About the Alliance
The EFD Program creates a partnership between National Laboratories and key University partners to develop and disseminate critical new technology to accelerate development of domestic reserves in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. Historically the national labs have provided beneficial technologies to increase oil and gas production, but have not focused in the past few years on basic research aimed at providing clean fossil energy to the public in cost effective environmentally acceptable manner. Universities have provided education, service, and research but primarily in regional areas and in most instances, specialized areas.
The EFD University/National Laboratories Alliance combines the strong vision and strategic plan of a member led organization with the strengths of a network of highly skilled professionals and well equipped facilities having the talent to move ideas into operations. The objectives of the alliance are:
- To use the EFD programs information collection, synthesis, and dissemination organization.
- To tap into national laboratories scientific research capabilities by forging a partnership with universities, operators, services companies, environmental organizations and other laboratories to help meet the overall goals of the RPSEA consortium.
- To utilize Universities in key areas as centers for information - and as agents to provide that information to stakeholders in the area.
- To bring highest level research capability to bear on the critical gap and basic research in technology needed to increase our energy reserves.
- To provide fundamental research that can be later incorporated into funded projects and commercial operations.
- To serve as a network link among the regional EFD partners and their constituencies.
The University/National Laboratories Alliance assists in the coordination of regional partners. Specifically the Alliance provides the following:
Outreach in the Rocky Mountains and Desert Southwest
Address regional issues related to development of private and public lands including the Uinta, Piceance, and other plays in the West. Utah State, University of Colorado, SHSU, University of Wyoming, and HARC will lead the effort.
Outreach in Northeast
Inform and educate public and industry concerning EFD practices that may be used in the Marcellus Shale development. West Virginia University, Argonne National Lab, and TAMU will lead the effort. A key focus will be produced water management.
Native American Outreach
A working relationship has been established with the Jicarilla Apache Nation. Workshops will be held with the Jicarilla Nation to inform and educate them of EFD systems that are applicable in the desert ecosystem.The objective is to determine the best methods of working with Native American land owners so that the program may be replicated at other Native American lands. HARC and Terra Platforms will lead the effort.
Outreach in the Upper Midwest
Create a communication network with industry, state and federal officials involved in the development of the Bakken and other plays. TAMU will lead the effort, interfacing with their contacts at North Dakota State University.
New Programs
Alliance members discuss new opportunities as they arise.