Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002525

Wells of Opportunity (WOO): Amplify II and ReAmplify is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) funding opportunity designed to speed up real-world testing of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) concepts by using existing wells. Rather than focusing on early lab work, the program is centered on in-situ field validation, where technologies and methods can be proven under actual subsurface conditions. The basic idea is to partner directly with owners or operators of geothermal and hydrocarbon wells that already exist, including wells that are idle as well as those currently used for injection, production, or monitoring. DOE frames this phase as a critical step in the innovation pipeline because it is where prototypes and new approaches either demonstrate value in the field or fail fast; to encourage participation, the federal government helps absorb the cost and technical risk that typically make this kind of testing difficult for industry to justify on its own.

The funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0002525) was issued by the DOE Golden Field Office under the energy assistance listing CFDA 81.087 and uses a cooperative agreement structure. A cooperative agreement generally implies that DOE expects to be actively involved during the project period (for example, coordinating technical direction, milestones, reporting, and field demonstration learnings), rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back. The opportunity was categorized as discretionary funding, with an award ceiling of $2.5 million per award and an expectation of around 13 total awards. The announcement was created on June 10, 2021, with an original closing date of July 26, 2021. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to a wide range of entity types), with the practical emphasis on applicants who control or can secure access to appropriate wells and can credibly execute field work in partnership with DOE.

WOO is organized into two topic areas that share a common theme: extracting more value from wells that already exist by applying EGS concepts and geothermal production approaches in places where conventional geothermal development might be limited. The program is explicitly aimed at taking what has recently improved in EGS technology and applying it where it can make a near-term difference, either by boosting output in and around existing geothermal fields or by demonstrating geothermal heat production from hydrocarbon fields that already have extensive well infrastructure.

Topic Area 1, Amplify (EGS Near-Field R&D), targets near-field and in-field EGS deployment around existing hydrothermal geothermal systems. In practice, this means working in or adjacent to established geothermal fields and focusing on wells that are underperforming or located in lower-permeability rock that has not delivered strong production using standard hydrothermal approaches. The intent is to show that with modern EGS techniques, these kinds of marginal or low-permeability zones can be engineered into productive assets. DOE describes the end result as culminating in new power production, which would strengthen the commercial case for expanding or revitalizing existing geothermal operations. The underlying message of Amplify is that EGS is no longer just a long-horizon concept; recent advances are considered mature enough to justify field deployment now, especially when applied as a targeted enhancement to known geothermal areas.

Topic Area 2, ReAmplify (Geothermal production from hydrocarbon wells), shifts the focus from established geothermal fields to existing hydrocarbon fields. The objective here is to demonstrate that geothermal heat can be produced using hydrocarbon well infrastructure and then used for electricity generation or direct-use applications (such as industrial heat or district heating, depending on local needs and temperatures). ReAmplify is framed as a pilot-style demonstration program intended to build evidence for commercial viability, not simply technical feasibility. The value proposition is that hydrocarbon regions often have a dense network of wells and subsurface data; if those wells can be repurposed or leveraged to tap geothermal heat, it could open a pathway to geothermal deployment in areas without traditional hydrothermal resources and could provide new productive use for existing assets.

Overall, the Wells of Opportunity program is about reducing barriers to field-scale learning and accelerating commercialization by sharing risk and cost with industry partners who can provide real wells for testing. Amplify emphasizes increasing power production and turning underproductive geothermal wells into contributors through near-field EGS methods, while ReAmplify emphasizes proving that geothermal energy production can be economically demonstrated from hydrocarbon fields using existing wells, with flexibility to support either power generation or direct heat use.

  • The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Wells of Opportunity (WOO): Amplify II & ReAmplify" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jun 10, 2021.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 26, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,500,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 13 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
Apply for DE FOA 0002525

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Wells of Opportunity (WOO): Amplify II and ReAmplify - FAQs

What is the Wells of Opportunity (WOO): Amplify II and ReAmplify funding opportunity?

Wells of Opportunity (WOO): Amplify II and ReAmplify is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) funding opportunity designed to speed up real-world, in-situ field validation of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) concepts by using existing wells. The program emphasizes testing technologies and methods under actual subsurface conditions rather than focusing on early laboratory research.

What is the main goal of this program?

The main goal is to accelerate field-scale learning and commercialization of EGS-related concepts by partnering with owners/operators of existing geothermal and hydrocarbon wells and by sharing the cost and technical risk that can otherwise discourage industry from conducting field demonstrations.

What does DOE mean by "in-situ field validation" in this context?

In-situ field validation refers to proving technologies and approaches in the field, inside real wells and real subsurface environments, where conditions like temperature, pressure, rock properties, and fluid behavior cannot be fully replicated in a lab. DOE frames this stage as the point where concepts either demonstrate value under real conditions or "fail fast."

Why does the program focus on using existing wells?

The program is built around extracting more value from wells that already exist by using them as testbeds for EGS concepts and geothermal production approaches. This includes geothermal wells and hydrocarbon wells that are idle or currently used for injection, production, or monitoring.

Who is issuing this funding opportunity?

The opportunity was issued by the DOE Golden Field Office under the DOE Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO).

What is the FOA number for this opportunity?

The funding opportunity announcement (FOA) number is DE-FOA-0002525.

What assistance listing (CFDA) is associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity is listed under CFDA 81.087.

What type of award instrument is used?

The program uses a cooperative agreement structure.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement generally means DOE expects to be actively involved during the project period. Based on the description provided, that involvement may include coordination around technical direction, milestones, reporting, and capturing learnings from the field demonstrations, rather than DOE simply awarding funds and stepping back.

Is this considered discretionary funding?

Yes. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $2.5 million per award.

How many awards does DOE expect to make?

DOE expected to make around 13 total awards.

When was the announcement created?

The announcement was created on June 10, 2021.

What was the original closing date?

The original closing date was July 26, 2021.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to a wide range of entity types. Practically, the emphasis is on applicants who control or can secure access to appropriate wells and who can credibly execute field work in partnership with DOE.

What kinds of wells can be used in this program?

The program is designed to work with existing geothermal and hydrocarbon wells, including wells that are idle as well as wells currently used for injection, production, or monitoring.

What is the common theme across the topic areas?

Both topic areas focus on extracting more value from existing wells by applying EGS concepts and geothermal production approaches in places where conventional geothermal development may be limited.

What are the two topic areas under WOO?

The program is organized into two topic areas: Topic Area 1, Amplify (EGS Near-Field R&D), and Topic Area 2, ReAmplify (Geothermal production from hydrocarbon wells).

What is Topic Area 1: Amplify (EGS Near-Field R&D)?

Amplify targets near-field and in-field EGS deployment around existing hydrothermal geothermal systems. It focuses on work in or adjacent to established geothermal fields, especially where wells are underperforming or located in lower-permeability rock that has not produced strongly using conventional hydrothermal methods.

What is the intended outcome of Amplify?

The intent is to show that modern EGS techniques can turn marginal or low-permeability zones into productive assets, culminating in new power production and strengthening the commercial case for expanding or revitalizing existing geothermal operations.

What kinds of sites or wells are a fit for Amplify?

Based on the description, Amplify is aimed at established geothermal fields (or adjacent areas) where wells may be underperforming and where conventional hydrothermal approaches have struggled, such as in lower-permeability rock zones.

What is Topic Area 2: ReAmplify (Geothermal production from hydrocarbon wells)?

ReAmplify focuses on demonstrating geothermal heat production using existing hydrocarbon well infrastructure. The produced geothermal heat may be used for electricity generation or direct-use applications such as industrial heat or district heating, depending on local needs and temperatures.

Is ReAmplify focused on technical feasibility or commercial viability?

ReAmplify is framed as a pilot-style demonstration program intended to build evidence for commercial viability, not only technical feasibility.

Why target hydrocarbon wells for geothermal production under ReAmplify?

Hydrocarbon regions often have extensive well infrastructure and subsurface data. If geothermal heat can be produced by repurposing or leveraging those existing wells, it could expand geothermal deployment into areas without traditional hydrothermal resources and provide new productive uses for existing assets.

What end uses are mentioned for geothermal energy produced under ReAmplify?

The opportunity description explicitly mentions electricity generation and direct-use applications (such as industrial heat or district heating), depending on local needs and temperatures.

How does DOE reduce barriers for industry participation?

DOE helps absorb some of the cost and technical risk associated with field demonstrations, which are often difficult for industry to justify on its own. The program is positioned as a way to enable real-world testing where prototypes and new approaches can be validated under actual conditions.

How does WOO fit into the EGS innovation pipeline?

DOE frames this phase as a critical step because field validation is where technologies and methods either demonstrate value under real subsurface conditions or fail fast, generating practical learnings that can speed up development and commercialization.

What is the overall difference between Amplify and ReAmplify?

Amplify centers on increasing power production around existing hydrothermal geothermal fields by applying near-field EGS methods, including improving underproductive geothermal wells. ReAmplify centers on demonstrating geothermal heat production from existing hydrocarbon fields using existing hydrocarbon well infrastructure, with potential for either power generation or direct heat use.

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