IB 
Union Calendar No. 317 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5716 
[Report No. 111–554, Part I] 
To provide for enhancement of existing efforts in support of research, develop-
ment, demonstration, and commercial application activities to advance 
technologies for the safe and environmentally responsible exploration, 
development, and production of oil and natural gas resources. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 13, 2010 
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Science and Technology, and in addition to the 
Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
JULY 21, 2010 
Reported from the Committee on Science and Technology with an amendment 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
JULY 21, 2010 
Committee on Natural Resources discharged; committed to the Committee of 
the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on July 13, 2010] 
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A BILL 
To provide for enhancement of existing efforts in support 
of research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
application activities to advance technologies for the safe 
and environmentally responsible exploration, develop-
ment, and production of oil and natural gas resources. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Safer Oil and Natural 
Gas Drilling Technology Research and Development Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SUBTITLE AMENDMENT. 
Subtitle J of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
(42 U.S.C. 16371 et seq.) is amended in the subtitle heading 
by striking ‘‘Ultra-Deepwater and Unconven-
tional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Re-
sources’’ and inserting ‘‘Safer Oil and Natural 
Gas Drilling Technology Research and Devel-
opment Program’’. 
SEC. 3. SAFER OIL AND NATURAL GAS DRILLING TECH-
NOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORITY.—Section 999A of the En-
ergy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16371) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘ultra-deepwater’’ and in-
serting ‘‘deepwater’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘well control and accident 
prevention,’’ after ‘‘safe operations,’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
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laborating with, the Interagency Coordinating 
Committee on Oil Pollution Research as estab-
lished under section 7001 of the Oil Pollution 
Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2761(a))’’ after ‘‘Sec-
retary of the Interior’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) PARTNERSHIPS.—In carrying out the program 
under this subtitle, the Secretary shall seek to establish part-
nerships with eligible research performers, as described by 
section 999E, to undertake research and development not 
likely otherwise to be undertaken in the absence of support 
from the program.’’. 
(b) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—Section 999B of the En-
ergy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16372) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘ULTRA- 
DEEPWATER AND UNCONVENTIONAL ONSHORE 
NATURAL GAS AND OTHER PETROLEUM’’ and 
inserting ‘‘SAFER OIL AND NATURAL GAS DRILL-
ING TECHNOLOGY’’; 
(2) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out the 
activities under section 999A to maximize the benefits of 
natural gas and other petroleum resources of the United 
States by advancing the safe and environmentally respon-
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sible exploration, development, and production of those re-
sources.’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)(1)— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) 
and (E) as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respec-
tively; and 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the 
following: 
‘‘(D) select projects on a competitive basis;’’; 
(4) in subsection (c)(3)(A)(ii), by striking 
‘‘under subsection (f)(4)’’; 
(5) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘ultra- 
deepwater’’ and inserting ‘‘deepwater’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(7) FOCUS AREAS FOR AWARDS.— 
‘‘(A) 
DEEPWATER
RESOURCES.—Awards 
from allocations under section 999H(d)(1) shall 
focus on research, development, demonstration, 
and commercial application activities in areas 
that include— 
‘‘(i) technologies and systems aimed at 
improving operational safety and reducing 
potential environmental impacts of deep-
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water exploration and production activities, 
including— 
‘‘(I) wellbore integrity, well con-
trol, and blowout prevention; 
‘‘(II) capture and containment of 
oil at or near the wellhead; and 
‘‘(III) expanding operational ca-
pabilities and efficiency of remotely 
operated devices and mechanics; 
‘‘(ii) safe and environmentally respon-
sible deepwater exploration and production 
technologies, integrated systems, and archi-
tectures for enhancing oil and natural gas 
drilling and recovery, including under ex-
treme conditions; 
‘‘(iii) methods and technologies for se-
vere weather and ocean surface condition 
preparedness; 
‘‘(iv) utilization of exploration and 
production methods and materials that re-
duce the potential impact of such activities 
on the environment; and 
‘‘(v) other areas as determined appro-
priate by the Secretary. 
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‘‘(B) 
UNCONVENTIONAL
ONSHORE
RE-
SOURCES.—Awards from allocations under sec-
tion 999H(d)(2) shall focus on research, develop-
ment, demonstration, and commercial applica-
tion activities in areas that include— 
‘‘(i) advanced coalbed methane, deep 
drilling, natural gas production from tight 
sands, natural gas production from gas 
shales, stranded gas, innovative exploration 
and production techniques, and enhanced 
recovery techniques; 
‘‘(ii) increased efficiency of energy use 
in exploration and production activities; 
‘‘(iii) utilization of exploration and 
production methods and materials that re-
duce the potential impact of such activities 
on the environment; 
‘‘(iv) recovery, utilization, reduction, 
and improved management of produced 
water from exploration and production ac-
tivities; and 
‘‘(v) accident prevention and mitiga-
tion of unconventional natural gas and 
other petroleum resources exploration and 
production. 
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‘‘(C) SMALL PRODUCERS.—Awards from al-
locations under section 999H(d)(3) shall be made 
to consortia consisting of small producers or or-
ganized primarily for the benefit of small pro-
ducers, and shall focus on areas that include— 
‘‘(i) safety and accident prevention, en-
vironmental mitigation, waste reduction, 
reduction of energy use, and well control 
and systems integrity; 
‘‘(ii) complex geology involving rapid 
changes in the type and quality of the oil 
and gas reserves across the reservoir; 
‘‘(iii) low reservoir pressure and un-
conventional natural gas reservoirs in coal-
beds, deep reservoirs, tight sands, or shales; 
and 
‘‘(iv) advancing energy efficient, safe, 
and environmentally responsible production 
of unconventional oil reservoirs in tar sands 
and oil shales. 
‘‘(D) SAFETY, AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION 
AND MITIGATION, TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT.—Awards 
from allocations under section 999H(d)(4) shall 
focus on safety, and accident prevention and 
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mitigation, research, development, demonstra-
tion, and commercial application activities in 
areas that may include— 
‘‘(i) improved technologies and best 
management practices for enhanced well in-
tegrity including— 
‘‘(I) cementing; 
‘‘(II) casing; 
‘‘(III) 
wellbore 
sealant 
tech-
nologies; 
‘‘(IV) well-plugging and abandon-
ment; 
‘‘(V) improvement and standard-
ization of blowout prevention devices; 
‘‘(VI) actuation and pressure test-
ing; and 
‘‘(VII) other well control activi-
ties; 
‘‘(ii) research to aid in the develop-
ment of industry best practices and stand-
ards for workforce training, design of safe 
workplace environments, and safety related 
decisionmaking 
processes, 
including 
by 
drawing on existing research into human 
factors and safety related practices in fields 
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such as the nuclear energy, aviation, and 
automotive industries; 
‘‘(iii) secondary control systems to ac-
tivate blowout prevention devices and termi-
nate well-flow, including— 
‘‘(I) deadman switches; 
‘‘(II) automatic shears; and 
‘‘(III) remote acoustic switches; 
‘‘(iv) technologies and methods for ac-
cident mitigation, including— 
‘‘(I) capture, containment, or dis-
persing of oil at or near the wellhead; 
‘‘(II) estimating flow rate; 
‘‘(III) diagnostic sensors to deter-
mine equipment malfunction; and 
‘‘(IV) procedures to terminate 
flow; 
‘‘(v) continuing ongoing efforts, includ-
ing in resource assessment and character-
ization, and in simulation of safe and effec-
tive drilling under extreme conditions, in-
cluding high temperatures and pressures; 
‘‘(vi) development of methodologies for 
risk management decisionmaking, including 
comparative risk analysis and quantitative 
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risk assessment of potential for failure in 
the technologies, management practices, and 
systems studies under this subsection; and 
‘‘(vii) other activities as described in 
this paragraph or as determined appro-
priate by the Secretary.’’; 
(6) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in the second sentence of subpara-
graph (A), by inserting ‘‘to the Secretary 
for review’’ after ‘‘submit’’; and 
(ii) in the first sentence of subpara-
graph (B), by striking ‘‘Ultra-Deepwater’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘and such Ad-
visory Committees’’ and inserting ‘‘Pro-
gram Advisory Committee established under 
section 999D(a), and the Advisory Com-
mittee’’; 
(B) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (A); 
(ii) by striking the period at the end of 
subparagraph (B) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
and 
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(iii) by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) a summary of ongoing and planned 
activities aimed at improving operational safety 
and reducing potential environmental impacts of 
exploration and production.’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) RESEARCH
FINDINGS
AND
RECOMMENDA-
TIONS
FOR
IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall 
publish in the Federal Register an annual report on 
the research findings of the program carried out 
under this section and any recommendations for im-
plementation that the Secretary determines to be nec-
essary.’’; 
(7) in subsection (f)(2), by inserting ‘‘In car-
rying out this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure 
that safety and accident prevention and mitigation be 
regularly included as specific focus areas for solicita-
tions.’’ after ‘‘consortium.’’; 
(8) in subsection (i)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
‘‘UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY’’ and in-
serting ‘‘DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘, through the United States 
Geological Survey,’’; and 
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(9) in subsection (j), by striking ‘‘National En-
ergy Technology Laboratory’’ and inserting ‘‘Office of 
Fossil Energy of the Department’’. 
SEC. 4. PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
Section 999D of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16374) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 999D. PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of the Safer Oil and Natural Gas 
Drilling Technology Research and Development Act, the 
Secretary shall establish an advisory committee to be known 
as the ‘Program Advisory Committee’ (referred to in this 
section as the ‘Advisory Committee’). 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Advisory Committee 
shall be composed of members appointed by the Sec-
retary, each of whom shall be qualified by education, 
training, and experience to evaluate scientific and 
technical information relevant to the research, devel-
opment, and demonstration under this subtitle. Mem-
bers shall include— 
‘‘(A) individuals with extensive research ex-
perience or operational knowledge of oil and nat-
ural gas exploration and production; 
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‘‘(B) individuals broadly representative of 
the affected interests in oil and natural gas pro-
duction, including interests in environmental 
protection and operational safety; 
‘‘(C) State regulatory agency representa-
tives; and 
‘‘(D) other individuals, as determined by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Advisory Com-
mittee shall not include individuals who are 
board members, officers, or employees of the pro-
gram consortium. 
‘‘(B) CATEGORICAL
REPRESENTATION.—In 
appointing members of the Advisory Committee, 
the Secretary shall ensure that no class of indi-
viduals described in any of subparagraphs (B), 
(C), or (D) of paragraph (1) comprises more 
than 1⁄3 of the membership of the Advisory Com-
mittee. 
‘‘(c) SUBCOMMITTEES.—The Advisory Committee may 
establish subcommittees or ad hoc working groups for the 
research focus areas described in section 999B(d)(7). 
‘‘(d) DUTIES.—The Advisory Committee shall— 
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‘‘(1) advise the Secretary on the development and 
implementation of programs under this subtitle; and 
‘‘(2) carry out section 999B(e)(2)(B). 
‘‘(e) COMPENSATION.—A member of the Advisory Com-
mittee shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled 
to receive travel expenses in accordance with subchapter I 
of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. 
‘‘(f) PROHIBITION.—The Advisory Committee shall not 
make recommendations on funding awards to particular 
consortia or other entities, or for specific projects.’’. 
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 999G of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16377) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘200 but less 
than 1,500 meters’’ and inserting ‘‘1,000 feet’’; 
(2) by striking paragraphs (8), (9), and (10); 
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (7) 
and (11) as paragraphs (4) through (9) and (10), re-
spectively; and 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) DEEPWATER
ARCHITECTURE.—The term 
‘deepwater architecture’ means the integration of tech-
nologies for the safe and environmentally responsible 
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exploration for, or production of, natural gas or other 
petroleum resources located at deepwater depths. 
‘‘(3) 
DEEPWATER
TECHNOLOGY.—The 
term 
‘deepwater technology’ means a discrete technology 
that is specially suited to address 1 or more chal-
lenges associated with the safe and environmentally 
responsible exploration for, or production of, natural 
gas or other petroleum resources located at deepwater 
depths.’’. 
SEC. 6. FUNDING. 
Section 999H of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16378) is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence of subsection (a) by 
striking ‘‘Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Nat-
ural Gas and Other Petroleum Research Fund’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Safer Oil and Natural Gas Drilling Tech-
nology Research and Development Fund’’; 
(2) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘35 per-
cent’’ and inserting ‘‘32.5 percent’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘32.5 
percent’’ and inserting ‘‘25 percent’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘25 percent’’ and in-
serting ‘‘35 percent’’; and 
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(ii) by striking ‘‘contract manage-
ment,’’ and all that follows through the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘and contract 
management.’’; 
(3) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘Ultra-Deep-
water and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other 
Petroleum Research Fund’’ and inserting ‘‘Safer Oil 
and Natural Gas Drilling Technology Research and 
Development Fund’’; and 
(4) at the end of the section, by inserting the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(g) COORDINATION AND NONDUPLICATION.—The Sec-
retary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that 
the research activities carried out by the consortium funded 
under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (d), and 
the research activities carried out by the Department of En-
ergy as funded by subsection (d)(4), shall be coordinated 
and not duplicative of one another.’’. 
SEC. 7. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
The table of contents of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
is amended— 
(1) by amending the item relating to subtitle J 
of title IX to read as follows: 
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‘‘Subtitle J—Safer Oil and Natural Gas Drilling Technology Research and 
Development Program’’; 
(2) by amending the item relating to section 
999B to read as follows: 
‘‘Sec. 999B. Safer Oil and Natural Gas Drilling Technology Research and Devel-
opment Program.’’; 
and 
(3) by amending the item relating to section 
999D to read as follows: 
‘‘Sec. 999D. Program Advisory Committee.’’. 
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Union Calendar No. 317 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5716 
[Report No. 111–554, Part I] 
A BILL 
To provide for enhancement of existing efforts in 
support of research, development, demonstration, 
and commercial application activities to advance 
technologies for the safe and environmentally re-
sponsible exploration, development, and produc-
tion of oil and natural gas resources. 
JULY 21, 2010 
Reported from the Committee on Science and Technology 
with an amendment 
JULY 21, 2010 
Committee on Natural Resources discharged; committed 
to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
the Union and ordered to be printed 
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