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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 41047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16423]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other 
Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program 2013 Annual Plan

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of report availability.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Fossil Energy announces the availability of the 
2013 Annual Plan for the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas 
and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program on the 
DOE Web site at http://energy.gov/fe/downloads/2013-annual-plan or in 
print form (see ``Contact'' below). The 2013 Annual Plan is in 
compliance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Subtitle J, Section 
999B(e)(3) which requires the publication of this plan and all written 
comments in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elena Melchert, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Oil and Natural Gas, Mail Stop FE-30, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585 or phone: (202) 586-5600 
or email to UltraDeepwater@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Executive Summary [Excerpted from the 2013 Annual Plan]

    This 2013 Annual Plan is the seventh research plan for the Ultra-
Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources 
Research Program since the launch of the program in 2007.
    This plan reflects the program's focus on safety and environmental 
sustainability that was initiated in the 2011 plan, and is consistent 
with the President's Office of Management and Budget directive for 
research that has significant potential public benefits.
    Onshore, research on Unconventional Resources focuses on protecting 
groundwater and air quality, understanding rock and fluid interactions, 
and integrated environmental protection, including water treatment 
technologies and water management. For small producers, the program 
focuses on extending the life of mature fields in an environmentally 
sustainable way.
    Offshore, research on Ultra-Deepwater emphasizes improved 
understanding of systems risk, reducing risk through the acquisition of 
real-time information, and reducing risk through the development of 
advanced technologies.
    The research activities described in this plan will be administered 
by the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA), which 
operates under the guidance of the Secretary of Energy. RPSEA is a 
consortium which includes representatives from industry, academia, and 
research institutions. The expertise of RPSEA's members in all areas of 
the exploration and production value chain ensures that the Department 
of Energy's research program leverages relevant emerging technologies 
and processes, and that project results will have a direct impact on 
practices in the field.

    Issued in Washington, DC on June 27, 2013.
Guido DeHoratiis,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Oil and Natural Gas, 
Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 2013-16423 Filed 7-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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