Pioneer drilled a test well at ISU last week..
Pioneer Oil of Lawrenceville is expanding its search for oil deposits at Indiana State University.
Pioneer Oil Co signed a lease in 2012 with the university, which has collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in royalties.
ISU Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration Diann McKee tells the Tribune-Star the company finished drilling a test well this week on a grassy area east of Holmstedt Hall and south of Root Hall.
McKee says she doesn’t know if they found more reserves. A company representative was not available for comment.
No production wells are allowed on the main campus, but at least one faculty member expressed concerns.
Economics professor Paul Burkett says the drilling sends the wrong message at what’s “supposed to be a sustainability university.”