Transformational Sensing Capabilities for Monitoring the Subsurface | DE FOA 0001998

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001998

Transformational Sensing Capabilities for Monitoring the Subsurface (DE-FOA-0001998) is a U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE/NETL) Request for Information focused on improving how CO2 storage sites are monitored during and after injection. The central goal is to gather input from a broad set of stakeholders (industry, universities, nonprofits, and research organizations) on research and development ideas that could lead to major, step-change improvements in sensing technologies used to track CO2 and related subsurface behavior. Although it is presented under a funding opportunity number, it is not a Funding Opportunity Announcement and it does not accept applications for funding. Instead, DOE is using the RFI to shape future program directions and identify promising technical approaches.

The RFI is specifically concerned with monitoring parameters associated with CO2 injection across the entire storage complex, meaning not only the injection reservoir itself, but also the overburden and underburden. In practice, this is about understanding where injected CO2 and displaced formation fluids move over time, verifying that the CO2 remains contained, and detecting potential migration pathways early. A key emphasis is placed on fluid flow that may extend beyond the immediate injection zone into the far field, particularly through features that are hard to observe directly such as faults, fracture networks, and other subtle geologic structures that could act as conduits. DOE is looking for sensing concepts that can reveal these kinds of pathways and behaviors with higher confidence than conventional monitoring approaches.

A major theme is the pursuit of "transformational" sensors or sensing systems. That wording signals interest in monitoring capabilities that go beyond incremental improvements and instead enable new levels of coverage, sensitivity, resolution, reliability, or cost-effectiveness. The RFI highlights two main capability targets: first, better monitoring of subsurface fluid movement (including CO2 plume evolution and pressure or brine displacement effects), and second, improved measurement of critical subsurface properties throughout a commercial-scale storage complex. The scale is important: DOE frames the problem around sites storing more than 50 million metric tons of CO2, which implies long operating lifetimes, large areal extent, and a need for monitoring systems that can operate robustly over large volumes and long periods without becoming prohibitively expensive or operationally complex.

DOE also clarifies what it means by a storage complex in this context. It consists of one or more storage reservoirs with sufficient porosity and permeability to accept and retain injected CO2, paired with one or more low-permeability seals (caprocks or sealing units) that bound the reservoir and prevent CO2 migration out of the storage interval. Monitoring, therefore, is not only about tracking CO2 within the reservoir but also about verifying seal performance and identifying any indications that CO2 or pressure changes are interacting with the sealing system or other confining layers in unexpected ways.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary and tied to the energy activity category (CFDA 81.089). Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning any entity type could provide input, subject to any specific clarifications in the full RFI text. Responses were required to be submitted electronically via email to DE-FOA0001998@netl.doe.gov with a specified subject line, and the deadline stated was 8:00 pm Eastern Time on December 3, 2018. The listing shows an expected awards count of zero, reinforcing that this is an information-gathering exercise rather than a competitive grant solicitation.

Overall, the RFI is best read as DOE/NETL signaling a technical need and inviting the community to propose research directions that could unlock better monitoring of large-scale geologic carbon storage. It is aimed at surfacing ideas that can detect and characterize difficult subsurface behaviors (especially along faults and fractures), support measurement of key reservoir and seal properties across large areas, and ultimately strengthen the ability to verify safe, effective, commercial-scale CO2 storage through more capable sensing technologies and integrated monitoring systems.

• The Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Transformational Sensing Capabilities for Monitoring the Subsurface" 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 Oct 19, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 03, 2018 Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically to DE-FOA0001998@netl.doe.gov with the subject line quotDE-FOA0001998 - RFIquot no later than 800pm (ET) on December 3, 2018. (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 $2.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for DE FOA 0001998

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: