Produced Water Utilization Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-2339
Sponsor: Rep. Hall, Ralph M. [R-TX-4]
Introduced: 2007-05-16 in the House
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Energy
Energy development
Energy research
Environmental Protection
Environmental technology
Geology
Groundwater
Hydrology
Infrastructure
Irrigation
Laboratories
Natural gas
Petroleum
Prospecting
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Research and development
Research and development facilities
Saline waters
Science, Technology, Communications
Secondary recovery of gas
Secondary recovery of oil
Technological innovations
Water pollution control
Water purification
Water quality
Water supply

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-16
text: 
Produced Water Utilization Act of 2007 - Defines &quot;produced water&quot; to mean water from an underground source that is brought to the surface as part of the process of exploration for or development of coalbed methane, oil, natural gas, or any other substance to be used as an energy source.

Requires the Secretary of Energy, in conjunction with an existing domestic petroleum production program of the Department of Energy, to conduct a program of research, development, and demonstration of technologies for environmentally sustainable utilization of produced water for agriculture, irrigation, municipal, or industrial uses or other environmentally sustainable purposes. Requires the program to be designed to maximize the utilization of produced water in the United States by increasing its quality and reducing its environmental impacts.

Requires that the program address: (1) produced water recovery, including research for desalination and demineralization to reduce total dissolved solids in the produced water; (2) reinjection of produced water into subsurface geological formations to increase energy production; and (3) improving safety and minimizing environmental impacts of such activities.

Requires the Secretary, through the National Energy Technology Laboratory, to carry out research, development, and demonstration activities that are complementary to and supportive of such program.

action_date: 2008-07-30
text: 
Produced Water Utilization Act of 2008 - Defines &quot;produced water&quot; to mean water from an underground source that is brought to the surface as part of the process of exploration for or development of coalbed methane, oil, natural gas, or any other substance to be used as an energy source.

Requires the Secretary of Energy, in conjunction with an existing domestic petroleum production program of the Department of Energy, to conduct a program of research, development, and demonstration of technologies for environmentally sustainable utilization of produced water for agriculture, irrigation, municipal, or industrial uses or other environmentally sustainable purposes. Requires the program to be designed to maximize the utilization of produced water in the United States by increasing its quality and reducing its environmental impacts.

Requires that the program address: (1) produced water recovery, including research for desalination and demineralization to reduce total dissolved solids in the produced water; (2) re-injection of produced water into subsurface geological formations to increase energy production; and (3) improving safety and minimizing environmental impacts of such activities.

Requires the Secretary, through the appropriate National Laboratory, to carry out research, development, and demonstration activities that are complementary to and supportive of such program.

Authorizes appropriations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-31
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7607)
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7607)
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2339.
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7606-7608)
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Mr. Matheson moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 518.
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science and Technology. H. Rept. 110-801.
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science and Technology. H. Rept. 110-801.
action_date: 2008-07-16
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2008-07-16
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-05-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
action_date: 2007-05-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science and Technology.
action_date: 2007-05-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-05-16
text: Introduced in House