2012 Draft Annual Plan [PDF]

Closed - 2011 Unconventional Resources Program Request for Proposals (RFP) Released NETL's contractor, the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA), released a request for proposals (RFP), December 20, 2011, seeking research projects to explore ways to extract more energy from natural gas resources while reducing environmental risk. Proposals will be accepted until March 6, 2011.

Closed - 2011 Small Producer Program Request for Proposals (RFP) Released - As part of DOE’s Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Program, NETL’s Contractor, Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA), has released a RFP focusing on the needs of Small Producers. The RFP was released on December 13, 2011 and will close February 27, 2012.

2011 Annual Plan [PDF-5.14MB]

DOE Selects Projects Totaling $12.4 Million Aimed at Increasing Domestic Energy Production While Enhancing Environmental Protection A total of 11 research projects that will help find ways to extract more energy from unconventional oil and gas resources while reducing environmental risks have been selected under Title IX, Subtitle J, Section 999 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 as part of the 2010 project selection process. The eight new Unconventional Resources Program projects and three new Small Producer Program projects will be administered by the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA), under the management of FE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory.

DOE Selects Projects Aimed at Reducing Drilling Risks in Ultra-Deepwater The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE) has selected six new natural gas and oil research projects aimed at reducing risks and enhancing the environmental performance of drilling in ultra-deepwater settings. The projects have been selected for negotiation leading to awards totaling $9.6 million, and will add to the research portfolio for FE’s Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Program. The total value of the projects is more than $26.4 million over 3 years with approximately $16.8 million of cost-share provided by the research partners in addition to the $9.6 million in federal funds. The research contracts will be administered by the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA), under the management of the Office of Fossil Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory.

Benefits Assessment Methodology for the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research Program now available! [PDF-85KB]. This report provides a summary of the methodology used to estimate the potential benefits of the consortium-administered program portfolio established under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), Title IX, Subtitle J, Section 999A.
Read the methodology [PDF-85KB].

2010 Annual Plan [PDF-4.38MB]

Draft 2010 Annual Plan [PDF-2.20MB]

RPSEA Meeting Alert: Unconventional Gas Conference 2010: Technological Keys to Unlocking Additional Reserves, April 6-7, 2010, Golden, CO.

2009 Annual Plan [PDF-2.11MB]

Closed - 2010 Unconventional Resources Program Request for Proposals Released As related to the Title IX, Subtitle J, Section 999 (Energy Policy Act of 2005) R&D program, the request for proposals (RFP) for the Unconventional Resources Program area has been released. It is requested that proposals be submitted in advance of the due date, which is November 5, 2010, 4 p.m., Central Time, to allow for electronic receipt processing. Interested parties should review the documents and instructions concerning the solicitation without delay. The most current RFP information can be found on the Program Consortium's Current Request for Proposals web page.

Closed - Request For Proposals (RFP) for Technology Transfer Services Released. The Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) has released an RFP for Technology Transfer Services in support of the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Program, which RPSEA administers for the U.S. Department of Energy. The RFP was issued on February 1, 2010 and the due date for proposals is March 2, 2010, 4 p.m. CST. Read the RFP

New Projects Selected Under Title IX, Subtitle J, Section 999 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
Eleven new Ultra-Deepwater Program projects, eleven new Unconventional Resources Program projects and six new Small Producer Program projects have been selected as part of the 2009 project selection process. These projects build upon the projects selected as part of the 2007 and 2008 programs.
Read more on the Ultra_Deepwater selections
Read more on the Unconventional Resources and Small Producer selections

DOE seeking candidates for two advisory committes
The Department of Energy is currently seeking applications from qualified individuals to serve on the Unconventional Resources Technology Advisory Committee (URTAC) and the Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee (UDAC). The closing date for receipt of applications is March 1, 2010. Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified individuals to serve on these committees. More information about the program and how to apply can be found on the Committee webpages listed below.
Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee

Unconventional Resources Technology Advisory Committee

Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources R&D Program 2009 Request for Proposals (RFP’s) Issued The Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) is in the process of releasing their 2009 RFP's for all three of the research areas (Unconventional Resources, Ultra-Deepwater, and Small Producers) they are administering for the U.S. Department of Energy. The RFP’s are being issued according to the schedule shown below and are available at WWW.RPSEA.ORG

Unconventional Resources:
Release: 5 p.m., Central Time, Thursday, October 8, 2009
Due date: 4 p.m., Central Time, Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Ultra-Deepwater:
Release: 5 p.m., Central Time, Monday, October 12, 2009
Due date: 4 p.m., Central Time, Monday, December 14, 2009

Small Producer:
Release: 5 p.m., Central Time, Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Due date: 4 p.m., Central Time, Tuesday, December 15, 2009

RPSEA is requesting proposals be submitted in advance of the due dates to allow for electronic receipt processing.

New Projects Selected Under Title IX, Subtitle J, Section 999 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
Twelve new Ultra-Deepwater Program projects, nine new Unconventional Resources Program projects and six new Small Producer Program projects have been selected as part of the 2008 project selection process. These projects build upon the projects selected as part of the 2007 program.
Read more on the Ultra_Deepwater selections
Read more on the Unconventional Resources selections
Read more on the Small Producer selections

Committee Selections Announced
DOE has announced the selections for the 2008 - 2010 Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee (UDAC) and the Unconventional Resources Technology Advisory Committee (URTAC).

• 2008-2010 UDAC selections
• 2008-2010 URTAC selections

Draft 2009 Annual Plan [PDF-1.47MB]

New Oil and Gas R&D RFPs Issued
The second round of requests for proposals (RFPs) have been issued for the 2008 solicitation of ultra-deepwater research projects under Title IX, Subtitle J, Section 999 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Five RFPs have been posted to the RPSEA website. Interested parties are encouraged to click on the link above for information. Responders are encouraged to submit proposals well in advance of the due date; April 20, 2009, 4 p.m., Central Time. The RFPs are focused on the following areas:

• Heavy Viscous Oil PVT (DW2201)
• Early Reservoir Appraisal, Utilizing a Well Testing System (DW2501)
• Resources to Reserves Development and Acceleration through Appraisal (DW2701)
• Gulf 3-D Operational Current Model Pilot Project (DW2801)
• Ultra-Reliable Deepwater Electrical Power Distribution System and Power Components (DW2901)

New Research Solicitation Published
Requests for Proposals have been published soliciting research ideas focused on two areas: developing technologies to enable the economic development of additional unconventional shale gas and tight sand resources, and developing technologies to help small producers increase production from mature fields. These RFPs are being announced pursuant to Title IX, Subtitle J, Section 999 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and are part of the second annual round of solicitations to be announced by the consortium in charge of administering research contracts under this legislation, the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA). Details of these RFPs are now available on the RPSEA website homepage, or link directly to the RPSEA Request for Proposals page. An additional solicitation for research projects focused on ultra-deepwater technologies will follow soon.

The Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program 2008 Annual Plan [PDF] was published in the Federal Register on August 27, 2008.

DOE has announced the selections for the 2008 - 2010 Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee (UDAC) and the Unconventional Resources Technology Advisory Committee (URTAC).

• 2008-2010 UDAC selections
• 2008-2010 URTAC selections

The Federal advisory committees will meet to begin review of the Draft 2009 Annual Plan. The UDAC will meet on September 9-10, 2008 and the URTAC will meet on September 11-12, 2008. Both meetings will be held in Alexandria, VA. Previous reviews of the 2007 Annual Plan and the 2008 Annual Plan resulted in written recommendations, many of which have already been implemented.

The committees will reconvene in Houston, TX on October 15, 2008 (UDAC) and October 16, 2008 (URTAC) to hear and discuss the subcommittee reports and to determine their final recommendations. A final teleconference meeting will be held on October 23, 2008 to review and finalize their recommendations report, and to adjourn work on the 2009 Annual Plan. All meetings of the committees are open to the public.

2008 Annual Plan [PDF-15.6MB]

Draft 2008 Annual Plan [PDF-1.88MB]

2007 Annual Plan [PDF-9.24MB]

Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee Selections

Unconventional Resources Advisory Committee Selections

Draft 2007 Annual Plan [PDF-7.84MB]

February, 2007 Fossil Energy Techline: DOE Invites Nominations for Two Advisory Committees