Technology Commercialization: Energy Policy Act 2005 Authorizes a Public Plus Private Partnership To Facilitate Research, Development, and Commercialization of Upstream Technologies

摘要

Over the past six (6) years OTC panel sessions have examined technology commercialization from many different perspectives; international consortiums / organizations, venture and private capital models, industry initiatives, etc. With the signing into law of the Energy Policy Act 2005, sub-part J authorizes funding of a Program Consortium to administer a research, development, demonstration, and commercial application program of technologies for ultra-deepwater and unconventional natural gas and other petroleum resource exploration and production, including addressing the technology challenges for small producers, safe operations, and environmental mitigation. With minimum risk and maximum benefit to the American People, the Program Consortium is charged to: (1) solicit, evaluate, and award subcontracts for research in three programmatic areas: ultra-deepwater architecture and technology; unconventional natural gas and other petroleum resource exploration and production technology; and technology challenges of small producers; (2) oversee and administer implementation of these awards and integration of disparate research projects; and (3) facilitate technology transfer so as to accelerate the production life cycle. The overall objective of the law is to maximize the value of indigenous United States petroleum resources with focus on near term results. Priority resources to be addressed include ultra-deepwater and onshore unconventional natural gas (tight gas sands, gas shales, coalbed methane); two areas identified by the National Petroleum Council and others as strategic areas for future supplies. The program will increase the supply of these resources through implementation of an applied research program to reduce recovery cost, increase the efficiency of exploration and production while improving safety and minimizing environmental impacts. The keynote speaker Oivind Reinertsen hails from Norway and is well familiar with the successful Norwegian DEMO2000 model. The co-chair Laura Atkins brings a wealth of industry experience in the R&D arena plus valuable insights from her role within OPEC. The panel members bring perspectives from the US Department of Energy - charged with program oversight, views from producers, service companies, venture capital investors, and academia.