[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 696 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 696

 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a tax credit for 
 marginal domestic oil and natural gas well production and an election 
  to expense geological and geophysical expenditures and delay rental 
                               payments.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 24, 2003

Mrs. Hutchison (for herself, Mr. Breaux, Ms. Collins, Mr. Domenici, Mr. 
Baucus, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Chafee, Mr. Allard, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Lott, and 
  Mr. Thomas) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
                  referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a tax credit for 
 marginal domestic oil and natural gas well production and an election 
  to expense geological and geophysical expenditures and delay rental 
                               payments.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. TAX CREDIT FOR MARGINAL DOMESTIC OIL AND NATURAL GAS WELL 
              PRODUCTION.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to prevent the 
abandonment of marginal oil and gas wells responsible for half of the 
domestic production of oil and gas in the United States.
    (b) Credit for Producing Oil and Gas From Marginal Wells.--Subpart 
D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986 (relating to business credits) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new section:

``SEC. 45G. CREDIT FOR PRODUCING OIL AND GAS FROM MARGINAL WELLS.

    ``(a) General Rule.--For purposes of section 38, the marginal well 
production credit for any taxable year is an amount equal to the 
product of--
            ``(1) the credit amount, and
            ``(2) the qualified crude oil production and the qualified 
        natural gas production which is attributable to the taxpayer.
    ``(b) Credit Amount.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) In general.--The credit amount is--
                    ``(A) $3 per barrel of qualified crude oil 
                production, and
                    ``(B) 50 cents per 1,000 cubic feet of qualified 
                natural gas production.
            ``(2) Reduction as oil and gas prices increase.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The $3 and 50 cents amounts 
                under paragraph (1) shall each be reduced (but not 
                below zero) by an amount which bears the same ratio to 
                such amount (determined without regard to this 
                paragraph) as--
                            ``(i) the excess (if any) of the applicable 
                        reference price over $15 ($1.67 for qualified 
                        natural gas production), bears to
                            ``(ii) $3 ($0.33 for qualified natural gas 
                        production).
                The applicable reference price for a taxable year is 
                the reference price for the calendar year preceding the 
                calendar year in which the taxable year begins.
                    ``(B) Inflation adjustment.--In the case of any 
                taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2004, 
                each of the dollar amounts contained in subparagraph 
                (A) shall be increased to an amount equal to such 
                dollar amount multiplied by the inflation adjustment 
                factor for such calendar year (determined under section 
                43(b)(3)(B) by substituting `2003' for `1990').
                    ``(C) Reference price.--For purposes of this 
                paragraph, the term `reference price' means, with 
                respect to any calendar year--
                            ``(i) in the case of qualified crude oil 
                        production, the reference price determined 
                        under section 29(d)(2)(C), and
                            ``(ii) in the case of qualified natural gas 
                        production, the Secretary's estimate of the 
                        annual average wellhead price per 1,000 cubic 
                        feet for all domestic natural gas.
    ``(c) Qualified Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production.--For purposes 
of this section--
            ``(1) In general.--The terms `qualified crude oil 
        production' and `qualified natural gas production' mean 
        domestic crude oil or natural gas which is produced from a 
        qualified marginal well.
            ``(2) Limitation on amount of production which may 
        qualify.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Crude oil or natural gas 
                produced during any taxable year from any well shall 
                not be treated as qualified crude oil production or 
                qualified natural gas production to the extent 
                production from the well during the taxable year 
                exceeds 1,095 barrels or barrel equivalents.
                    ``(B) Proportionate reductions.--
                            ``(i) Short taxable years.--In the case of 
                        a short taxable year, the limitations under 
                        this paragraph shall be proportionately reduced 
                        to reflect the ratio which the number of days 
                        in such taxable year bears to 365.
                            ``(ii) Wells not in production entire 
                        year.--In the case of a well which is not 
                        capable of production during each day of a 
                        taxable year, the limitations under this 
                        paragraph applicable to the well shall be 
                        proportionately reduced to reflect the ratio 
                        which the number of days of production bears to 
                        the total number of days in the taxable year.
            ``(3) Definitions.--
                    ``(A) Qualified marginal well.--The term `qualified 
                marginal well' means a domestic well--
                            ``(i) the production from which during the 
                        taxable year is treated as marginal production 
                        under section 613A(c)(6), except that `22 
                        degrees' shall be substituted for `20 degrees' 
                        in applying subparagraph (F) thereof, or
                            ``(ii) which, during the taxable year--
                                    ``(I) has average daily production 
                                of not more than 25 barrel equivalents, 
                                and
                                    ``(II) produces water at a rate not 
                                less than 95 percent of total well 
                                effluent.
                    ``(B) Crude oil, etc.--The terms `crude oil', 
                `natural gas', `domestic', and `barrel' have the 
                meanings given such terms by section 613A(e).
                    ``(C) Barrel equivalent.--The term `barrel 
                equivalent' means, with respect to natural gas, a 
                conversion ratio of 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas to 
                1 barrel of crude oil.
    ``(d) Other Rules.--
            ``(1) Production attributable to the taxpayer.--In the case 
        of a qualified marginal well in which there is more than one 
        owner of operating interests in the well and the crude oil or 
        natural gas production exceeds the limitation under subsection 
        (c)(2), qualifying crude oil production or qualifying natural 
        gas production attributable to the taxpayer shall be determined 
        on the basis of the ratio which the taxpayer's revenue interest 
        in the production bears to the aggregate of the revenue 
        interests of all operating interest owners in the production.
            ``(2) Operating interest required.--Any credit under this 
        section may be claimed only on production which is attributable 
        to the holder of an operating interest.
            ``(3) Production from nonconventional sources excluded.--In 
        the case of production from a qualified marginal well which is 
        eligible for the credit allowed under section 29 for the 
        taxable year, no credit shall be allowable under this section 
        unless the taxpayer elects not to claim the credit under 
        section 29 with respect to the well.''.
    (c) Credit Treated as Business Credit.--Section 38(b) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``plus'' at the 
end of paragraph (14), by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
(15) and inserting ``, plus'', and by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph:
            ``(16) the marginal oil and gas well production credit 
        determined under section 45G(a).''.
    (d) Credit Allowed Against Regular and Minimum Tax.--
            (1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 38 of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to limitation based on 
        amount of tax) is amended by redesignating paragraph (4) as 
        paragraph (5) and by inserting after paragraph (3) the 
        following new paragraph:
            ``(4) Special rules for marginal oil and gas well 
        production credit.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In the case of the marginal oil 
                and gas well production credit--
                            ``(i) this section and section 39 shall be 
                        applied separately with respect to the credit, 
                        and
                            ``(ii) in applying paragraph (1) to the 
                        credit--
                                    ``(I) subparagraphs (A) and (B) 
                                thereof shall not apply, and
                                    ``(II) the limitation under 
                                paragraph (1) (as modified by subclause 
                                (I)) shall be reduced by the credit 
                                allowed under subsection (a) for the 
                                taxable year (other than the marginal 
                                oil and gas well production credit).
                    ``(B) Marginal oil and gas well production 
                credit.--For purposes of this subsection, the term 
                `marginal oil and gas well production credit' means the 
                credit allowable under subsection (a) by reason of 
                section 45G(a).''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--Subclause (II) of sections 
        38(c)(2)(A)(ii) and 38(c)(3)(A)(II) of such Code is amended by 
        inserting ``or the marginal oil and gas well production 
        credit'' after ``employee credit''.
    (e) Carryback.--Subsection (a) of section 39 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to carryback and carryforward of unused 
credits generally) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
            ``(3) 10-year carryback for marginal oil and gas well 
        production credit.--In the case of the marginal oil and gas 
        well production credit (as defined in section 38(c)(4))--
                    ``(A) this section shall be applied separately from 
                the business credit (other than the marginal oil and 
                gas well production credit),
                    ``(B) paragraph (1) shall be applied by 
                substituting `10 taxable years' for `1 taxable years' 
                in subparagraph (A) thereof, and
                    ``(C) paragraph (2) shall be applied--
                            ``(i) by substituting `31 taxable years' 
                        for `21 taxable years' in subparagraph (A) 
                        thereof, and
                            ``(ii) by substituting `30 taxable years' 
                        for `20 taxable years' in subparagraph (B) 
                        thereof.''.
    (f) Coordination With Section 29.--Section 29(a) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``There'' and inserting 
``At the election of the taxpayer, there''.
    (g) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of 
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 is amended by adding at the end the following item:

                              ``45G. Credit for producing oil and gas 
                                        from marginal wells.''.
    (h) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to production in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2003.

SEC. 2. ELECTION TO EXPENSE GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL EXPENDITURES AND 
              DELAY RENTAL PAYMENTS.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to recognize that 
geological and geophysical expenditures and delay rentals are ordinary 
and necessary business expenses that should be deducted in the year the 
expense is incurred.
    (b) Election To Expense Geological and Geophysical Expenditures.--
            (1) In general.--Section 263 of the Internal Revenue Code 
        of 1986 (relating to capital expenditures) is amended by adding 
        at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(j) Geological and Geophysical Expenditures for Domestic Oil and 
Gas Wells.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), a taxpayer may elect to 
treat geological and geophysical expenses incurred in connection with 
the exploration for, or development of, oil or gas within the United 
States (as defined in section 638) as expenses which are not chargeable 
to capital account. Any expenses so treated shall be allowed as a 
deduction in the taxable year in which paid or incurred.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 263A(c)(3) of such Code 
        is amended by inserting ``263(j),'' after ``263(i),''.
            (3) Effective date.--
                    (A) In general.--The amendments made by this 
                subsection shall apply to expenses paid or incurred 
                after the date of the enactment of this Act.
                    (B) Transition rule.--In the case of any expenses 
                described in section 263(j) of the Internal Revenue 
                Code of 1986, as added by this subsection, which were 
                paid or incurred on or before the date of the enactment 
                of this Act, the taxpayer may elect, at such time and 
                in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury may 
                prescribe, to amortize the suspended portion of such 
                expenses over the 36-month period beginning with the 
                month in which the date of the enactment of this Act 
                occurs. For purposes of this subparagraph, the 
                suspended portion of any expense is that portion of 
                such expense which, as of the first day of the 36-month 
                period, has not been included in the cost of a property 
                or otherwise deducted.
    (c) Election To Expense Delay Rental Payments.--
            (1) In general.--Section 263 of the Internal Revenue Code 
        of 1986 (relating to capital expenditures), as amended by 
        subsection (b)(1), is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new subsection:
    ``(k) Delay Rental Payments for Domestic Oil and Gas Wells.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), a 
        taxpayer may elect to treat delay rental payments incurred in 
        connection with the development of oil or gas within the United 
        States (as defined in section 638) as payments which are not 
        chargeable to capital account. Any payments so treated shall be 
        allowed as a deduction in the taxable year in which paid or 
        incurred.
            ``(2) Delay rental payments.--For purposes of paragraph 
        (1), the term `delay rental payment' means an amount paid for 
        the privilege of deferring the drilling of an oil or gas well 
        under an oil or gas lease.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 263A(c)(3) of such Code, 
        as amended by subsection (b)(2), is amended by inserting 
        ``263(k),'' after ``263(j),''.
            (3) Effective date.--
                    (A) In general.--The amendments made by this 
                subsection shall apply to payments made or incurred 
                after the date of the enactment of this Act.
                    (B) Transition rule.--In the case of any expenses 
                described in section 263(k) of the Internal Revenue 
                Code of 1986, as added by this subsection, which were 
                paid or incurred on or before the date of the enactment 
                of this Act, the taxpayer may elect, at such time and 
                in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury may 
                prescribe, to amortize the suspended portion of such 
                expenses over the 36-month period beginning with the 
                month in which the date of the enactment of this Act 
                occurs. For purposes of this subparagraph, the 
                suspended portion of any expense is that portion of 
                such expense which, as of the first day of the 36-month 
                period, has not been included in the cost of a property 
                or otherwise deducted.
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