Drilling Technology Challenge

• Total available funding of up to $35 million under the program.
• Applicants may receive between $250,000 and $8 million per project.
• ERA contribution will not exceed 50% of the eligible project expenses.

• The applicant can be an innovator, technology developer, industrial facility owner or operator, industrial association, SME, research and development organization, university, not-for-profit organization, government research laboratory, or individual.
• The technology solution must be demonstrated or implemented in Alberta during the project.
• If the project is piloted outside Alberta, at least one lead project partner or the technology provider must be an Alberta-based company with commercialization potential in Alberta.
• The proposed technology must represent an advancement over current drilling technology in Alberta and must fall within prototype testing, development, piloting, demonstration, or commercial implementation stages.
• Collaborative partnerships with Alberta post-secondary/research institutions, Indigenous communities, or municipalities are encouraged but not mandatory.

Who is eligible?

• Innovators and technology developers
• Industrial facility owners and operators
• Industrial associations
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Research and development organizations
• Universities
• Not-for-profit organizations
• Government research laboratories
• Individuals

Who is not eligible

• Projects proposing technologies considered as existing or typical solutions (business-as-usual) are not eligible.
• Companies or organizations proposing only incremental efficiency improvements that do not exceed current regulatory requirements.
• Projects limited to a part of the process, such as independent infrastructures, building envelopes, or pre-construction studies (pre-engineering, feasibility), that do not integrate into an overall technological project.
• Proposals concerning only conventional exploration wells for resource characterization.

Eligible expenses

• Project personnel salaries and related benefits for staff directly involved in project execution.
• Acquisition of equipment and materials essential to the project.
• Contracted services and consulting fees required for project development, piloting, or implementation.
• Costs related to technology design, construction, testing, and demonstration activities.
• Expenses for data collection, monitoring, and reporting directly linked to the project.
• Eligible overhead and administrative costs attributable to the project.

Eligible geographic areas

• Projects must be demonstrated or implemented in Alberta.
• Projects piloted outside Alberta may be eligible if the technology provider or a lead project partner is an Alberta-based company with potential to commercialize the technology in Alberta.

• Degree of innovation and advancement beyond current drilling technologies in Alberta.
• Potential impact on cost reduction, emissions mitigation, and environmental benefits.
• Quality and extent of engagement with local communities and partnerships (e.g., with Alberta’s post-secondary and research institutions, Indigenous communities, municipalities).
• Demonstrated potential to progress technology to field pilot, demonstration, or first-of-kind commercial implementation stage within project timeline.
• Competitive merit as determined by a transparent, expert-led review process including technical, business, and GHG quantification assessment.

• A free, hour-long informational webinar is offered to provide details about the opportunity and answer applicants’ questions.
• Collaborative proposals with Alberta’s post-secondary institutions, Indigenous communities, and municipalities are strongly encouraged.
• All proposed technology solutions must be demonstrated or implemented within Alberta for eligibility.
• Review and oversight of applications will be conducted by an independent team including experts and a Fairness Monitor.