H. R. 6—188 
SEC. 612. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this subtitle: 
(1) ENGINEERED.—When referring to enhanced geothermal 
systems, the term ‘‘engineered’’ means subjected to intervention, 
including intervention to address one or more of the following 
issues: 
(A) Lack of effective permeability or porosity or open 
fracture connectivity within the reservoir. 
(B) Insufficient contained geofluid in the reservoir. 
(C) A low average geothermal gradient, which neces-
sitates deeper drilling. 
(2) ENHANCED GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS.—The term ‘‘enhanced 
geothermal systems’’ means geothermal reservoir systems that 
are engineered, as opposed to occurring naturally. 
(3) GEOFLUID.—The term ‘‘geofluid’’ means any fluid used 
to extract thermal energy from the Earth which is transported 
to the surface for direct use or electric power generation, except 
that such term shall not include oil or natural gas. 
(4) GEOPRESSURED
RESOURCES.—The term ‘‘geopressured 
resources’’ mean geothermal deposits found in sedimentary 
rocks under higher than normal pressure and saturated with 
gas or methane. 
(5) GEOTHERMAL.—The term ‘‘geothermal’’ refers to heat 
energy stored in the Earth’s crust that can be accessed for 
direct use or electric power generation. 
(6) HYDROTHERMAL.—The term ‘‘hydrothermal’’ refers to 
naturally occurring subsurface reservoirs of hot water or steam. 
(7) SYSTEMS
APPROACH.—The term ‘‘systems approach’’ 
means an approach to solving problems or designing systems 
that attempts to optimize the performance of the overall system, 
rather than a particular component of the system. 
SEC. 613. HYDROTHERMAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall support programs of 
research, development, demonstration, and commercial application 
to expand the use of geothermal energy production from hydro-
thermal systems, including the programs described in subsection 
(b). 
(b) PROGRAMS.— 
(1) ADVANCED HYDROTHERMAL RESOURCE TOOLS.—The Sec-
retary, in consultation with other appropriate agencies, shall 
support a program to develop advanced geophysical, geo-
chemical, and geologic tools to assist in locating hidden hydro-
thermal resources, and to increase the reliability of site 
characterization before, during, and after initial drilling. The 
program shall develop new prospecting techniques to assist 
in prioritization of targets for characterization. The program 
shall include a field component. 
(2) INDUSTRY COUPLED EXPLORATORY DRILLING.—The Sec-
retary shall support a program of cost-shared field demonstra-
tion programs, to be pursued, simultaneously and independ-
ently, in collaboration with industry partners, for the dem-
onstration of advanced technologies and techniques of siting 
and exploratory drilling for undiscovered resources in a variety 
of geologic settings. The program shall include incentives to 
encourage the use of advanced technologies and techniques.
H. R. 6—189 
SEC. 614. GENERAL GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT. 
(a) SUBSURFACE COMPONENTS AND SYSTEMS.—The Secretary 
shall support a program of research, development, demonstration, 
and commercial application of components and systems capable 
of withstanding extreme geothermal environments and necessary 
to cost-effectively develop, produce, and monitor geothermal res-
ervoirs and produce geothermal energy. These components and 
systems shall include advanced casing systems (expandable tubular 
casing, low-clearance casing designs, and others), high-temperature 
cements, high-temperature submersible pumps, and high-tempera-
ture packers, as well as technologies for under-reaming, multilateral 
completions, high-temperature and high-pressure logging, logging 
while drilling, deep fracture stimulation, and reservoir system 
diagnostics. 
(b) RESERVOIR PERFORMANCE MODELING.—The Secretary shall 
support a program of research, development, demonstration, and 
commercial application of models of geothermal reservoir perform-
ance, with an emphasis on accurately modeling performance over 
time. Models shall be developed to assist both in the development 
of geothermal reservoirs and to more accurately account for stress- 
related effects in stimulated hydrothermal and enhanced geo-
thermal systems production environments. 
(c) ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.—The Secretary shall— 
(1) support a program of research, development, demonstra-
tion, and commercial application of technologies and practices 
designed to mitigate or preclude potential adverse environ-
mental impacts of geothermal energy development, production 
or use, and seek to ensure that geothermal energy development 
is consistent with the highest practicable standards of environ-
mental stewardship; 
(2) in conjunction with the Assistant Administrator for 
Research and Development at the Environmental Protection 
Agency, support a research program to identify potential 
environmental impacts of geothermal energy development, 
production, and use, and ensure that the program described 
in paragraph (1) addresses such impacts, including effects on 
groundwater and local hydrology; and 
(3) support a program of research to compare the potential 
environmental impacts identified as part of the development, 
production, and use of geothermal energy with the potential 
emission reductions of greenhouse gases gained by geothermal 
energy development, production, and use. 
SEC. 
615. 
ENHANCED 
GEOTHERMAL 
SYSTEMS 
RESEARCH 
AND 
DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall support a program of 
research, development, demonstration, and commercial application 
for enhanced geothermal systems, including the programs described 
in subsection (b). 
(b) PROGRAMS.— 
(1) ENHANCED GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES.—The 
Secretary shall support a program of research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application of the technologies 
and knowledge necessary for enhanced geothermal systems to 
advance to a state of commercial readiness, including advances 
in—
H. R. 6—190 
(A) reservoir stimulation; 
(B) reservoir characterization, monitoring, and mod-
eling; 
(C) stress mapping; 
(D) tracer development; 
(E) three-dimensional tomography; and 
(F) 
understanding 
seismic 
effects 
of 
reservoir 
engineering and stimulation. 
(2) ENHANCED GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS RESERVOIR STIMULA-
TION.— 
(A) PROGRAM.—In collaboration with industry partners, 
the Secretary shall support a program of research, develop-
ment, and demonstration of enhanced geothermal systems 
reservoir stimulation technologies and techniques. A min-
imum of 4 sites shall be selected in locations that show 
particular promise for enhanced geothermal systems 
development. Each site shall— 
(i) represent a different class of subsurface geologic 
environments; and 
(ii) take advantage of an existing site where sub-
surface characterization has been conducted or existing 
drill holes can be utilized, if possible. 
(B) CONSIDERATION
OF
EXISTING
SITE.—The Desert 
Peak, Nevada, site, where a Department of Energy and 
industry cooperative enhanced geothermal systems project 
is already underway, may be considered for inclusion 
among the sites selected under subparagraph (A). 
SEC. 616. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY PRODUCTION FROM OIL AND GAS 
FIELDS 
AND 
RECOVERY 
AND 
PRODUCTION 
OF 
GEOPRESSURED GAS RESOURCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a program of 
research, development, demonstration, and commercial application 
to support development of geothermal energy production from oil 
and gas fields and production and recovery of energy, including 
electricity, from geopressured resources. In addition, the Secretary 
shall conduct such supporting activities including research, resource 
characterization, and technology development as necessary. 
(b) GEOTHERMAL ENERGY PRODUCTION FROM OIL
AND GAS 
FIELDS.—The Secretary shall implement a grant program in support 
of geothermal energy production from oil and gas fields. The pro-
gram shall include grants for a total of not less than three dem-
onstration projects of the use of geothermal techniques such as 
advanced organic rankine cycle systems at marginal, unproductive, 
and productive oil and gas wells. The Secretary shall, to the extent 
practicable and in the public interest, make awards that— 
(1) include not less than five oil or gas well sites per 
project award; 
(2) use a range of oil or gas well hot water source tempera-
tures from 150 degrees Fahrenheit to 300 degrees Fahrenheit; 
(3) cover a range of sizes up to one megawatt; 
(4) are located at a range of sites; 
(5) can be replicated at a wide range of sites; 
(6) facilitate identification of optimum techniques among 
competing alternatives;
H. R. 6—191 
(7) include business commercialization plans that have the 
potential for production of equipment at high volumes and 
operation and support at a large number of sites; and 
(8) satisfy other criteria that the Secretary determines 
are necessary to carry out the program and collect necessary 
data and information. 
The Secretary shall give preference to assessments that address 
multiple elements contained in paragraphs (1) through (8). 
(c) GRANT AWARDS.—Each grant award for demonstration of 
geothermal technology such as advanced organic rankine cycle sys-
tems at oil and gas wells made by the Secretary under subsection 
(b) shall include— 
(1) necessary and appropriate site engineering study; 
(2) detailed economic assessment of site specific conditions; 
(3) appropriate feasibility studies to determine whether 
the demonstration can be replicated; 
(4) design or adaptation of existing technology for site 
specific circumstances or conditions; 
(5) installation of equipment, service, and support; 
(6) operation for a minimum of 1 year and monitoring 
for the duration of the demonstration; and 
(7) validation of technical and economic assumptions and 
documentation of lessons learned. 
(d) GEOPRESSURED GAS RESOURCE RECOVERY
AND PRODUC-
TION.—(1) The Secretary shall implement a program to support 
the research, development, demonstration, and commercial applica-
tion of cost-effective techniques to produce energy from geopressured 
resources. 
(2) The Secretary shall solicit preliminary engineering designs 
for geopressured resources production and recovery facilities. 
(3) Based upon a review of the preliminary designs, the Sec-
retary shall award grants, which may be cost-shared, to support 
the detailed development and completion of engineering, architec-
tural and technical plans needed to support construction of new 
designs. 
(4) Based upon a review of the final design plans above, the 
Secretary shall award cost-shared development and construction 
grants for demonstration geopressured production facilities that 
show potential for economic recovery of the heat, kinetic energy 
and gas resources from geopressured resources. 
(e) COMPETITIVE GRANT SELECTION.—Not less than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
conduct a national solicitation for applications for grants under 
the programs outlined in subsections (b) and (d). Grant recipients 
shall be selected on a competitive basis based on criteria in the 
respective subsection. 
(f) WELL DRILLING.—No funds may be used under this section 
for the purpose of drilling new wells. 
SEC. 617. COST SHARING AND PROPOSAL EVALUATION. 
(a) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of costs of projects 
funded under this subtitle shall be in accordance with section 
988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. 
(b) ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAMS.—Pro-
grams under this subtitle shall incorporate the following elements: 
(1) The Secretary shall coordinate with, and where appro-
priate may provide funds in furtherance of the purposes of