Research projects to study ways for improving the environmental performance of unconventional natural gas development are being sought by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), a facility of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy.

The research opportunity was released in a request for proposals (RFP) issued by NETL’s contractor, the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA), with a deadline of March 6. A second RFP, focusing on the needs of small oil and natural gas producers, will close Feb. 27.

The RFP seeks projects in four technology focus areas:

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), signed into law in August 2005, added another dimension to DOE’s overall oil and natural gas research and development program. It enhanced opportunities to demonstrate technologies in the field and accelerate their implementation in the marketplace. This program is a public/private partnership valued at $400 million over eight years.

For more information, contact Jenny Hakun in the Fossil Energy Office of Communications at (202) 586-5616, or at jenny.hakun@hq.doe.gov.