US DOE plans to form research consortia on oil, natural gas

Washington (Platts)--19Oct2005

The US Dept of Energy is preparing to form a nonprofit consortium that
would distribute $50-mil a year in grants for research involving
ultra-deepwater and unconventional sources of oil and natural gas. DOE said in
a notice Tuesday that it expects to request competitive bids to form the
consortium in early November. 
     Companies, trade associations, universities, national laboratories and
other research institutions will be eligible to participate in the groups. The
Energy Policy Act of 2005, which President Bush signed into law in August,
authorized the program. The measure requires DOE to name the consortium by
May. 
     The group will be responsible for administering the program, issuing
project solicitations and making financial awards to projects. Under the law,
the program is required to consider new technologies for exploration and
production in ultra-deepwater (depths exceeding 15,000 feet) and
unconventional sources, as well as "the technology challenges of small
producers."

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