Department of Energy Awards $36 Million to EERC for Enhanced Oil Recovery Program

BISMARCK, N.D. - Abundant oil and gas reserves, paired with first industry-leading fracking technology and affordable, reliable electricity, has put North Dakota at the forefront of U.S. energy dominance. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is capitalizing on this advantage by investing $36 million to support the University of North Dakota's Energy & Environmental Research Center's (EERC) work improving enhanced oil recovery technologies in the Bakken formation.

"North Dakota is a model for the rest of the country and demonstrates energy production and energy innovation go hand in hand," said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). "This investment recognizes years of work by the EERC, industry partners, and state leaders to unlock more of the Bakken's enormous potential while utilizing captured carbon dioxide productively. We know the Bakken still holds billions of barrels of oil just out of reach of our current technology, but through the combined efforts of the Department of Energy and industry partners, those barrels of oil will enhance our national security and increase our economic growth. While there is still more work to be done, this announcement represents a commitment to the future of North Dakota's oil industry-and a promise to America we will not step away from the resources God gave us."

Initial Bakken development only recovers approximately 10-15% of the oil in place. While partnerships between North Dakota and industry have made progress toward recovering additional oil, Cramer led efforts to correct leftist narratives regarding Bakken crude and leverage DOE dollars toward recovering the residual oil.

This federal investment includes $36 million from DOE's Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, along with $9 million in cost-share funding from the EERC and project partners for one of the six pilot projects.