Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Steven Winberg

A few weeks ago, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) announced the release of a new report: U.S. Oil and Natural Gas: Providing Energy Security and Supporting Our Quality of Life. DOE’s technology innovations make it a world energy leader, helping provide a sustainable domestic energy supply and essential economic benefits for the entire Nation.

The report states that oil and natural gas make up two- thirds of Americans’ daily energy consumption, making these fossil fuels vitally important to meeting America’s energy needs. And, for the next twenty years, oil and natural gas are projected to account for the majority of energy consumption in the United States.

This abundance is a direct result of DOE research. The Department performed early-stage research into production methods and worked with industry to develop technology that resulted in a dramatic increase in domestic oil and gas production. While the United States was once heavily reliant on oil and natural gas imports, we are now a major exporter to international energy markets.

To learn more about the U.S. Oil and Natural Gas report, visit the Office of Fossil Energy's website.

A few weeks ago, the Office of Fossil Energy (FE), in collaboration with the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the Office of Science, announced a request for information (RFI) about “enhanced weathering” research opportunities that could lead to advances in the capture and storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂).

This RFI seeks input from stakeholders on research to support enhanced weathering as a viable negative emissions technology to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere. That technology would accelerate the decomposition of calcium- and magnesium-rich silicate rock and increase the rate of CO₂ removal from the atmosphere.

Learn more about the enhanced weathering RFI on FE’s website.

FE's Office of Oil and Natural Gas produced a report on oil and natural gas to recognize the critical role of advanced energy technology innovation in maintaining U.S. economic success and providing a sustainable domestic energy supply for the future. Over the past two decades, we have witnessed dramatic growth in our Nation’s ability to produce the oil and natural gas needed to power our vibrant economy and support our modern lifestyle.

This report focuses on the important benefits of the increased supply of domestically produced energy, and the key advances in oil and natural gas production technology that made this growth possible.

Read the report to learn more.