Peace Garden News

The North Dakota Industrial Commission has approved nearly $6.3 million in matching grants for the Oil and Gas Research Program during its 61st grant round. The commission, consisting of Governor Kelly Armstrong, Attorney General Drew Wrigley, and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, is focused on advancing oil and natural gas production in the state.

The Oil and Gas Research Program, established in 2007, is funded through taxes on oil and gas production and extraction. These funds support various initiatives aimed at improving energy production practices and addressing environmental concerns. As part of the program, the North Dakota legislature allocated $3 million from oil and gas taxes to fund the Clean Natural Gas Capture and Emissions Reduction Program. This initiative provides incentives for projects that capture natural gas that would otherwise be flared, reducing waste and harmful emissions.

“The state’s investments in oil and gas research reflect our commitment to both innovation and the responsible development of North Dakota’s abundant energy resources,” said the Commission in a collective statement. “We also recognize and appreciate the energy industry’s ongoing investments in research, which help unlock new opportunities for energy development in the state.”

Among the approved projects are a $2,566,341 grant for the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) for its "Breaking New Ground in Flaring Reduction" project, and $1 million for Cobra Oil & Gas Corporation’s project to “Maximize Lateral Well Oil Production from Conventional Carbonate Mission Canyon Reservoirs in North Dakota.” Additionally, the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation will receive $930,245 for its Outreach and Education Program, while $1.8 million will go to EERC for a project titled “Injection Testing with Propane to Inform Future Bakken CO2 EOR Pilot.”

These investments are designed to continue improving North Dakota’s energy industry while promoting sustainable practices.