The Alberta Upstream Petroleum Research Fund (AUPRF) is seeking applications for 2023 projects that are of focused interest to industry. The priority focus areas include: Air Issues, Ecological, Remediation and Reclamation, Water Resources and Well Abandonment.
AUPRF is an industry sponsored program and is managed and administered through Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada (PTAC). Producers, the Alberta Energy Regulator and Alberta Environment and Parks provide oversight and technical direction to the AUPRF program. Many of the AUPRF projects and committees also collaborate with Environment Climate Change Canada, British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission and Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources.
The AUPRF Program provides an effective mechanism for industry and government to coordinate and collaborate on the formulation and delivery of strategic environmental research and innovation. The AUPRF Program supports practical science-based studies that develop credible and relevant information to address knowledge gaps in the understanding and management of high priority environmental and social matters related to conventional oil and gas exploration and development in Alberta. Research results are shared with the oil and gas industry as well as regulators, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
Since inception, the AUPRF program has invested $31M to over 474 projects. In a recent analysis of the program, there was an estimated cost savings of $93 million realized per year with a projected future value of $204 million per year. The savings realized by industry through these studies is often the result of industry best practices and improved policies and regulations.
PTAC is currently soliciting proposals which address specific knowledge gaps in the understanding and management of high priority environmental and social matters. The AUPRF application process utilizes a staged approach:
- Step 1 LOI will be open as of October 3rd and interested applicants should submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) no later than October 21, 2022.
- Successful applicants will be asked to submit a more detailed proposal in November 2022.
- Selected projects to proceed will be announced in June 2023.
Select the technical area below to view the knowledge gaps in which proposals and innovative solutions are being sought.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Step 1 – Letter of Intent (LOI)
This application process is a staged approach. The intent of the LOI is to provide a high-level overview of the project in non-technical terms. This is a short online application, please do not submit any confidential information. Note that a typical award amount ranges from $5,000 to $200,000 CDN.
Step 2 – Detailed Proposal
Successful applicants will be asked to submit a detailed proposal.
PTAC is a neutral facilitator of multi-stakeholder industry research and technology development projects and PTAC staff will not screen, evaluate or make decisions on the review of proposals and selection of projects.
For more information or if you have questions please contact:
Lorie Mayes
Environmental Research Coordinator
403-218-7707
lmayes@ptac.org
NSERC FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Researchers who are NSERC-eligible and who wish to apply to AUPRF and NSERC for matching project funding must complete both the AUPRF application and NSERC Alliance Grant application. The following is a link to NSERC website: NSERC – Alliance grants (nserc-crsng.gc.ca)
