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Oil and Natural Gas Supply
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Ultra-deepwater and Unconventional Resources Program)

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.

2012 Annual Plan Now Available: The Office of Fossil Energy announces the availability of the 2012 Annual Plan for the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program.

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.

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.

Archived Announcements and Documents


In August 2005, President Bush signed into law the first national energy plan in more than a decade. Since the passage of EPAct, the Department of Energy, along with partners across the government and in the private sector, has been working aggressively to implement its key provisions. One that pertains to the Office of Fossil Energy is Title IX, Subtitle J of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 which states, “The Secretary shall carry out a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of technologies for ultra-deepwater and unconventional natural gas and other petroleum resource exploration and production to maximize the value of U.S. resources by increasing supply from these resources.” The legislation identifies NETL as the DOE entity responsible for review and oversight of this program and the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Program outlined here is the implementation of this legislative direction.

Twenty-one other key provisions of the Act pertain to activities to be carried out by the Office of Fossil Energy. These range from performing research on methane hydrates to expanding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to preparing reports for Congress on a wide range of topics relevant to the national energy strategy. Progress on all of these activities is described on the DOE-Fossil Energy website.