The Alberta Upstream Petroleum Research Fund (AUPRF), administered by PTAC, is pleased to launch its 2026 Request for Proposals (RFPs).
This year, AUPRF has transitioned to a targeted, committee-directed RFP approach, developed in close collaboration with industry funders. This ensures that funded projects are directly aligned with priority policy issues and critical knowledge gaps impacting Alberta’s upstream oil and gas sector.
The program supports the development of practical technologies, data-driven insights, and best practices that enhance environmental performance and industry competitiveness.
Submit your proposal and help shape the future of energy innovation.
| ROUND 1 |
Advancing tools and evidence to improve methane management, risk screening, and technically defensible well decommissioning decisions.
RFP Opportunities:
Total Available Funding: Up to ~$650,000 across projects
Water availability, drought preparedness, produced water management, storage integrity, and regulatory efficiency.
RFP Opportunities:
Total Available Funding: Up to ~$400,000 across projects
| KEY DATES (ROUND 1) |
HOW TO APPLY
Proponents are invited to submit proposals aligned with the defined RFP topics.
Submission Requirements:
| DOWNLOADS |
RFP Package – Round 1: Well Decommissioning Research
| RFP ID | Title | Proposal Submission Deadline |
| 26-WDRC-RFP-02 | Decision-Support Software Tool for Well Decommissioning in Alberta | May 8, 2026 (5 PM MST) |
| 26-WDRC-RFP-03 | Source and Leak Pathway Identification Processes and Tools | May 8, 2026 (5 PM MST) |
| 26-WDRC-RFP-04 | Integrated SCVF/GM Remediation Success and Verification | May 8, 2026 (5 PM MST) |
| 26-WDRC-RFP-05 | Thermal Operations Gas Measurement and Source Attribution for SCVF/GM (CH₄/H₂S) | May 8, 2026 (5 PM MST) |
| FAQs Round 1: Water Innovation & Well Decommissioning Research | ||
RFP Package – Round 1: Water Innovation
| RFP ID | Title | Proposal Submission Deadline |
| 26-WIPC-RFP-02 | Development of a Planning Tool to Conduct Drought and Water‑Availability Scenario Analysis for Oil And Gas Production Operational Planning | May 8, 2026 (5 PM MST) |
| 26-WIPC-RFP-03 | Assessment of Produced Water Transport and Storage Options for Alberta | May 8, 2026 (5 PM MST) |
| 26-WIPC-RFP-04 | Long‑Term Above‑Ground Water Storage: Management Options for Individual Producers and Shared (Multi‑Party) Use | May 8, 2026 (5 PM MST) |
| 26-WIPC-RFP-05 | Evidence‑Based Assessment of Freeboard Requirements for Wind‑Wave Effects in In‑Ground Water Storage | May 8, 2026 (5 PM MST) |
| FAQs Round 1: Water Innovation & Well Decommissioning Research | ||
| ROUND 2 |
These projects aim to improve efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory alignment in MSAPR compliance, leveraging real-world data and operational experience to support evidence-based decision-making.
RFP Opportunities:
Total Available Funding: Up to ~$200,000 across projects
| KEY DATES (ROUND 2) |
HOW TO APPLY
Proponents are invited to submit proposals aligned with the defined RFP topics.
Submission Requirements:
| DOWNLOADS |
RFP Package – Round 2: Air Research
| RFP ID | Title | Proposal Submission Deadline |
| 26-ARPC-RFP-01 | Alternative Engine Emissions Testing Methodologies for Regulatory Compliance | June 12, 2026 (5 PM MST) |
| 26-ARPC-RFP-02 | MSAPR Cost-Benefit Assessment & Optimization (Data-Driven Design) | June 12, 2026 (5 PM MST) |
| ROUND 3 – NOW OPEN |
Focused on developing remote sensing and digital decision tools to assess disturbance recovery along a trajectory, supporting defensible, operational decision-making.
RFP Opportunities:
Total Available Funding: Up to ~$125,000 across projects
An evidence-based review of closure tools and pathways to improve efficiency, clarity, and consistency in progressing sites toward closure, and the development of a public, standardized catalogue of drilling fluid additives to support Phase 1 ESA workflows and reduce unnecessary escalation to Phase 2.
RFP Opportunities:
Total Available Funding: Up to ~$130,000 across the project
| KEY DATES (ROUND 3) |
HOW TO APPLY
Proponents are invited to submit proposals aligned with the defined RFP topics.
Submission Requirements:
| DOWNLOADS |
RFP Package – Round 3: Ecological Research
| RFP ID | Title | Proposal Submission Deadline |
| 26-ERPC-RFP-01 | Disturbance Monitoring and Assessment for Active Management: Remote Sensing and Digital Decision Tools to Assess Disturbance Recovery and Trajectory | June 17, 2026 (5 PM MST) |
RFP Package – Round 3: Remediation Reclamation Research
| RFP ID | Title | Proposal Submission Deadline |
| 26-RRRC-RFP-01 | Identifying Opportunities to Improve Contaminated Site Closure Outcomes in Alberta – Evidence-Based Review of Tools, Pathways, and Decision Processes and Practical Implementation Opportunities | June 17, 2026 (5 PM MST) |
| 26-RRRC-RFP-03 | Drilling Fluids Searchable Catalogue | June 17, 2026 (5 PM MST) |
For questions or clarification, please contact: [email protected]