RPSEA Selects Projects for the Ultra-Deepwater Program

SUGAR LAND, TX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) announces eleven proposals under the Ultra-Deepwater Program have been selected for negotiations leading to an award under its contract with the 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 by DOE pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

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 and 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.

"The 2009 Ultra-Deepwater Program project selections add to the existing 30 projects to form the foundation of a strong, interconnected assembly of tools and processes that will ultimately close the technological gaps in this challenging, but needed environment," said RPSEA Vice President of Technical Programs James Pappas. "The program goal is to unlock the potential for domestic hydrocarbon resources in water depths of 1,500 meters or greater by creating solutions to energy needs."

Ultra-Deepwater Program Selected Projects

  • Autonomous Inspection of Subsea Facilities
    Project Leader: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Additional Project Participants: Florida Atlantic University, Seanic Ocean Systems

  • High Resolution 3D Laser Imaging for Inspection, Maintenance, Repair and Operations
    Project Leader: 3D at Depth, LLC
    Additional Project Participants: UTEC Survey Inc., CDL Inc.

  • Sensors and Processing for Pipe, Riser, Structure, and Equipment Inspection to Provide Detailed Measurements, Corrosion Detection, Leak Detection and/or Detection of Heat Plumes from Degraded Pipeline Insulation
    Project Leader: Blueview Technologies Inc.

  • Development of Carbon Nanotube Composite Cables for Ultra-Deepwater Oil and Gas Fields
    Project Leader: Los Alamos National Laboratory
    Additional Project Participant: Chevron Energy Technology Company

  • Intelligent Production System for Ultra-Deepwater with Short Hop Wireless Power and Wireless Data Transfer for Lateral Production Control and Optimization
    Project Leader: Tubel Technologies, Inc.

  • Fatigue Testing Of Shrink-Fit Riser Connection for High Pressure Ultra-Deepwater Risers
    Project Leader: Subsea Riser Products
    Additional Project Participants: BP America, Inc.; Chevron Corporation

  • Deepwater Subsea Test Tree and Intervention Riser System
    Project Leader: DTC International, Inc.
    Additional Project Participants: Stress Engineering Services, Inc., Titanium Company, Det Norske Veritas

  • UDW Seabed Discharge of Produced Water and/or Solids
    Project Leader: Fluor Enterprises, Inc.
    Additional Project Participants: The University of Tulsa, Colorado School of Mines, University of Houston, Rice University, Texas A&M University, Louisiana State University, Cameron, FMC Corporation, NATCO Group Inc., GE Oil & Gas, Schlumberger Limited, Halliburton, Baker Petrolite, Coastal Chemical Company, Oceaneering International, Inc., Subsea 7 Limited, Framo Engineering, Roxar

  • Displacement & Mixing in Subsea Jumpers Experimental Data and CFD Simulations
    Project Leader: The University of Tulsa
    Additional Project Participants: Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, BG Group, BP America, Inc., BHP Billiton, Calsep International Consultants, Champion Technologies, Inc., Chevron Corporation, Eni S.p.A., Statoil, ONDEO, Nalco Company, Marathon Oil Corporation, Petrobras America, Inc., TOTAL E&P USA, Inc.

  • Gyroscope Guidance Sensor for Ultra-Deepwater Applications
    Project Leader: Laserlith Corporation
    Additional Project Participants: Colorado School of Mines, MicroAssembly Technologies, Inc., Ideal Aerosmith, LLC, X-FAB Silicon Foundries Group

  • A 1,000 Level Drill Pipe Deployed Fiber Optic 3C Receiver Array for Deep Boreholes
    Project Leader: Paulsson, Inc.
    Additional Project Participants: US Sensor Systems, Inc., Premier Drill Pipe, LTD, Kemlon Products, Inc., Optiphase, Inc., NORSAR

Funding for the projects is provided through the Department of Energy's "Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program" and 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 and reducing the cost and the efficiencies of exploration for and production of such resources. 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 160 members, including 25 of the nation's premier research universities, five national laboratories, other major research institutions, large and small energy producers and energy consumers. The mission of RPSEA, headquartered in Sugar Land, TX, 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.