What Melzer Consulting does

Melzer Consulting is a privately-held petroleum engineering consulting firm headquartered in Midland, Texas, specializing in CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), Residual Oil Zone (ROZ) exploitation, and Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS). Founded by Steve Melzer in the mid-1990s, the firm serves major and independent oil and gas operators, midstream/pipeline companies, government agencies, and research institutions whose work intersects with CO2-based oil recovery and carbon storage. The practice functions as a specialized advisory and research boutique rather than a full-service engineering firm, with deep domain expertise in a narrow technical sub-discipline.

The firm delivers its work through several distinct assets: long-running annual CO2 Flooding Conference (approximately 20 years of operation), structured CO2 School courses delivered via partnership with APTAPB, and the ROZ Research Group, which maintains specialized databases and proprietary frameworks. Melzer has developed proprietary technical frameworks including the ROZ Type Classification system and the Biogeochemical Wettability Model, both referenced in peer-reviewed publication. Foundational work on USDOE ROZ studies (2006) and ROZ Fairway Mapping under RPSEA (2012) established the firm's position as the primary research authority on ROZ characterization in the United States. The 2026 AOGR Editor's Choice Article reinforces current peer recognition.

The business model is project-based consulting with revenue derived from technical service engagements, sponsored research programs, and educational/training fees. The firm operates with a lean headcount of approximately six employees, indicating a boutique specialist practice rather than a scaled services platform. Named clients include Hess Corporation, Denbury, Kinder Morgan, and Pioneer Natural Resources, alongside public-sector clients such as the U.S. Department of Energy and the Texas Railroad Commission, plus research organizations. GTM is largely relationship-driven, anchored by the firm's conference and publication presence, and supported by technical credibility built over nearly three decades.

Name

Melzer Consulting

Legal name

Melzer Consulting

Website

https://melzerconsulting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Melzer Consulting is a boutique Midland, Texas-based petroleum engineering consultancy founded by Steve Melzer, specializing in CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery, Residual Oil Zone exploitation, and CCUS advisory for oil operators, midstream companies, and government agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oil & Gas EOR and Carbon Storage Consulting

NAICS

Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations (213112), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389), Oil & Gas Field Exploration Services (1382)

akta.pro primary industry

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) & IOR (CO₂, Steam, Chemical) (EUALAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seismic & Geoscience Services (Acquisition, Processing, Interpretation) (EUALABAK), Field Development & EOR/IOR for Gas (Compression, Refracturing, Reservoir Management) (EUAAAAAM)

Keywords

• CO2 enhanced oil recovery
• Residual oil zones
• Carbon capture consulting
• Reservoir characterization
• CO2 geological storage

Headquarters

HQ city

Midland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Oil & Gas Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for oil producers evaluating CO2 flooding suitability, ROZ exploitation opportunities, and carbon capture/storage projects. Services include reservoir evaluation, project screening, business planning, and technical advisory. Revenue is generated through project-based engagements with commercial clients and government organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Melzer Consulting provides specialized consulting services for CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), CO2 geological storage / Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS), and Residual Oil Zone (ROZ) exploitation. Core engagements cover reservoir suitability assessment, fairway mapping, transmissive fracture detection, wettability studies, business planning, and CCUS project screening for oil producers, CO2 source companies, research organizations, and government entities. The firm also runs the annual CO2 Flooding Conference and the four-day CO2 School training program.

Product overview

Melzer Consulting is a specialized consulting firm offering a portfolio of advisory services for the CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) industry. Their core offerings include CO2 EOR consulting, CO2 Geological Storage consulting, and Residual Oil Zone (ROZ) consulting services. These are complemented by specialized technical services such as reservoir characterization and transmissive fracture detection. The company also provides educational programs through CO2 School (four-day training courses) and hosts the Annual CO2 Flooding Conference. Founded by Steve Melzer in 1997, the firm leverages proprietary research on ROZ types and origins to advise oil producers, CO2 source companies, and research organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CO2 EOR Consulting Consulting services for CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) projects, including reservoir suitability assessment, CO2 flooding design, and business planning for oil companies seeking to implement CO2 injection projects.
• CO2 Geological Storage (CCUS) Consulting Advisory services for carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) projects, including site selection, storage security assessment, and compliance with Class VI well regulations for geologic CO2 storage.
• Residual Oil Zone (ROZ) Consulting Specialized consulting on residual oil zones including ROZ identification, fairway mapping, brownfield and greenfield exploitation strategies, and integration with CO2 EOR projects.
• CO2 School Four-day training courses on CO2 EOR and ROZ exploitation conducted by the Applied Petroleum Technology Academy, covering reservoir depressuring, CO2 flood fundamentals, and field operations.
• Annual CO2 Flooding Conference Annual industry conference (held each December in Midland, Texas) bringing together CO2 EOR professionals, researchers, and service providers to share best practices and technical knowledge.
• Transmissive Fracture Detection Diagnostic services and presentation materials for identifying transmissive fractures in reservoir formations that may cause water production issues or crustal connections.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 million metric tons of CO2 handled and injected annually through consulting engagements
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Applied Petroleum Technology Academy (APTAPB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMelzer Consulting is deeply integrated with APTAPB, a Midland, Texas-based non-profit dedicated to training and technology transfer in EOR and ROZ exploitation. Steve Melzer serves as former president. The ROZ Research Group operates under APTAPB, and Melzer Consulting co-develops the annual CO2 School curriculum with this organization.
• Advanced Resources InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on ROZ computational modeling and resource assessment. Advanced Resources International (ARI) is a key research partner in the ROZ Research Group focused on reservoir simulation and modeling of ROZ flooding response.
• Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute (University of Wyoming)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch liaison on medium gravity oils in ROZs and wettability studies. EORI contributes academic research to support Melzer Consulting's ROZ understanding and exploitation strategies.
• University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMelzer served as Director for Petroleum Industry Alliance, a research organization part of the University of Texas System. UTPB conducts ROZ spatial distribution mapping and log analyses as part of the ROZ Research Group.
• University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner focused on CO2 dense phase behavior and laboratory testing. Contributes technical data to support ROZ Research Group findings.
• Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored foundational ROZ research reports sponsored by USDOE, including the 2006 'Stranded Oil in the Residual Oil Zone' report and subsequent ROZ fairway mapping projects.
• Center for Energy and Economic Diversification (CEED)secondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUTPB-affiliated organization supporting Permian Basin energy development. Provides venue for CO2 School courses at Midland College's Petroleum Professional Development Center.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Premier Oil Recovery, Inc. Independent EOR consulting firm named on Melzer's peer/client list; comparable niche player advising producers on CO2 flooding projects.
• Nicholas Consulting Group: Reservoir and EOR consulting firm listed on Melzer's client roster; offers overlapping CO2 flooding and reservoir advisory services to similar operators.
• Trimeric Corporation: Specialized CO2 capture and EOR consulting firm listed as a Melzer client/peer; comparable niche focus on CO2 sourcing, treating, and storage economics.
• Richard Baker Consulting (Res-Solve): Boutique Canadian reservoir consulting firm listed on Melzer's client page; competes in the same CO2 EOR and reservoir-engineering advisory niche.
• Advanced Resources International: Reservoir simulation and EOR/CO2 storage consulting firm explicitly listed as a Melzer partner; collaborates on ROZ modeling and is a direct comparable in CO2 EOR and CCUS advisory.
• Russell K. Hall and Associates: Small EOR consulting practice listed among Melzer's peers; comparable independent advisory services in CO2 flooding and reservoir evaluation.

Broad incumbents

• Core Laboratories: Global oilfield services and reservoir analysis company that performs reservoir characterization, core analysis, and EOR lab studies; offers overlapping technical capabilities at much greater scale.
• Netherland, Sewell & Associates: Major reservoir engineering and reserves-evaluation consulting firm; competes for high-end reservoir advisory work with operators who also engage Melzer on CO2 EOR.
• SLB (Schlumberger): Largest oilfield services company with extensive EOR, CCUS, and reservoir consulting capabilities; represents the broad-incumbent threat Melzer's niche expertise is positioned against.

Regional players

• Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute (University of Wyoming): University research institute and Melzer partner; performs overlapping CO2 EOR and ROZ research with a Rockies/Wyoming geographic focus, complementing Melzer's Permian concentration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/melzer-consulting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Melzer Consulting