Technology Assessment & Research (TA&R) Program
The TA&R Program is a research element encompassed by the BSEE Regulatory Program. The TA&R Program supports research associated with operational safety and pollution prevention as well as oil spill response and cleanup capabilities. The TA&R Program was established in the 1970's to ensure that industry operations on the Outer Continental Shelf incorporated the use of the Best Available and Safest Technologies (BAST) subsequently required through the 1978 OCSLA amendments. The TA&R Program is comprised of three functional research activities:
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Operational Safety and Engineering Research (OSER)
This program's activities address technological issues associated with the complete spectrum of operations ranging from the drilling of exploratory wells to the removal and decommissioning of platforms and related production facilities.
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Oil Spill Response Research (OSRR)
The Oil Spill Response Research (OSRR) Program provides research leadership to improve the capabilities for detecting and responding to an oil spill in the marine environment.
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Renewable Energy Research (REnR)
The Renewable Energy Research (REnR) Program provides engineering research to promote operational safety and protection of the environment in activities that produce or support production, transportation, or transmission of energy from sources other than oil and gas.
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
BOEM manages the exploration and development of the nation's offshore resources. It seeks to appropriately balance economic development, energy independence, and environmental protection through oil and gas leases, renewable energy development and environmental reviews and studies. BOEM houses two main research programs:
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Environmental Studies Program
The Environmental Studies Program (ESP) was initiated in 1973 as a means to gather and synthesize environmental and social and economic science information to support decision-making concerning the offshore oil and gas program.
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Oil Spill Modeling Program
The BOEM Oil Spill Modeling Program assesses oil-spill risks associated with offshore energy activities off the U.S. continental coast and Alaska calculating spill trajectories and contact probabilities. These analyses address the likelihood of spill occurrences, the transport and fate of any spilled oil, and the environmental impacts that might occur as a result of the spill.
OHMSETT
The National Oil Spill Response Test Tank Facility is the only facility where full-scale oil spill response equipment testing, research, and training can be conducted in a marine environment with oil under controlled environmental conditions (waves, temperature, oil types). The facility provides an environmentally safe place to conduct objective testing and to develop devices and techniques for the control of oil and hazardous material spills.
Gulfbase
GulfBase is a database of resources about the Gulf of Mexico. The goal of this website is to regroup, synthesize, and make freely available Gulf of Mexico research information.
The Offshore Technology Research Center (OTRC)
The OTRC is a graduated National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center supporting the offshore oil and gas industry. A focused, cross-disciplinary research program has been developed. The five major research areas of current concern are: Floating Structures, Risers and Moorings, Materials, Seafloor Engineering and Subsea Systems
Louisiana State University
Each year, LSU conducts more than 2,500 sponsored research projects funded by more than $140 million in external grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, NASA, National Endowment for the Humanities, and many others.
Environmental Protection Agency
The Exchange Network is an Internet-based system used by state, tribal, and territorial partners to securely share environmental and health information with one another and EPA. The Exchange Network improves the timeliness and accuracy of environmental data, reduces the burden and costs associated with reporting data, enhances data access for environmental professionals, and supports better decisions on environmental and health issues.
U.S. Geological Survey
The USGS serves the Nation as an independent fact-finding agency that collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides scientific understanding about natural resource conditions, issues, and problems.
