What’s Changing—And Why It Matters for Producers
To speed up innovation and improve clarity for applicants, the Alberta Upstream Petroleum Research Fund (AUPRF) program is modernizing its 2026 project intake process. We are moving from a two‑step Expression of Interest submission followed by a full proposal to a single, RFP‑only process anchored by pre‑defined scopes and clearer expectations to meet industry needs. This streamlining shortens cycle time, focuses effort on the highest‑value topics, and strengthens oversight and communication throughout delivery.
The AUPRF2026 timeline for proponents begins in February when RFPs are issued based on the completed needs analysis, which we call the Policy Issues and Knowledge Gaps documents for each of the five focus areas (Air Emissions, Ecological management, Water management, Site Remediation and Well Decommissioning).
By April, responses to the RFPs will be expected, launching a detailed review by the AUPRF technical committees comprising volunteers from industry, governments and regulators.
By June, the selection processes will be completed, and contracting for the successful projects will be undertaken. The process culminates in projects being launched in July or August.
Over the past many years, projects have been funded for 1, 2 or even up to three years, although most funding can only be guaranteed yearly. And funding levels have ranged from as small as $10,000 to as large as +$500,000, with the average being somewhere around $150,000. Projects can originate from anywhere, so long as the work applies to the conventional oil and gas sector in Alberta.
April Well Levy: Producers, We Need Your Support
To fund the AUPRF program, the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) issues voluntary AUPRF well levy notices to producers each spring on behalf of PTAC and the AUPRF program. The AER collects these funds, at the same time as their own funding invoicing, as part of their support for the industry-led program. Their support is much appreciated.
AUPRF is funded by these voluntary contributions; historically, about 60–65% of the requested amount is collected. This means some of the needed research and technology development work cannot move forward due to limited funding, so we urge producers to carefully consider how their contributions to the fund could add value to their own organizations and the resilience and success of the industry as a whole.
How Producers Can Participate
Why Contribute: Impact & Outcomes
Producers fund AUPRF to solve shared operational and environmental challenges industry‑wide—with results leveraged by government/academic funding and translated into credible science, tested tools, and best practices that inform regulatory and guideline updates. Over recent cycles, AUPRF’s voluntary levy has supported dozens of projects annually across five technical areas backed by a cross‑industry governance committee of CAPP and EPAC members.