Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act
Bill: S.5205 | Sponsor: Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray (D-NM)
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act
This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish a research, development, and demonstration program with respect to (1) data collection on the location of abandoned oil or gas wells; (2) the plugging, remediation, reclamation, and repurposing of the wells; and (3) strategies to mitigate potential environmental impacts of documented and undocumented abandoned wells.

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.

    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. ABANDONED WELL REMEDIATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Title VI of division D of the Infrastructure 
Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58; 135 Stat. 1080) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 40602. ABANDONED WELLS RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION 
              PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definition of Abandoned Well.--In this section, the term 
`abandoned well' means a well originally drilled in connection with oil 
and gas operations that--
            ``(1) is not being used;
            ``(2) has not been plugged; and
            ``(3) has no anticipated use in oil and gas operations.
    ``(b) Establishment.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
enactment of the Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development 
Act, the Secretary, in coordination with relevant Federal and State 
agencies and entities, shall 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.
    ``(c) Activities.--Research, development, and demonstration 
activities carried out under the program established under subsection 
(b) 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 the wells, including 
        parameters 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.
    ``(d) Coordination.--In carrying out the program established under 
subsection (b), the Secretary shall ensure coordination of activities 
carried out under the program with--
            ``(1) institutions of higher education;
            ``(2) the National Laboratories; and
            ``(3) the private sector.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
            ``(1) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
            ``(2) $31,250,000 for fiscal year 2024;
            ``(3) $32,500,000 for fiscal year 2025;
            ``(4) $33,750,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
            ``(5) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the 
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58; 135 Stat. 
437) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 40601 
the following:

``Sec. 40602. Abandoned wells research, development, and demonstration 
                            program.''.
                                 <all>