[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4270 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 389
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4270
[Report No. 117-541]
To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to direct the Secretary of
Energy to carry out a research, development, and demonstration program
with respect to abandoned wells, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 30, 2021
Mr. Lamb (for himself, Mrs. Bice of Oklahoma, Ms. Johnson of Texas, and
Mr. Lucas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
October 7, 2022
Additional sponsor: Mrs. Fletcher
October 7, 2022
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June
30, 2021]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to direct the Secretary of
Energy to carry out a research, development, and demonstration program
with respect to abandoned wells, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Abandoned Well Remediation Research
and Development Act''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO THE ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2005.
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 is amended--
(1) in subtitle F of title IX (42 U.S.C. 16291 et seq.), by
inserting after section 969D the following:
``SEC. 969E. ABANDONED WELLS RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION
PROGRAM.
``(a) Establishment.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
enactment of the Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development
Act, the Secretary of Energy shall, in coordination with relevant
Federal and state agencies and entities, establish a research,
development, and demonstration program to improve--
``(1) data collection on the location of abandoned wells;
``(2) the plugging, remediation, reclamation, and
repurposing of abandoned wells; and
``(3) strategies to mitigate potential environmental
impacts of documented and undocumented abandoned wells.
``(b) Activities.--The research, development, and demonstration
under subsection (a) shall include activities to improve--
``(1) remote sensor capabilities, LiDAR capabilities,
optical gas imaging, magnetic survey technology, and any other
technologies relevant to the efficient identification of
abandoned wells;
``(2) understanding of how certain parameters of abandoned
wells affect methane emission rates of such wells, including
paramaters such as well age, well depth, geology, construction,
case material, and geographic region;
``(3) the efficiency and cost-efficacy of processes for
plugging, remediating, reclaiming, and repurposing abandoned
wells, including--
``(A) improvement of processes and technologies for
the unique challenges associated with plugging remote
abandoned wells;
``(B) use of low carbon, lightweight cement or use
of alternative materials and additives for plugging
purposes; and
``(C) repurposing of abandoned wells for
alternative uses, including geothermal power production
or carbon capture, utilization, and storage; and
``(4) understanding of the impacts of abandoned wells on
groundwater quality and contamination.
``(c) Coordination.--In carrying out the program established in
(a), the Secretary shall ensure coordination of these activities with
institutions of higher education, the Department of Energy National
Laboratories, and the private sector.
``(d) Abandoned Well Defined.--In this section, the term `abandoned
well' means a well originally drilled in connection with oil and gas
operations that is not being used, has not been plugged, and has no
anticipated use in oil and gas operations.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated for purposes of this section--
``(1) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
``(2) $31,250,000 for fiscal year 2023;
``(3) $32,500,000 for fiscal year 2024;
``(4) $33,750,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
``(5) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.''; and
(2) in section 1(b) (42 U.S.C. 15801 note), in the table of
contents, by inserting after the matter related to section 969D
the following:
``Sec. 969E. Abandoned wells research, development, and demonstration
program.''.
Union Calendar No. 389
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4270
[Report No. 117-541]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to direct the Secretary of
Energy to carry out a research, development, and demonstration program
with respect to abandoned wells, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
October 7, 2022
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed