[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4743-4744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1689]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other
Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program 2009 Annual Plan
AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice of Report Availability.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Fossil Energy announces the availability of the
2009 Annual Plan for the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas
and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program on the
DOE Web site at http://management.energy.gov/FOIA/1480.htm or in print
form (see CONTACT below). The 2009 Annual Plan is in compliance with
the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Subtitle J, Section 999B(e)(3), which
requires the publication of this plan and all written comments in the
Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elena Melchert, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Oil and Natural Gas, Mail Stop FE-30, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585 or phone: 202-586-5600
or e-mail to [email protected].
[[Page 4744]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Summary [excerpted from the 2009
Annual Plan p. 3].
This document is the 2009 Annual Plan for the Ultra-Deepwater and
Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and
Development Program established pursuant to Title IX, Subtitle J
(Subtitle J) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct). Subtitle J is
reproduced in Appendix A to the 2009 Annual Plan.
As required by Subtitle J, the Department of Energy (DOE)
contracted with a consortium (Program Consortium) to administer three
program elements identified in EPAct: Ultra-deepwater architecture and
technology, unconventional natural gas and other petroleum resources
exploration and production technology, and technology challenges of
small producers.
A fourth program element of complementary research identified in
EPAct is being performed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory
(NETL). NETL is also tasked with management of the consortium contract,
and review and oversight of the Program Consortium.
In 2006, NETL awarded a contract to the Research Partnership to
Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) to function as the Program
Consortium.
The 2007 Annual Plan, the first annual plan, resulted in a total of
15 solicitations from which 43 projects were selected.
In August 2008, the 2008 Annual Plan was transmitted to Congress
and published in the Federal Register. Implementation will include a
total of 13 solicitations that are expected to be issued by the Program
Consortium in late fall/early winter 2008, with selections anticipated
in early 2009.
As further required by Subtitle J, in September 2008, two Federal
advisory committees, the Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee and the
Unconventional Resources Technology Advisory Committee, began their
respective reviews of the draft 2009 Annual Plan. In October 2008, the
two advisory committees provided their recommendations.
Section 999B(e)(3) of EPAct requires DOE to publish all written
comments on the annual plan. Accordingly, the Program Consortium's
final 2009 draft Annual Plan is included here as Appendix B and the
comments and recommendations provided by the advisory committees are
included here as Appendix C. No other written comments were received.
The 2009 Annual Plan provides a comprehensive outline of the
Program Consortium's research activities planned for 2009. The primary
focus of these activities is to fill in any technology gaps not
addressed by the projects and solicitations to date. A highlight of
this year's plan is the attention that will be given to technology
transfer.
Technology transfer is an important focus of the program. Section
999C(d) of EPAct requires 2.5% of the amount of each award to be
designated for technology transfer activities. The Federal advisory
committees recommended that more information on technology transfer be
included in future annual plans. In response, the 2009 Annual Plan
includes the structure for the overall technology transfer program.
Section 999 H(a) of EPAct provides that the Ultra-Deepwater and
Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Research Fund be funded
at $50-million-per-year, with funds generated from Federal lease
royalties, rents, and bonuses paid by oil and gas companies. Seventy-
five percent of these funds are obligated to the Program Consortium's
contract to execute three program elements. After allocations for
program management by NETL and program administration by the Program
Consortium, the amount to be invested in research activities by the
Program Consortium totals $31.88 million per year.
Under the Stage/Gate approach applied to prior year activities, all
Program Consortium administered projects will be fully funded to the
completion of the appropriate decision point identified in each
contract, which may include multiple stages. If a decision is made to
move to the next stage or decision point or to gather additional data,
additional funding will be provided from available funds.
The NETL Strategic Center for Natural Gas and Oil is responsible
for management of the consortium contract, and review and oversight of
the Program Consortium. Complementary R&D is being carried out by
NETL's Office of Research and Development. Planning and analysis
related to the program, including benefits assessment and technology
impacts analysis, is being carried out by NETL's Office of Systems,
Analysis, and Planning.
Section 999F of EPAct contains a general sunset provision for Title
IX, Subtitle J, of September 30, 2014.
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 9, 2009.
Guido DeHoratiis,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Oil and Natural Gas,
Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. E9-1689 Filed 1-26-09; 8:45 am]
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