[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11147-11148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5083]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other
Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program 2010 Annual Plan
AGENCY: Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy.
ACTION: Notice of report availability.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Fossil Energy announces the availability of the
2010 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 2010 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].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Executive Summary [Excerpted From the 2010 Annual Plan p. 3]
This document is the 2010 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.
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 conducted by the National Energy
Technology Laboratory (NETL). NETL is also responsible for 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. The 2008 Annual
Plan resulted in the selection of 29 projects. Implementation of the
2009 Annual Plan includes 7 solicitations issued by the Program
Consortium in October 2009, with selections anticipated in early 2010.
As further required by Subtitle J, in September 2009, two Federal
advisory committees, the Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee and the
Unconventional Resources Technology Advisory Committee, began their
respective reviews of the draft 2010 Annual Plan. In October 2009, the
two advisory committees provided their recommendations.
Section 999B(e)(3) of EPAct requires DOE to publish all written
comments received regarding the annual plan. Accordingly, the Program
Consortium's 2010 draft Annual Plan is included here as Appendix B, and
the comments and recommendations provided by the two Federal advisory
committees are included here as Appendix C. No other written comments
were received.
The 2010 Annual Plan provides a comprehensive outline of the
research activities planned for 2010. The primary focus of these
activities is to fill in any technology gaps not adequately addressed
by the projects and solicitations to date. A highlight of 2010 Annual
Plan is the attention that is being given to technology transfer.
Technology transfer is important to the success of this research
program. Subtitle J requires 2.5% of the amount of each award to be
designated for technology transfer activities. The Federal advisory
committees have recommended that more information on
[[Page 11148]]
technology transfer be included in future annual plans. In response,
the 2010 Annual Plan describes the structure for the overall technology
transfer program.
Subtitle J 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 the
three program elements. After allocations for contract 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 years' activities,
all Program Consortium administered projects are 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's contract as part of its review and
oversight function. Complementary research and development (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.
Subtitle J contains a general sunset provision for Title IX,
Subtitle J, of September 30, 2014.
Issued in Washington, DC, on February 22, 2010.
Christopher A. Smith,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Oil and Natural Gas, Office of
Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 2010-5083 Filed 3-9-10; 8:45 am]
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