Welcome to the NETL Oil & Natural Gas Technologies Reference Shelf.  Recently released and in-demand reference materials are available directly from this page using the links below.

Online Database of Oil and Natural Gas Research Results Now Available The Knowledge Management Database (KMD) provides easy access to the results of nearly four decades of research supported by the Office of Fossil Energy’s Oil and Natural Gas Program. The database portal provides access to content from dozens of CDs and DVDs related to oil and natural gas research that FE's National Energy Technology Laboratory has published over the years. It also provides links to reports, data sets, and project summaries from ongoing research. Access the KMD

Subscribe to the Oil & Natural Gas RSS Feed.

Projects:
Detailed project descriptions, including links to project related publications and publically available deliverables, are provided for many of the Oil and Natural Gas Technology program's current and completed projects.

Publications:
Newsletters | Brochures | Factsheets | Reports | E&P Bibliography | News Releases

Newsletters:

• Fire in the Ice: A quarterly publication highlighting the National Methane Hydrate R&D Program
• E & P Focus:  E&P Focus highlights NETL's oil and natural gas exploration and production (E&P) activities.

Brochures:

• December, 2011: Mobility and Conformance Control for Carbon Dioxide Ehhanced Oil Recovery Via Thickeners, Foams, and Gels - A Detailed Literature Review of 40 Years of Research [PDF]
• August, 2011: Publicly Funded Oil & Natural Gas R&D Increases Domestic Energy Supplies [PDF-3.40MB]
• March, 2011: Shale Gas: Applying Technology to Solve America's Energy Challenges [PDF-9.51MB]
• February, 2011: Energy Resource Potential of Methane Hydrate [PDF-1.98MB]
• March, 2010: CO2 EOR Primer [PDF-18.1MB] (Reduced size) [PDF-2.55MB]

Program Fact Sheets:

• Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research Program - Program Fact Sheet [PDF]
• Unconventional Fossil Energy Resource Program - Program Fact Sheet [PDF]
• Technology Solutions for Mitigating Environmental Impacts of Oil and Gas E&P Activity [PDF] - Program Fact Sheet
• Methane Hydrates R&D Program - Program Fact Sheet [PDF]
• The Arctic Energy Office Program Fact Sheet - Program Fact Sheet [PDF]

Program Reports

• Domestic Unconventional Fossil Energy Resource Opportunities and Technology Applications - Report to Congress [PDF-9.32MB]

Oil & Natural Gas Project Reports //Archive 2011 | 2010 | 2009 |2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002

Additional reports are available by using search functions of the Oil & Natural Gas Document Archive. Select the link to the Document Repository.

• January, 2013 Final Project Report DE-FE0000408 Post Retort, Pre Hydro-treat Upgrading of Shale Oil [PDF-1.60MB]
• November, 2012 Final Project Report 08121-2902-02 Technologies of the Future for Pipeline Monitoring and Inspection [PDF-2.47MB]
• November, 2012 Final Project Report 07122-22 Petrophysical Studies of Unconventional Gas Reservoirs Using High-resolution Rock Imaging [PDF-27.7MB]
• November, 2012 Final Project Report 08122-35 The Environmentally Friendly Drilling Systems Program [PDF-4.33]
• October, 2012 Final Project Report DE-FE0003537 Next Generation Surfactants for Improved Chemical Flooding Technology [PDF-1.91MB]
• October, 2012 Final Project Report 08123-02 Field Demonstration of Alkaline Surfactant Polymer Floods in Mature Oil Reservoirs Brookshire Dome, Texas [PDF-5.06MB]
• October, 2012 Final Project report DE-FC26-08NT0005663 Fluid and Rock Property Controls On Production and Seismic Monitoring Alaska Heavy Oils [PDF-2.82MB]
• September, 2012 Final Project Report NT0005667 Assessing the Efficacy of the Aerobic Methanotropic Biofilter in Methane Hydrate Environments [PDF-2.50MB]
• September, 2012: Final Project Report NT43291 Subtask 1.8 Investigation of Improved Conductivity and Proppant Applications in the Bakken Formation [PDF-10.5MB]
• August, 2012: Final Project Report DE-FG26-NT0005679 Bridging the Gap between Chemical Flooding and Independent Oil Producers [PDF-21MB]
• August, 2012: Final Project Report 07122-33 Advanced Hydraulic Fracturing Technology For Unconventional Tight Gas Reservoirs [PDF-3.85MB]
• August, 2012: Final Project Report 08121-2902-04 Replacing Chemical Biocides with Targeted Bacteriophages in Deepwater Pipelines and Reservoirs: A Proof of Concept Study [PDF-6.39MB]
• August, 2012: Final Project Report 09121-3300-10 Development of Carbon Nanotube Composite Cables for Ultra Deep Water Oil and Gas Fields [PDF-492KB]
• August, 2012: Final Project Report 07122-38 Improvement of Fracturing for Gas Shales [PDF-7.17MB]
• July, 2012: Final Project Report NT0005671 Water-Related Issues Affecting Conventional Oil and Gas Recovery and Potential Oil Shale Development in the Uinta Basin, Utah [PDF-99.3MB]
• June, 2012: Final Project Report 08123-19 Commercial Exploitation and the Origin of Residual Oil Zones: Developing a Case History in the Permian Basin of New Mexico and West Texas [PDF-4.30MB]
  Appendix to Final Project Report [PDF-23.9MB]
• June, 2012: Final Project Report NT0006556 Chemical Methods for Ugnu Viscous Oils [PDF-2.90MB]
• June, 2012: Final Project Report FE0000797 Comprehensive Lifecycle Planning and Management System for Addressing Water Issues Associated With Shale Gas Development in New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia [PDF-578KB]
• June, 2012: Final Project Report NT0005680 Online Produced Water Treatment Catalog and Decision Tool [PDF-681KB]
• June, 2012: Final Project Report 07122-14 Comprehensive Investigation of the Biogeochemical Factors Enhancing Microbially Generated Methane in Coal Beds [PDF-4.40MB]
• June, 2012: Final Project Report FE0001466 Zero Discharge Water Management for Horizontal Shale Gas Well Development [PDF-1.77MB]
• June, 2012: Final Project Report 07121-1603D Thesis - Structural Health Monitoring System for Deepwater Risers with Vortex-induced Vibration [PDF-6.8MB]
• May, 2012: Final Project Report 08121-2801-02 GOMEX 3-D Operational Ocean Forecast System Pilot Project [PDF-6.56MB]
• May, 2012: Final Project Report NT42960 Detection and Production of Methane Hydrate [PDF-12.3MB]
• May, 2012: Topical Report FE0001243 Conjunctive Surface and Groundwater Management in Utah: Implications for Oil Shale and Oil Sands Development [PDF-26.2MB]
• April, 2012: Final Project Report 09121-3100-01 UDW Seabed Discharge of Produced Water and/or Solids [PDF-29.3MB]
• April, 2012: Final Project Report 08123-10 Electrical Power Generation from Produced Water: Field Demonstration of Ways to Reduce Operating Costs of Small Producers [PDF-1.32MB]
• April, 2012: Final Project Report 08121-2101-02 New Safety Barrier Testing Methods [PDF-2.97MB]
• April, 2012: Final Project Report DE-NT0006558 Integrating Natural Gas Hydrates in the Global Carbon Cycle [PDF-16.8MB]
• April, 2012: Final Project Report DE-FC26-06NT43067 Mechanisms Leading to Co-existence of Gas and Hydrate in Ocean Sediments [PDF-47.4MB]
• March, 2012: Final Project Report DE-NT0005668 Gas Hydrate Characterization in the Gulf of Mexico Using Marine EM Methods [PDF-29.7MB]
• March, 2012: Final Project Report DE-NT0005666 Characterization of Methane Degradation and Methane-Degrading Microbes in Alaska Coastal Waters [PDF-479KB]
• March, 2012: Final Project Report NT0005672 The Bakken - An Unconventional Petroleum and Reservoir System [PDF-6.50MB]
• March, 2012: Final Project Report 09121-3300-06 High Resolution 3D Laser Imaging for Inspection, Maintenance, Repair, and Operations [PDF-4.56MB]
• March, 2012: Final Project Report 08122-05 Barnett and Appalachian Shale Water Management and Reuse Technologies [PDF-3.17MB]
• March, 2012: Final Project Report 08121-2902-07 Fiber Containing Sweep Fluids for Ultra Deepwater Drilling Applications [PDF-4.22MB]
• March, 2012: Final Phase 2 Project Report 09121-3300-05 Autonomous Inspection of Subsea Facilities [PDF-1.97MB]
• March, 2012: Final Project Report 07123-02 Preformed Particle Gel for Conformance Control [PDF-6.07MB]
• February, 2012: Final Project Report DE-NT0005638 Remote Sensing and Sea-Truth Measurements of Methane Flux to the Atmosphere [PDF-5.65MB]
• February, 2012: Final Project Report 09121-3500-02 SRP Shrink-fit Connection [PDF-4.01MB]
• February, 2012: Final Project Report 07121-1403 Fatigue Performance of High Strength Riser Materials Subjected to Sour Environments [PDF-6.87MB]
• February, 2012: Topical Report FE0001243 Development of CFD-Based Simulation Tools for In Situ Thermal Processing of Oil Shale/Sands [PDF-12.1MB]
• January, 2012: Final Project Report 07123-05 Cost-Effective Treatment Of Produced Water Using Co-Produced Energy Sources For Small Producers [PDF-2.79]
• January, 2012: Final Project Report 08122-36 Pretreatment and Water Management for Frac Water Reuse and Salt Production [PDF-2.57MB]

E&P and Methane Hydrate Bibliographies:
Oil and Natural Gas R&D Program Bibliography [PDF] The bibliography contains a listing of DOE/NETL-sponsored student researchers as well as reports and presentations resulting from Oil and Natural Gas R&D Program research projects.
Methane Hydrates Project Reports Bibliography[PDF] The bibliography lists publications resulting from DOE/NETL-sponsored methane hydrate R&D Program research projects.

News Releases/TechLines: //Archive 2011|2010| 2009 |2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002
Announcements describing technical progress in a particular project or program area.

• Research Projects Addressing Technical Challenges to Environmentally Acceptable Shale Gas Development Selected by DOE Fifteen research projects aimed at addressing the technical challenges of producing natural gas from shales and tight sands, while simultaneously reducing environmental footprints and risks, have been selected to receive a total of $28 million in funding from the DOE's Office of Fossil Energy. The research contracts will be administered by the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America, under NETL management.
• New Wastewater Treatment Facilities To Open With DOE-Tested Technology Two new plants for treating shale-gas wastewater are set to open this month in western Pennsylvania. Using a unique, patented water desalination process developed with support from NETL, the plants actually exceed the state's discharge water quality standards.
  li>The Energy Department Announces the Selection of 14 New Methane Hydrate Research Projects The projects will research the nature and occurrence of deepwater and Arctic gas hydrates and its potential for dramatically expanding U.S. energy supplies. The projects build on the completion of a successful, unprecedented test earlier this year that was able to safely extract a steady flow of natural gas from methane hydrates on the North Slope of Alaska.
• Favorable Supplies, Costs, Environmental Profile for Natural Gas Revealed in New Department of Energy Study The nation’s large resource base of natural gas can be used for cost-effective power generation, with environmental burdens coming primarily from fuel combustion, not resource extraction, according to a new Department of Energy (DOE) study.
• July, 2012: Recent Study Provides Insight into Vast Energy Resource in Residual Oil Zones Billions of barrels of oil that could increase domestic supply, help reduce imports, and increase U.S. energy security may be potentially recoverable from residual oil zones, according to initial findings from a study supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE). The recently completed study is one of several FE-supported research projects providing insight that will help tap this valuable-but-overlooked resource.
• June, 2012: Research Projects to Address Technical Challenges Facing Small Oil and Natural Gas Producers Selected by DOE for Further Development Nine new research projects aimed at extending the life of mature oil and natural gas fields, while simultaneously reducing the environmental footprint of production operations and minimizing environmental risks, have been selected to receive a total of $8.5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE). The research contracts will be administered by the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America, under NETL management.
• May, 2012: DOE Announces New Research to Advance Safe and Responsible Deepwater Drilling Technologies Thirteen projects aimed at reducing the risks while enhancing the environmental performance of drilling for natural gas and oil in ultra-deepwater settings have been selected by DOE for further development. The total value of the projects is more than $56 million over 4 years with approximately $21.2 million of cost-share provided by the research partners in addition to the $35.4 million in federal funds. The research contracts will be administered by the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America, under NETL management.
• May, 2012: Natural Gas Compression Technology Improves Transport and Efficiencies, Lowers Operating Costs An award-winning compressor design that decreases the energy required to compress and transport natural gas, lowers operating costs, improves efficiencies and reduces the environmental footprint of well site operations has been developed by a Massachusetts-based company with support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
• May, 2012: U.S. and Japan Complete Successful Field Trial of Methane Hydrate Production Technologies U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the completion of a successful, unprecedented test of technology in the North Slope of Alaska that was able to safely extract a steady flow of natural gas from methane hydrates – a vast, entirely untapped resource that holds enormous potential for U.S. economic and energy security.
• May, 2012: Novel Surfactant Formulation May Bring New Life to Mature Oilfields A new generation of high-performance surfactants has proven successful in mobilizing residual oil in two mature fields in Oklahoma through a project supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Read the detailed project summary.
• April, 2012: Innovative DOE Technology Demonstrates Potential for Significant Increases in Safe and Responsible Production from Depleted U.S. Oil Fields The U.S. Department of Energy announced today that an innovative technology has successfully improved oil recovery at a 106-year old Illinois field by more than 300 percent. This method of extraction could help pull as many as 130 million additional barrels of oil from the depleted field, which is past peak production using traditional drilling.
• April, 2012: Obama Administration Announces New Partnership on Unconventional Natural Gas and Oil Research Three federal agencies announce a formal partnership to coordinate and align all research associated with development of our nation’s abundant unconventional natural gas and oil resources. The partnership exemplifies the cross-government coordination required under President Obama’s Executive Order, which creates a new Interagency Working Group to Support Safe and Responsible Development of Unconventional Domestic Natural Gas Resources.
• February, 2012: Remote Gas Well Monitoring Technology Applied to Marcellus Shale Site A technology to remotely monitor conditions at energy-rich Marcellus Shale gas wells to help insure compliance with environmental requirements has been developed through a research partnership funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
• February, 2012: New Models Help Optimize Development of Bakken Shale Resources Compliance Rules Exploration and field development in the largest continuous oil play in the lower 48 states, located in North Dakota and eastern Montana, will be guided by new geo-models developed with funding from DOE/NETL.
• January, 2012: DOE/NETL-Sponsored Online Mapping Portal Helps Oil and Gas Producers Comply with New Mexico Compliance Rules By speeding the process and cutting the cost of regulatory compliance, the New Mexico Pit Rule Mapping Portal supports domestic oil and gas production, helping to strengthen the nation’s energy security. The web-based tool, developed by researchers at New Mexico Tech’s Petroleum Recovery Research Center, will be especially helpful to smaller operations.

Software:

• Computer Software and Supporting Documentation

Enhanced Oil Recovery Illustrations:

• Cross-sectional illustrations of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Methods, drawn by Joe. R. Lindley, Publications Specialist.

CDs/DVDs:
DVDs and CDs are currently available for download or ordering through the Knowledge Management Database (KMD). The CD/DVD Library section of the KMD provides access to CDs and DVDs released by the Oil and Natural Gas R&D Program from 1997 - present.