Improved Oil and Gas Recovery and Produced Water Management Technologies

The U.S. Department of Energy, through its Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, is offering a funding opportunity titled Improved Oil and Gas Recovery and Produced Water Management Technologies. This program is designed to advance research and development initiatives that improve the efficiency of oil and natural gas extraction from unconventional reservoirs while also addressing challenges associated with produced water management. The funding aligns with broader federal priorities to enhance domestic energy production, reduce environmental risks, and promote technological innovation within the energy sector. The primary purpose of this opportunity is to support projects that can significantly increase recovery rates from unconventional oil and gas reservoirs, which currently often yield less than ten percent of available resources. Additionally, the program aims to develop and validate advanced technologies for treating and reusing produced water generated during oil and gas operations. These dual objectives seek to reduce reliance on deep well injection and mitigate associated environmental concerns such as induced seismicity and groundwater contamination. Funding will be awarded through cooperative agreements or other transaction agreements, with total federal funding available up to 150000000 dollars and a required minimum cost share of 20 percent for most research and development projects. The opportunity is divided into multiple topic areas, including enhanced recovery technologies, fracture characterization, CO2 based recovery methods, and produced water treatment systems. Individual awards vary by topic area, with some reaching up to 20000000 dollars in federal funding. Projects are expected to demonstrate technologies at advanced stages of readiness and include field deployment and validation components. Eligibility is limited primarily to domestic entities, including institutions of higher education, for profit and nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and Indian Tribes. Applicants must have a physical presence in the United States and demonstrate majority domestic ownership and control. While foreign entities may participate, they must obtain a formal waiver. All project work must be conducted within the United States unless an exception is granted. Federal agencies and certain federally funded research and development centers may only participate as subrecipients, not as primary applicants. The application process requires submission of a comprehensive proposal that includes a technical volume, budget documentation, letters of intent or commitment from industry partners, and supporting materials such as biosketches and project management plans. Applicants must demonstrate access to relevant field sites and provide evidence of collaboration with industry partners. Proposals are evaluated based on technical merit, relevance to program objectives, and the potential for impactful outcomes, including improvements in recovery efficiency and water management practices. The application deadline is September 08, 2026 at 500 p.m. Eastern Time, with anticipated selection notifications in January 2027 and awards expected in May 2027. The estimated period of performance for funded projects is approximately five years. This funding opportunity may remain open for up to 72 months with annual review cycles, allowing for multiple rounds of applications as funding remains available. Interested applicants can direct inquiries to the program email at DE-FOA-0003627 at netl dot doe dot gov.

Ensure strong industry partnerships with documented field site access; demonstrate clear pathway to field validation and commercialization; provide detailed technical and economic justification aligned with topic area goals