The Office of Oil and Natural Gas, in the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy, supports research and policy options to ensure clean, reliable, and affordable supplies of oil and natural gas for American consumers.

Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Program This program, mandated by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, is a public-private partnership designed to benefit American consumers by developing technologies to increase the nation's domestic oil and natural gas supplies and reduce America's dependence on foreign petroleum imports.   Read More>

Future Oil & Gas Resources: Ensuring Reliable Supplies for Future Generations

Methane Hydrate- The Gas Resource of the Future
The most plentiful supplies of natural gas throughout the world may be the methane molecules trapped in ice-like structures called hydrates. DOE's research is helping to unlock the mysteries of hydrates and develop future ways to tap their massive energy potential.   Read More >

Deep Trek & Other Drilling R&D
Most of the nation's natural gas comes from wells shallower than 5,000 feet. DOE is developing new drilling techniques that will probe much deeper and into harder, more complex formations to produce the gas America will need in the coming decades.   Read More >     

Enhanced Oil Recovery/CO2 Injection
Two thirds of the nation's known oil resource remains "stranded" and may not be recoverable without the development and use of advanced technologies. DOE is investigating ways to enhance oil production, for example using carbon dioxide (CO2).   Read More >  

Petroleum Fuels
Petroleum fuels make up the vast majority of energy consumed in the U.S. transportation sector. DOE is working with industry partners to ensure that adequate supplies of environmentally superior fuels are available to continue to meet the nation's demand.   Read More >  

Domestic Oil & Gas Resource Conservation: Making the Most of What We Have

Microhole Systems R&D
One way to potentially lower the relatively high costs of locating and producing hydrocarbons in the United States may be to reduce the size of the borehole and the equipment needed to drill it. This program is  exploring new concepts for miniaturized drilling systems.   Read More >

Marginal & Stripper Well Revitalization
The flow of oil and gas from literally hundreds of thousands of wells in the United States has slowed to a relative trickle, yet the formations they have tapped still contain large quantities of hydrocarbons. DOE is developing ways to revitalize production from these low-production wells.  Read More > 

Environmental Protection
Reducing air emissions, minimizing waste handling requirements, and lowering the cost of environmental compliance continue to be high priorities in DOE's programs to protect ecosystems in and around the nation's oil and gas fields and processing facilities.   Read More >

Diagnostics, Imaging & Fundamental R&D
Despite 150-plus years of oil and gas production, considerable uncertainties remain about the fundamental characteristics and behavior of hydrocarbon reservoirs. DOE's fundamental research is studying such phenomena as how fractures form and propagate through a reservoir. Read More >

Field Projects, Technical Assistance & Technology Transfer
Since the 1970s, DOE has carried out partnership projects with producers to demonstrate new or untried technologies under actual reservoir conditions. Today, the Department continues to provide cost-sharing assistance to independent oil producers and Native Americans, and places a high priority on aggressive technology transfer to smaller, independent producers. Read More >  

Transmission, Distribution & Storage
The United States has a vast and expansive network of transmission and distribution pipelines and natural gas storage facilities to meet consumer needs.  DOE and its partners are developing innovative technologies to ensure the continued safety, reliability, and security of this network.  
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Arctic Energy Office
With extreme climatic conditions, varying terrain, and both large and sparsely populated areas, Alaska provides an opportunity to explore the limits of new energy technologies. DOE's Arctic Energy Office facilitates energy research related to fossil energy resources and remote electrical power generation to address the State of Alaska's unique energy needs.  Read more >

Oil & Gas Global Security & Supply: Ensuring Adequate Supplies in a Global Market

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
As the Nation's energy needs continue to expand and grow, access to the world's natural gas supplies will play a critical role in its future prosperity.  DOE is working to ensure that LNG can be safely, securely, and reliably imported into the United States. Read More >

Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline
In October 2004, President Bush signed into law the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act.  This law coupled with tax provisions, should give a significant boost to the construction and operation of an Alaska pipeline to bring needed North Slope natural gas to the lower 48 states. DOE provides loan guarantees to project sponsors. 
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Natural Gas Regulation
Natural gas imports are becoming an increasingly important source of gas supply in the United States, accounting for about 17 percent of U.S. natural gas in 2007. DOE's Office of Oil and Natural Gas regulates and maintains statistics on the import and export of natural gas across U.S. borders. Read More >