Advancing Oil and Natural Gas Production and Delivery

KEY INFORMATION

Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0003634

Agency: Department of Energy, Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office

Total Program Funding: $65,500,000

Cost Share: 20% minimum

Est. Number of Awards: 16

Full Application Due Date: September 22, 2026

 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) is launching a funding opportunity to advance technologies across the U.S. oil and natural gas supply chain, from production and processing to transportation and end use. The program aims to improve energy security, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen U.S. leadership in energy technologies.

Key priorities include:

• Capturing and utilizing flared or vented natural gas to reduce waste and increase resource recovery.

• Improving equipment performance and reliability across midstream and downstream operations.

• Lowering operational costs through automation, predictive maintenance, data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning.

• Supporting the responsible development of domestic unconventional oil and natural gas resources.

 

TOPIC AREAS 

The funding opportunity supports three focus areas:

Topic Area 1: Enhanced Resource Utilization and Production Technologies

Topic Area 1 will fund the development, testing, and validation of advanced technologies to improve the utilization of natural gas and natural gas liquids.

Topic Area 1a: Laboratory Validation of Catalysts and Unit Operations

Total Available Funding: $7,500,000

Number of Awards: 5

The objective of Topic Area 1a is to apply computational approaches and process intensification research and development (R&D) to rapidly develop and validate new catalysts, reactor systems, and separation technologies.

 

Topic Area 1B: Field Validation of Full Systems Prototypes

Total Available Funding: $18,000,000

Number of Awards: 3

The objective of Topic Area 1b is to conduct field testing across multiple oil and gas production basins and well sites to confirm the pre-commercial validation of new modular decentralized gas conversion systems, sour gas processing technologies, and other innovative direct utilization applications that demonstrate the profitable use of unused or underutilized natural gas systems.

 

Topic Area 2: Resilient Infrastructure Technology Enhancement

Total Available Funding: $12,000,000

Number of Awards: 4

The objective of Topic Area 2 is to develop, validate, and field test advanced technologies that enhance the durability, reliability, and deliverability of the U.S. oil and natural gas supply chain. Projects will conclude with field demonstrations to validate performance, confirm operational practicality, and collect data demonstrating financial benefits that can accelerate adoption by operators and service companies.

 

Topic Area 3: Hydrocarbon Infrastructure Test Sites (HITS)

Total Available Funding: $28,000,000

Number of Awards: 4

The objective of Topic Area 3 is to improve the production efficiency and deliverability of the U.S. oil and natural gas supply chain by establishing and leveraging both controlled and actively operating production, processing, and transportation facilities to validate innovative technologies and continuous monitoring systems.

 

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

The following entities can apply as primary applicants:

•  IHEs

• For-profit organizations

• Nonprofit organizations

• State governments

• Local governments

• Tribal entities

 

KEY DATES 

Release Date: July 23, 2026

Full Application Due Date: September 22, 2026

 

RESOURCES 

View the full guidance here.

Read the official press release here.