Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act
Bill: H.R.4270 | Sponsor: Rep. Lamb, Conor (D-PA)
Policy area: Energy

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) mitigating potential environmental impacts of documented and undocumented abandoned wells.

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.


 


    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. 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, DEVELOPMENT, 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 agencies 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 environmental 
        impacts of documented and undocumented abandoned wells.
    ``(b) Activities.--The research, development, and demonstration 
under subsection (a) 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 such wells, including 
        paramaters 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.
    ``(c) Coordination.--In carrying out the program established in 
(a), the Secretary shall ensure coordination of these activities with 
institutions of higher education, the Department of Energy National 
Laboratories, and the private 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 
                            program.''.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 389

117th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 4270

                          [Report No. 117-541]

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