for GE.”

Mark Little, Chief Technology Officer, GE said, “Breakthrough technologies in natural gas have radically transformed the global energy landscape over the past decade. We look at innovation through a broad lens. GE’s global technology portfolio spans many industries. In Oil & Gas, we’re bringing the benefit of this perspective and partnering with great customers like Devon to push new frontiers in Oil & Gas production.”

GE’s new Oil & Gas Technology Center will attract oil & gas industry influencers from all around the globe and also serve as a focal point for building new working relationships with the State’s great university network, including the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, University of Tulsa and Oklahoma City University, the company said.

Governor Mary Fallin said, "The creation of this new center represents a $125 million investment that will lead to 130 high-tech, high-paying jobs. GE's new center will also help connect Oklahoma to a global network of technology and industry partners, many of whom will come here to do business and find solutions to some of the world's most pressing energy challenges.”

Michael Ming, General Manager of GE’s Global Research Oil and Gas Technology Center, said, “Today’s groundbreaking shows the remarkable progress we have made in such a short time to build and establish GE’s technology presence in Oklahoma. Our ability to move so quickly would not be possible without the strong support of Governor Fallin, Mayor Cornett, the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Association, and local business and community leaders who have been engaged with us every step of the way. We look forward to continuing to engage with other leaders in the oil and gas sector and partner with them to help develop solutions for their future growth.”