Welcome to the NETL Oil & Natural Gas Technologies Reference Shelf.  Recently released and in-demand reference materials are available directly from this page using the links below.

Online Database of Oil and Natural Gas Research Results Now Available The Knowledge Management Database (KMD) provides easy access to the results of nearly four decades of research supported by the Office of Fossil Energy’s Oil and Natural Gas Program. The database portal provides access to content from dozens of CDs and DVDs related to oil and natural gas research that FE's National Energy Technology Laboratory has published over the years. It also provides links to reports, data sets, and project summaries from ongoing research. Access the KMD

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Projects:
Detailed project descriptions, including links to project related publications and publically available deliverables, are provided for many of the Oil and Natural Gas Technology program's current and completed projects.

Publications:
Newsletters | Brochures | Factsheets | Reports | E&P Bibliography | News Releases

Newsletters:

• Fire in the Ice: A quarterly publication highlighting the National Methane Hydrate R&D Program
• E & P Focus:  E&P Focus highlights NETL's oil and natural gas exploration and production (E&P) activities.

Brochures:

• December, 2011: Mobility and Conformance Control for Carbon Dioxide Ehhanced Oil Recovery Via Thickeners, Foams, and Gels - A Detailed Literature Review of 40 Years of Research [PDF]
• August, 2011: Publicly Funded Oil & Natural Gas R&D Increases Domestic Energy Supplies [PDF-3.40MB]
• March, 2011: Shale Gas: Applying Technology to Solve America's Energy Challenges [PDF-9.51MB]
• February, 2011: Energy Resource Potential of Methane Hydrate [PDF-1.98MB]
• March, 2010: CO2 EOR Primer [PDF-18.1MB] (Reduced size) [PDF-2.55MB]

Program Fact Sheets:

• Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research Program - Program Fact Sheet [PDF]
• Unconventional Fossil Energy Resource Program - Program Fact Sheet [PDF]
• Technology Solutions for Mitigating Environmental Impacts of Oil and Gas E&P Activity [PDF] - Program Fact Sheet
• Methane Hydrates R&D Program - Program Fact Sheet [PDF]
• The Arctic Energy Office Program Fact Sheet - Program Fact Sheet [PDF]

Program Reports

• Domestic Unconventional Fossil Energy Resource Opportunities and Technology Applications - Report to Congress [PDF-9.32MB]

Oil & Natural Gas Project Reports //Archive 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 |2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002

Additional reports are available by using search functions of the Oil & Natural Gas Document Archive. Select the link to the Document Repository.

• May, 2013 Final Project Report DE-NT0005665 Source Characterization and Temporal Variation of Methane Seepage from Thermokarst Lakes on the Alaska North Slope In Response to Arctic Climate Change [PDF-12.3MB]
• May, 2013 Final Project Report 08122-48 Sustaining Fracture Area and Conductivity of Gas Shale Reservoirs for Enhancing Long-Term Production and Recovery [PDF-17MB]
• March, 2013 Final Project Report DE-FC26-06NT42959 Electrical Resistivity Investigation of Gas Hydrate Distribution in Mississippi Canyon Block 118, Gulf of Mexico [PDF-4.29MB]
• April, 2013 Final Project Report 09121-3300-02 Displacement & Mixing in Subsea Jumpers - Experimental Data and CFD Simulations [PDF-3.15MB]
• March, 2013 Final Project Report 09121-3500-01 Intelligent Production System for Ultra-Deepwater with Short Hop Wireless Power and Wireless Data Transfer for Lateral Production Control and Optimization [PDF-2.15MB]
• February, 2013 Final Project Report 09123-20 Creating Fractures Past Damage More Effectively With Less Environmental Damage [PDF-1.52MB]
• February, 2013 Final Project Report DE-FC26-08NT0005641 Producing Light Oil from a Frozen Reservoir: Reservoir and Fluid Characterization of Umiat Field, National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska [PDF-47.4MB]
• January, 2013 Final Project Report DE-FE0000408 Post Retort, Pre Hydro-treat Upgrading of Shale Oil [PDF-1.60MB]
• January, 2013 Final Project Report 08123-12 Evaluation and Modeling of Stratigraphic Control on the Distribution of Hydrothermal Dolomite Reservoir Away From Major Fault Planes [PDF-14MB]
• January, 2013 Final Project Report 08122-40 Stratigraphic Controls on Higher-than-average Permeability Zones in Tight-gas Sands in the Piceance Basin [PDF-12.7MB]
• January, 2013 Final Project Report 08122-55 Evaluation of Fracture Systems and Stress Fields within the Marcellus Shale and Utica Shale and Characterization of Associated Water-Disposal Reservoirs: Appalachian Basin [PDF-14.6MB]
• November, 2012 Final Project Report 08121-2902-02 Technologies of the Future for Pipeline Monitoring and Inspection [PDF-2.47MB]
• November, 2012 Final Project Report 07122-22 Petrophysical Studies of Unconventional Gas Reservoirs Using High-resolution Rock Imaging [PDF-27.7MB]
• November, 2012 Final Project Report 08122-35 The Environmentally Friendly Drilling Systems Program [PDF-4.33]
• October, 2012 Final Project Report DE-FE0003537 Next Generation Surfactants for Improved Chemical Flooding Technology [PDF-1.91MB]
• October, 2012 Final Project Report 08123-02 Field Demonstration of Alkaline Surfactant Polymer Floods in Mature Oil Reservoirs Brookshire Dome, Texas [PDF-5.06MB]
• October, 2012 Final Project report DE-FC26-08NT0005663 Fluid and Rock Property Controls On Production and Seismic Monitoring Alaska Heavy Oils [PDF-2.82MB]
• September, 2012 Final Project Report NT0005667 Assessing the Efficacy of the Aerobic Methanotropic Biofilter in Methane Hydrate Environments [PDF-2.50MB]
• September, 2012: Final Project Report NT43291 Subtask 1.8 Investigation of Improved Conductivity and Proppant Applications in the Bakken Formation [PDF-10.5MB]
• August, 2012: Final Project Report DE-FG26-NT0005679 Bridging the Gap between Chemical Flooding and Independent Oil Producers [PDF-21MB]
• August, 2012: Final Project Report 07122-33 Advanced Hydraulic Fracturing Technology For Unconventional Tight Gas Reservoirs [PDF-3.85MB]
• August, 2012: Final Project Report 08121-2902-04 Replacing Chemical Biocides with Targeted Bacteriophages in Deepwater Pipelines and Reservoirs: A Proof of Concept Study [PDF-6.39MB]
• August, 2012: Final Project Report 09121-3300-10 Development of Carbon Nanotube Composite Cables for Ultra Deep Water Oil and Gas Fields [PDF-492KB]
• August, 2012: Final Project Report 07122-38 Improvement of Fracturing for Gas Shales [PDF-7.17MB]
• July, 2012: Final Project Report NT0005671 Water-Related Issues Affecting Conventional Oil and Gas Recovery and Potential Oil Shale Development in the Uinta Basin, Utah [PDF-99.3MB]
• June, 2012: Final Project Report 08123-19 Commercial Exploitation and the Origin of Residual Oil Zones: Developing a Case History in the Permian Basin of New Mexico and West Texas [PDF-4.30MB]
  Appendix to Final Project Report [PDF-23.9MB]
• June, 2012: Final Project Report NT0006556 Chemical Methods for Ugnu Viscous Oils [PDF-2.90MB]
• June, 2012: Final Project Report FE0000797 Comprehensive Lifecycle Planning and Management System for Addressing Water Issues Associated With Shale Gas Development in New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia [PDF-578KB]
• June, 2012: Final Project Report NT0005680 Online Produced Water Treatment Catalog and Decision Tool [PDF-681KB]
• June, 2012: Final Project Report 07122-14 Comprehensive Investigation of the Biogeochemical Factors Enhancing Microbially Generated Methane in Coal Beds [PDF-4.40MB]
• June, 2012: Final Project Report FE0001466 Zero Discharge Water Management for Horizontal Shale Gas Well Development [PDF-1.77MB]
• June, 2012: Final Project Report 07121-1603D Thesis - Structural Health Monitoring System for Deepwater Risers with Vortex-induced Vibration [PDF-6.8MB]
• May, 2012: Final Project Report 08121-2801-02 GOMEX 3-D Operational Ocean Forecast System Pilot Project [PDF-6.56MB]
• May, 2012: Final Project Report NT42960 Detection and Production of Methane Hydrate [PDF-12.3MB]
• May, 2012: Topical Report FE0001243 Conjunctive Surface and Groundwater Management in Utah: Implications for Oil Shale and Oil Sands Development [PDF-26.2MB]

E&P and Methane Hydrate Bibliographies:
Oil and Natural Gas R&D Program Bibliography [PDF] The bibliography contains a listing of DOE/NETL-sponsored student researchers as well as reports and presentations resulting from Oil and Natural Gas R&D Program research projects.
Methane Hydrates Project Reports Bibliography[PDF] The bibliography lists publications resulting from DOE/NETL-sponsored methane hydrate R&D Program research projects.

News Releases/TechLines: //Archive 2012|2011|2010| 2009 |2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002
Announcements describing technical progress in a particular project or program area.

• May, 2013: Expedition Provides New Insight on Gas Hydrates in Gulf of Mexico
  A joint-federal-agency 15-day research expedition in the northern Gulf of Mexico yielded innovative high-resolution seismic data and imagery that will help refine characterizations of large methane hydrate resources in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.
• April, 2013: Hydraulic Fracturing Data Collection Tools Improve Environmental Reporting, Monitoring, Protection Two data collection tools specifically developed for hydraulic fracturing are available to help regulatory agencies monitor drilling and completion operations and enhance environmental protection.
• April, 2013: DOE Accord Seeks Accelerated Development of Alaska's Vast Unconventional Energy Resources Development of potentially vast and important unconventional energy resources in Alaska – including viscous oil and methane hydrates – could be accelerated under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed today by the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
• April, 2013: Innovative Technology Improves Upgrading Process for Unconventional Oil Resources An innovative oil-upgrading technology that can increase the economics of unconventional petroleum resources has been developed under a U.S. Department of Energy -funded project.
• April, 2013: Hydraulic Fracturing Data Collection Tools Improve Environmental Reporting, Monitoring, Protection Two data collection tools specifically developed for hydraulic fracturing are available to help regulatory agencies monitor drilling and completion operations and enhance environmental protection.
• April, 2013: DOE Accord Seeks Accelerated Development of Alaska's Vast Unconventional Energy Resources Development of potentially vast and important unconventional energy resources in Alaska – including viscous oil and methane hydrates – could be accelerated under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed today by the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
• March, 2013: Data from Innovative Methane Hydrate Test on Alaska's North Slope Now Available on NETL Website Data from an innovative test conducted last year that used carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2) injection to release natural gas from methane hydrates at a well on the Alaska North Slope is now available to researchers and the public on the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) website.
• March, 2013: Alaskan Ice Road Water Supplies Augmented by Snow Barriers In a project supported and managed by the Office of Fossil Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks have demonstrated that the use of artificial barriers—snow fences—can significantly increase the amount of fresh water supplies in Arctic lakes at a fraction of the cost of bringing in water from nearby lakes. The results promise to enhance environmentally sound development of Alaska’s natural resources, lowering the costs of building ice roads used for exploring for oil and natural gas in Alaska. They could also be used to help augment fresh water supplies at remote villages.
• December, 2012: Research Projects Addressing Technical Challenges to Environmentally Acceptable Shale Gas Development Selected by DOE Fifteen research projects aimed at addressing the technical challenges of producing natural gas from shales and tight sands, while simultaneously reducing environmental footprints and risks, have been selected to receive a total of $28 million in funding from the DOE's Office of Fossil Energy. The research contracts will be administered by the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America, under NETL management.
• October, 2012: New Wastewater Treatment Facilities To Open With DOE-Tested Technology Two new plants for treating shale-gas wastewater are set to open this month in western Pennsylvania. Using a unique, patented water desalination process developed with support from NETL, the plants actually exceed the state's discharge water quality standards.
• August, 2012: The Energy Department Announces the Selection of 14 New Methane Hydrate Research Projects The projects will research the nature and occurrence of deepwater and Arctic gas hydrates and its potential for dramatically expanding U.S. energy supplies. The projects build on the completion of a successful, unprecedented test earlier this year that was able to safely extract a steady flow of natural gas from methane hydrates on the North Slope of Alaska.
• August, 2012: Favorable Supplies, Costs, Environmental Profile for Natural Gas Revealed in New Department of Energy Study The nation’s large resource base of natural gas can be used for cost-effective power generation, with environmental burdens coming primarily from fuel combustion, not resource extraction, according to a new Department of Energy (DOE) study.
• July, 2012: Recent Study Provides Insight into Vast Energy Resource in Residual Oil Zones Billions of barrels of oil that could increase domestic supply, help reduce imports, and increase U.S. energy security may be potentially recoverable from residual oil zones, according to initial findings from a study supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE). The recently completed study is one of several FE-supported research projects providing insight that will help tap this valuable-but-overlooked resource.
• June, 2012: Research Projects to Address Technical Challenges Facing Small Oil and Natural Gas Producers Selected by DOE for Further Development Nine new research projects aimed at extending the life of mature oil and natural gas fields, while simultaneously reducing the environmental footprint of production operations and minimizing environmental risks, have been selected to receive a total of $8.5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE). The research contracts will be administered by the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America, under NETL management.
• May, 2012: DOE Announces New Research to Advance Safe and Responsible Deepwater Drilling Technologies Thirteen projects aimed at reducing the risks while enhancing the environmental performance of drilling for natural gas and oil in ultra-deepwater settings have been selected by DOE for further development. The total value of the projects is more than $56 million over 4 years with approximately $21.2 million of cost-share provided by the research partners in addition to the $35.4 million in federal funds. The research contracts will be administered by the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America, under NETL management.
• May, 2012: Natural Gas Compression Technology Improves Transport and Efficiencies, Lowers Operating Costs An award-winning compressor design that decreases the energy required to compress and transport natural gas, lowers operating costs, improves efficiencies and reduces the environmental footprint of well site operations has been developed by a Massachusetts-based company with support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
• May, 2012: U.S. and Japan Complete Successful Field Trial of Methane Hydrate Production Technologies U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the completion of a successful, unprecedented test of technology in the North Slope of Alaska that was able to safely extract a steady flow of natural gas from methane hydrates – a vast, entirely untapped resource that holds enormous potential for U.S. economic and energy security.
• May, 2012: Novel Surfactant Formulation May Bring New Life to Mature Oilfields A new generation of high-performance surfactants has proven successful in mobilizing residual oil in two mature fields in Oklahoma through a project supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Read the detailed project summary.

Software:

• Computer Software and Supporting Documentation

Enhanced Oil Recovery Illustrations:

• Cross-sectional illustrations of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Methods, drawn by Joe. R. Lindley, Publications Specialist.

CDs/DVDs:
DVDs and CDs are currently available for download or ordering through the Knowledge Management Database (KMD). The CD/DVD Library section of the KMD provides access to CDs and DVDs released by the Oil and Natural Gas R&D Program from 1997 - present.