IB 
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 Com-
mittee 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] 
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A BILL 
To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to direct the 
Secretary of Energy to carry out a research, develop-
ment, and demonstration program with respect to aban-
doned wells, and for other purposes. 
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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 ‘‘Abandoned Well Remedi-
ation 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, DEVELOP-
MENT, 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 agen-
cies 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 environ-
mental impacts of documented and undocumented 
abandoned wells. 
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‘‘(b) ACTIVITIES.—The research, development, and 
demonstration under subsection (a) shall include activities 
to improve— 
‘‘(1) remote sensor capabilities, LiDAR capabili-
ties, 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 geo-
graphic region; 
‘‘(3) the efficiency and cost-efficacy of processes 
for 
plugging, 
remediating, 
reclaiming, 
and 
repurposing abandoned wells, including— 
‘‘(A) improvement of processes and tech-
nologies 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 al-
ternative uses, including geothermal power pro-
duction or carbon capture, utilization, and stor-
age; and 
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‘‘(4) understanding of the impacts of abandoned 
wells on groundwater quality and contamination. 
‘‘(c) COORDINATION.—In carrying out the program es-
tablished in (a), the Secretary shall ensure coordination of 
these activities with institutions of higher education, the 
Department of Energy National Laboratories, and the pri-
vate 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 pro-
gram.’’. 
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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 pur-
poses. 
OCTOBER 7, 2022 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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