The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) DE-FOA-0003377 regarding a possible Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for research on “Undocumented Orphaned Well Characterization and Remediation.” Issued on behalf of the DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, this NOI outlines anticipated areas of focus for advancing technology to address undocumented orphaned wells (UOWs). The FOA, if released, would seek cost-shared research and development (R&D) proposals aimed at improving the detection, characterization, and permanent sealing of UOWs to reduce methane emissions and other environmental impacts. DOE emphasizes that the NOI is preliminary, and they reserve the right to modify or withdraw it prior to issuing a formal FOA.
The anticipated technical objectives aim to advance cost-effective, commercially viable technologies. First, the FOA will seek to address the need for advanced remediation techniques designed for UOW boreholes to seal wells permanently, with minimal disturbance to surrounding land and ecosystems. These solutions are intended to eliminate leakage pathways for hydrocarbons, effectively preventing emissions and environmental contamination.
In addition to remediation, the second primary objective focuses on non-invasive wellbore characterization technologies that allow for surface-level assessments of wellbore conditions. Such tools would enable operators to determine structural conditions and the need for specific plugging and abandonment (P&A) strategies without requiring physical entry into the wellbore. This approach seeks to improve the efficiency of remediation efforts, particularly for wells in unique or difficult conditions.
The third area of focus concerns long-term monitoring technologies that provide cost-effective means to track methane emissions from UOWs before and after P&A activities. These monitoring solutions aim to support the DOE’s decarbonization goals by ensuring that emissions from orphaned wells are accurately measured and minimized over time, thus contributing to broader climate goals. Selected projects will also be expected to document environmental conditions near UOWs to help prioritize P&A efforts and ensure long-term stability of remediation activities.
If released, the FOA will require applicants to demonstrate a strong technical approach, including the identification of industry partners, site locations for well assessments, a timeline for field operations, and a detailed task list to verify the technology’s performance. Projects must align with DOE's net-zero emissions objectives and emphasize the safe deployment of new technologies.
DOE expects applicants to register on Grants.gov and FedConnect for access to future updates regarding this potential FOA. Several steps, including obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and registering in the System for Award Management (SAM), are required to submit a formal application. DOE strongly encourages interested applicants to begin these registrations early, as the process may take up to 44 days. Currently, DOE is not accepting questions or applications related to this NOI. Further instructions for inquiries and applications will be provided in the FOA, if and when it is issued.
