The Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) announces 13 proposals under the Ultra-Deepwater Program have been selected for negotiations leading to an award under its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory and in support of the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program that was established pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
The $35 million in federal funding is added to $21 million in cost share by the industry participants giving a total value of the 13 selections of more than $56 million. This round of 2010 ultra-deepwater selections add to the first round of 2010 selections of five projects selected at the end of last year.
"The 2010 Ultra-Deepwater Program selections add to the 41 existing projects, and five 2010 project selections previously selected and already in negotiations in the RPSEA Ultra-Deepwater Program,” RPSEA Vice President, Ultra-Deepwater James Pappas said. “They have been carefully selected to address technological needs, while enhancing safety and reliability and reducing risks associated with developing and producing hydrocarbons in the Gulf of Mexico.” Additional project selection recommendations are still under U.S. Department of Energy consideration.
Awards, open to any U.S.-based organization, are negotiated once project selections are made within each RPSEA program, Unconventional Resources, Small Producer and Ultra-Deepwater. These projects focus on improving safety, minimizing environmental impacts, increasing efficiencies and reducing costs of domestic hydrocarbon resources, maximizing their value. Collaboration of America’s leading universities, research institutions, independents, national laboratories, state associations, service and operating companies is encouraged to utilize each of their research and technology resources. Proposals must provide a minimum of 20% cost share with up to 50% for field demonstration projects.
2010 ULTRA-DEEPWATER Program Selected Projects (2nd Round)
Ultra-High Conductivity Umbilicals: Polymer Nanotube Umbilicals (PNUs)
Houston, Texas
Project Leader: NanoRidge Materials, Inc.
Additional Project Participants: Rice University; Cambridge University; DUCO, Inc.; Total E&P Research & Technology, LLC; Shell International Exploration & Production; Baker Hughes Incorporated
Smart Cementing Materials and Drilling Muds for Real Time Monitoring of Deepwater Wellbore Enhancement
Houston, Texas
Project Leader: University of Houston
Additional Project Participants: Baker Hughes Incorporated
Intelligent Casing-Intelligent Formation Telemetry (ICIFT) System
Norman, Oklahoma
Project Leader: The Board of Regents of The University of Oklahoma
Additional Project Participants: Drill Right Technology, Inc.
Hydrate Modeling & Flow Loop Experiments for Water Continuous & Dispersed Systems
Golden, Colorado
Project Leader: Colorado School of Mines
Additional Project Participants: The University of Tulsa
Corrosion and Scale at Extreme Temperature and Pressure
Houston, Texas
Project Leader: Brine Chemistry Solutions LLC
Additional Project Participants: Rice University
All-Electric Subsea Autonomous High Integrity Pressure Protection System (HIPPS) Architecture
Niskayuna, New York
Project Leader: GE Global Research
Additional Project Participants: GE Oil & Gas; GE Energy; GE Aviation; GE Nuclear
Ultra-Deepwater Riser Concepts for High Motion Vessels
Houston, Texas
Project Leader: Stress Engineering
Qualification of Flexible Fiber-Reinforced Pipe for 10,000-Foot Water Depths
Niskayuna, New York
Project Leader: GE Global Research
Qualification of Flexible Fiber-Reinforced Pipe for 10,000-Foot Water Depths
Houston, Texas
Project Leader: DeepFlex
Additional Project Participants: Det Norske Veritas; MCS Kenny Ltd.; Southwest Research Institute; ETA International; BG Group plc; Chevron Corporation; Total E&P Research & Technology, LLC; Shell International Exploration & Production
Low Cost Flexible Production System for Remote Ultra-Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Field Development
Houston, Texas
Project Leader: DORIS, Inc.
Additional Project Participants: SSP, Inc.; DORIS Engineering
Ultra-Deepwater Dry Tree System for Drilling and Production in the Gulf of Mexico, Phase 2
Houston, Texas
Project Leader: Det Norske Veritas
Additional Project Participants: Kvaerner; Aker MH AS; Houston Offshore Engineering, LLC
Effects of Fiber Rope - Seabed Contact on Subsequent Rope Integrity
Houston, Texas
Project Leader: Stress Engineering
Additional Project Participants: SeaTrepid International, LLC; Delmar Systems, Inc.
Deepwater Direct Offloading Systems, Phase 1
Houston, Texas
Project Leader: Remora
Additional Project Participants: ABS Consulting; Ecology & Environment, Inc.
About RPSEA
Funding for the projects is provided through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program established pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This program—funded from lease bonuses and royalties paid by industry to produce oil and gas on federal lands—is specifically designed to maximize the value of natural gas and other petroleum resources of the United States by increasing the supply of such resources, through reducing the cost and increasing the efficiency of exploration for and production of such resources, while improving safety and minimizing environmental impacts. The Secretary of Energy has ultimate responsibility for and oversight of all aspects of this program. RPSEA is under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory to administer three elements of the program.
RPSEA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit consortium with more than 180 members, including 22 of the nation's premier research universities, six national laboratories, other major research institutions, large and small energy producers and energy consumers. The mission of RPSEA, headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, is to provide a stewardship role in ensuring the focused research, development and deployment of safe and environmentally responsible technology that can effectively deliver hydrocarbons from domestic resources to the citizens of the United States. Additional information can be found at www.rpsea.org.
