RPSEA Selects Projects to Award $27.2 Million for the Unconventional Resources Program

SUGAR LAND, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) announces 15 proposals under the Unconventional Resources Program have been selected for negotiations leading to an award under its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory and in support of the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program that was established by DOE pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

“The 2011 Unconventional Resources Program selections focus on research that will add to the ability to develop the natural gas endowment of the U.S. in an environmentally protective and safe manner”

The $27.2 million in federal funding is added to $8.8 million in cost share by the industry participants giving a total value of the 15 selections of more than $36 million. These 2011 Unconventional Resources Program selections add to the existing research portfolio of 47 projects.

"The 2011 Unconventional Resources Program selections focus on research that will add to the ability to develop the natural gas endowment of the U.S. in an environmentally protective and safe manner," said RPSEA Vice President, Onshore Programs, Kent Perry.

Awards, open to any U.S.-based organization, are negotiated once project selections are made within each RPSEA program - Unconventional Resources, Small Producer and Ultra-Deepwater. These projects focus on improving safety, minimizing environmental impacts, increasing efficiencies and reducing costs of domestic hydrocarbon resources, maximizing their value. Collaboration of America’s leading universities, research institutions, independent and major producers, national laboratories, state associations and service companies is encouraged to utilize each of their research and technology resources. Proposals must provide a minimum of 20% cost share with a minimum of 50% for field demonstration projects.

2011 UNCONVENTIONAL RESOURCES PROGRAM SELECTED PROJECTS

The 15 projects described below identify the lead research institution. Other participants include more than 80 universities, private research laboratories and independent and major producing companies located across the U.S.

Conductivity of Complex Fracturing in Unconventional Shale Reservoirs
Project Leader: Texas A&M University

Water Handling and Enhanced Productivity from Gas Shales
Project Leader: University of Southern California

Petrophysics and Tight Rock Characterization for the Application of Improved Stimulation and Production Technology in Shale
Project Leader: Oklahoma State University

Fracture Permeability Caused by Shear Slip in Gas Shale Reservoirs
Project Leader: Texas A&M University

Advanced Hydraulic Fracturing
Project Leader: Gas Technology Institute

Development of GIS-Based Tool for Optimized Fluid Management in Shale Operations
Project Leader: Colorado State University

Advanced Treatment of Shale Gas Frac Water to Produce NPDES Quality Water
Project Leader: Southern Research Institute

Cost-Effective Treatment of Flowback and Produced Waters Via an Integrated Precipitative Supercritical Process
Project Leader: Ohio University

Development of Subsurface Brine Disposal Framework in the Northern Appalachian Basin
Project Leader: Battelle Memorial Institute

Development of Plasma Technology for the Management of Frac/Produced Water
Project Leader: Drexel University

Advancing a Web-Based Tool for Unconventional Natural Gas Development with Focus on Flowback and Produced Water Characterization, Treatment and Beneficial Use
Project Leader: Colorado School of Mines

Understanding and Managing Environmental Roadblocks to Shale Gas Development: An Analysis of Shallow Gas, NORMs, and Trace Metals (Texas)
Project Leader: The University of Texas, Bureau of Economic Geology

Reducing the Environmental Impact of Gas Shale Development: Advanced Analytical Methods for Air and Stray Gas Emissions and Produced Brine Characterization
Project Leader: GSI Environmental, Inc.

Development of Methods to Prohibit and Remediate Loss of Annular Isolation in Shale Gas Wells: Prevention and Remediation of Sustained Casing Pressure and Other Isolation Breaches
Project Leader: CSI Technologies, Inc.

Relationships Between Induced Seismicity and Fluid Injection: Development of Strategies to Manage Fluid Disposal in Shale Hydrocarbon Plays
Project Leader: The University of Texas at Austin

ABOUT RPSEA

RPSEA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit consortium with more than 180 members, including 22 of the nation's premier research universities, six national laboratories, other major research institutions, large and small energy producers and energy consumers. The mission of RPSEA, headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, is to provide a stewardship role in ensuring the focused research, development and deployment of safe and environmentally responsible technology that can effectively deliver hydrocarbons from domestic resources to the citizens of the United States. Additional information can be found at www.rpsea.org.

Funding for the projects is provided through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program established pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This program—funded from lease bonuses and royalties paid by industry to produce oil and gas on federal lands—is specifically designed to maximize the value of natural gas and other petroleum resources of the United States by increasing the supply of such resources, through reducing the cost and increasing the efficiency of exploration for and production of such resources, while improving safety and minimizing environmental impacts. The U.S. Secretary of Energy has ultimate responsibility for and oversight of all aspects of this program. RPSEA is under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory to administer three elements of the program.