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The Federal Government, through the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), has opened applications for its 2026 Annual Oil and Gas Research Grant Competition, inviting Nigerian researchers to submit proposals for funding.
The programme is aimed at strengthening local research capacity and supporting the development of practical solutions to challenges confronting Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
According to PTDF’s call for proposals published on November 13, successful applicants will receive research grants in instalments, subject to the achievement of agreed project milestones.
Here is what prospective applicants need to know about the eligibility conditions, research themes, proposal requirements and application process.
Who is eligible to apply?
PTDF said applicants must be Nigerian citizens living in the country and should be affiliated with an academic institution, company, research organisation or non-governmental organisation.
The Principal Researcher leading each proposal must be a senior academic and resident in Nigeria. However, applicants are permitted to collaborate with Nigerians based abroad.
The fund also encouraged partnerships with industry professionals and organisations, noting that multidisciplinary research teams would have an advantage.
What are the eligible research areas?
The 2026 competition covers eight research themes, with applicants expected to propose projects addressing relevant challenges or opportunities in the oil and gas industry.
The themes are:
1. Energy security, basin development and subsurface excellence
This category covers areas such as artificial intelligence-driven seismic imaging, basin modelling, frontier-basin viability, deepwater systems, digital twins and source-rock modelling.
2. Sustainable production, enhanced oil recovery and asset integrity
Research proposals may focus on smart wells, predictive maintenance, enhanced oil recovery, carbon dioxide injection, corrosion management, pipeline integrity, robotics and mechatronics.
3. Gas commercialisation, utilisation and flare reduction
Eligible areas include gas-to-power, gas-to-liquids, mini-LNG and CNG systems, LPG and petrochemical processing, flare monetisation, gas-to-chemicals and the development of stranded gas resources.
4. Integrated technologies, renewables and low-carbon solutions
This theme covers locally sourced solar photovoltaic materials, hybrid gas-renewable systems, offshore wind, battery storage, microgrids, hydrogen, geothermal energy, waste-to-energy and carbon capture, utilisation and storage.
5. Environmental sustainability, circular economy and ESG
Applicants can explore bioremediation, pollution control using nanotechnology, produced-water treatment, methane reduction, carbon accounting, waste recycling, biodiversity protection, oil spill detection and remediation, and host-community development.
6. Digital oilfield, automation and emerging technologies
Research areas include artificial intelligence, machine learning, industrial Internet of Things, robotics for inspection and drilling, cybersecurity, cloud and edge computing, autonomous operations, digital twins, blockchain, generative AI and large language models.
7. Facilities engineering, infrastructure, local content and industrial systems
This category includes integrated facility management, reliability engineering, brownfield upgrades, energy-efficient operations, local fabrication, additive manufacturing, import substitution, and supply-chain and logistics systems.
8. Energy economics and finance, fiscal systems, policy analytics and human capital development
The theme covers macroeconomic policy evaluation, oil price volatility, fiscal systems, Petroleum Industry Act modelling, investment optimisation, gas fiscal frameworks, energy-market forecasting, carbon pricing, green finance, stranded-asset risks and workforce development.
How should applicants prepare their proposals?
PTDF requires applicants to submit proposals that follow a prescribed structure and do not exceed 5,000 words.
Each submission must contain a cover page, executive summary, background and problem definition, literature review and gap analysis, research objectives, and methodology.
Other required sections are the research plan and timeline, commercialisation and adoption plan, research budget and justification, capacity-building components, references, tables and figures, and appendices.
The fund also specified the formatting requirements. Proposals must use Times New Roman, font size 12, 1.5 line spacing and 2.54cm margins on all sides. References and citations must follow the APA 7 style.
Applicants are also required to exclude personal and institutional identifiers, including names and logos, from their submissions.
How to apply for the PTDF research grants
Interested and eligible researchers can submit their applications electronically through the official PTDF Oil and Gas Research Grant portal.
The application process involves the following steps:
1: Visit the application portal
Go to [https://oilandgasresearch.ptdf.gov.ng].
2: Create an account
Register on the platform to access the application process.
3: Choose a research theme
Select one of the eight approved research areas that best aligns with the proposed project.
4: Prepare the research proposal
Develop the proposal in line with PTDF’s prescribed format. It should identify an industry-related problem and provide clear research objectives, methodology, timeline, commercialisation plan and budget.
5: Review the submission requirements
Ensure the proposal meets the 5,000-word limit, formatting guidelines and APA 7 referencing standards. Remove all personal and institutional identifiers, including names and logos.
6: Submit the application
Complete the required sections and upload the proposal through the online portal.
7: Monitor application updates
Applicants should regularly check the portal and their communication channels for information on the assessment process, shortlisting and possible invitations to defend their proposals.
Application deadline
PTDF has fixed Wednesday, February 10, 2027, as the deadline for submission of proposals.
Eligible researchers are expected to complete their applications before the closing date.
