II 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 5205 

To amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to require the Secretary of Energy to establish an abandoned wells research, development, 

and demonstration program, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 7, 2022 

Mr. LUJA ́N (for himself and Mr. CRAMER) introduced the following bill; which 

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural 

Resources 

A BILL 

To amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to 

require the Secretary of Energy to establish an abandoned wells research, development, and demonstration 

program, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Abandoned Well Reme5 diation Research and Development Act’’. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•S 5205 IS

1 SEC. 2. ABANDONED WELL REMEDIATION RESEARCH AND 

2 DEVELOPMENT. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Title VI of division D of the In4 frastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117– 

5 58; 135 Stat. 1080) is amended by adding at the end the 

6 following: 

7 ‘‘SEC. 40602. ABANDONED WELLS RESEARCH, DEVELOP8 MENT, AND DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. 

9 ‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF ABANDONED WELL.—In this 

10 section, the term ‘abandoned well’ means a well originally 

11 drilled in connection with oil and gas operations that— 

12 ‘‘(1) is not being used; 

13 ‘‘(2) has not been plugged; and 

14 ‘‘(3) has no anticipated use in oil and gas oper15 ations. 

16 ‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 120 days 

17 after the date of enactment of the Abandoned Well Reme18 diation Research and Development Act, the Secretary, in 

19 coordination with relevant Federal and State agencies and 

20 entities, shall establish a research, development, and dem21 onstration program to improve— 

22 ‘‘(1) data collection on the location of aban23 doned wells; 

24 ‘‘(2) the plugging, remediation, reclamation, 

25 and repurposing of abandoned wells; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•S 5205 IS

1 ‘‘(3) strategies to mitigate potential environ2 mental impacts of documented and undocumented 

3 abandoned wells. 

4 ‘‘(c) ACTIVITIES.—Research, development, and dem5 onstration activities carried out under the program estab6 lished under subsection (b) shall include activities to im7 prove— 

8 ‘‘(1) remote sensor capabilities, LiDAR capa9 bilities, optical gas imaging, magnetic survey tech10 nology, and any other technologies relevant to the ef11 ficient identification of abandoned wells; 

12 ‘‘(2) understanding of how certain parameters 

13 of abandoned wells affect methane emission rates of 

14 the wells, including parameters such as well age, well 

15 depth, geology, construction, case material, and geo16 graphic region; 

17 ‘‘(3) the efficiency and cost-efficacy of processes 

18 for plugging, remediating, reclaiming, and 

19 repurposing abandoned wells, including— 

20 ‘‘(A) improvement of processes and tech21 nologies for the unique challenges associated 

22 with plugging remote abandoned wells; 

23 ‘‘(B) use of low carbon, lightweight cement 

24 or use of alternative materials and additives for 

25 plugging purposes; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•S 5205 IS

1 ‘‘(C) repurposing of abandoned wells for 

2 alternative uses, including geothermal power 

3 production or carbon capture, utilization, and 

4 storage; and 

5 ‘‘(4) understanding of the impacts of aban6 doned wells on groundwater quality and contamina7 tion. 

8 ‘‘(d) COORDINATION.—In carrying out the program 

9 established under subsection (b), the Secretary shall en10 sure coordination of activities carried out under the pro11 gram with— 

12 ‘‘(1) institutions of higher education; 

13 ‘‘(2) the National Laboratories; and 

14 ‘‘(3) the private sector. 

15 ‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

16 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this sec17 tion— 

18 ‘‘(1) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; 

19 ‘‘(2) $31,250,000 for fiscal year 2024; 

20 ‘‘(3) $32,500,000 for fiscal year 2025; 

21 ‘‘(4) $33,750,000 for fiscal year 2026; and 

22 ‘‘(5) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.’’. 

23 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 

24 for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
5 

•S 5205 IS

1 Law 117–58; 135 Stat. 437) is amended by inserting after 

2 the item relating to section 40601 the following: 

‘‘Sec. 40602. Abandoned wells research, development, and demonstration program.’’. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS