Undocumented Orphaned Well Characterization and Remediation | DE FOA 0003343

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003343

The Undocumented Orphaned Well Characterization and Remediation funding opportunity (DE FOA 0003343) is a U.S. Department of Energy effort, administered through the National Energy Technology Laboratory, focused on reducing methane emissions and other environmental harms from undocumented orphaned wells. These are wells that were drilled historically but are not properly recorded, not actively managed by an operator, and may be leaking methane or creating pathways for fluids to migrate. The program sits within DOE's Office of Resource Sustainability, under the Methane Mitigation Technologies Program, and it is aimed at moving beyond basic field practices by pushing research and development that can make locating, diagnosing, and remediating these wells more reliable, faster, and less costly.

The core purpose of the announcement is to solicit R&D on advanced tools, new materials, and improved processes that strengthen three connected phases of work. First is wellbore characterization, meaning technologies and methods to find undocumented wells and understand their condition and geometry, including what is happening downhole and how the well interfaces with surrounding formations. Second is improving plugging and abandonment (P&A) operations, with an emphasis on more effective, more durable, and more practical approaches to sealing wells and preventing future leakage. Third is emissions monitoring before and after P&A, since verification is central to demonstrating that remediation actually reduced methane releases and did not create new environmental issues. Taken together, the DOE is signaling interest in innovations that can support the full lifecycle: detecting and characterizing undocumented wells, executing dependable remediation, and verifying results through monitoring.

Funding is expected to be awarded as cooperative agreements, which typically means the federal agency anticipates substantial involvement during the project period (for example, technical collaboration, milestone reviews, or coordinated planning). The opportunity is categorized under Energy (CFDA 81.089) and is discretionary. The award ceiling is listed at $3,400,000 per award, and DOE anticipates making about 7 awards, suggesting a competitive selection process with projects likely scoped at a meaningful pilot or advanced development scale rather than small exploratory studies.

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. That wide eligibility range implies DOE is open to proposals from universities, technology developers, service companies, and public entities that manage or are affected by orphaned well liabilities, as well as partnerships that combine field access with technical R&D capabilities.

Key administrative details include an original closing date of 2024-11-13 and an opportunity creation date of 2024-09-13. Overall, the grant is designed to accelerate practical, field-relevant innovations that can materially cut methane emissions associated with undocumented orphaned wells, while also improving confidence in remediation outcomes through better characterization and rigorous pre- and post-plugging emissions measurement.

• The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Undocumented Orphaned Well Characterization and Remediation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.089.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-09-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,400,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

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