The United States Energy Association (USEA), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy (DOE), seeks proposals for a contractor to complete a study on the potential of CO₂ utilization volumes to increase oil and hydrocarbon liquids production in US shales. The study should focus on the potential in the following undeveloped (with regards to CO₂) basins: Cana-Woodford Shale in the Anadarko Basin, Niobrara Shale in the DJ Basin, and the Mowry Shale in the Powder River Basin. The study is expected to be between 75-175 pages in length, excluding appendices and references.

In preparing the study, the Contractor will:

1. Estimate the size of recoverable oil/hydrocarbon liquids resources, through the utilization of CO₂ driven EOR, in each of the target areas by providing a high/low set of estimates expressed as a likely percent of additional production of the original oil in production (OOIP).  This is to be done with industry-accepted best practices for making these assumptions, with practices identified, including: how they were used (accompanied by mapping of the basins) and identifying areas with the best attributes and potential for employing CO₂-EOR.  
2. Characterize the likely produced crude oil, related hydrocarbon liquids, and volumes produced by utilizing CO₂ for EOR. The characterization should include the high/low likely percent of additional production of OOIP.
3. Estimate the size of potential additional reserves (oil and hydrocarbon liquids) for each formation that could be produced by utilizing CO₂ for EOR. This would utilize the likely high/low percent of additional production of OOIP as a guide, incorporating the current reserve methodology for shale and modifying it with CO₂-EOR reserve calculations, if possible.  The contractor will identify how these estimates were derived.
4. Estimate the likely decline curves for CO₂-Shale EOR in each formation.
5. Estimate the size of potential CO₂ demand from CO₂-EOR for each targeted area, with a high/low set of estimates included. This is to be done with industry-accepted best practices for making these assumptions, with practices identified and demonstrated as to how they were used.
6. Estimate the potential for storage in each of the targeted areas and the range of variables that impact this estimate. This is to be done with industry-accepted best practices, where practical, for making these assumptions. Practices should be identified and demonstrated how they were used.
7. Estimate additional water resource requirements, produced water volumes, and likely disposal-reuse in each area based on the production from CO₂-EOR and storage processes.  This is to be done with industry-accepted best practices for making these assumptions, with practices identified and shown how they were used.
8. Produce a list of commercial and pilot projects (current and proposed) in the Cana-Woodford Shale in the Anadarko Basin, Niobrara Shale in the DJ Basin, and the Mowry Shale in the Powder River Basin where CO₂-EOR and mixed gas with CO₂-EOR are being used. Include research and commercial production projects and include as much detail on process, results, and current status as publicly available.
9. Produce a list of technical developments that are unique to CO₂-EOR in shale.  Identify where future research could improve these developments.
10. Develop a list of known and likely technical challenges that require better understanding.  Identify research and resources necessary to overcome them.
11. As necessary and in council with USEA, coordinate with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Oil and Natural Gas.

It is understood that information related to ongoing CO₂-EOR in shale is proprietary, has not yet started in some areas, and large sections of the study will be based on hypothetical outcomes.

The contractor will designate a primary contact to coordinate and provide monthly updates on the status via written high-level reports and conference calls between the contractor and USEA to commence within the 15 days after the initial award is formally accepted and contracted.