42 U.S.C. § 13411 — Enhanced oil recovery

(a) Program direction. The Secretary^* must run a 5-year program, following the rules in sections 13541 and 13542, on technologies that recover more domestic oil. The program must: (1) improve how reservoirs are characterized; (2) improve analysis and field verification; (3) field-test and demonstrate enhanced oil recovery methods — including advanced ones — in reservoirs the Secretary ranks as high priority based mainly on how much oil they could yield and how likely they are to be abandoned; (4) transfer proven recovery technology to producers and well operators, including "stripper wells" (low-producing wells), that would likely be abandoned soon because production is declining; (5) make enhanced oil recovery more economical and efficient; (6) find and develop new recovery technologies; (7) study how reservoir properties affect oil recovery from porous rock; (8) improve ways to meet environmental rules; (9) improve databases on reservoir and environmental conditions; and (10) lower the cost of lifting oil from stripper wells using renewable technology like small wind turbines.

(b) Program goals. The program has three time horizons. Near-term: keep access to high-potential reservoirs open, find existing technology that can extend the life of wells and stripper-well properties, and develop environmentally sound ways to dispose of waste and inject fluids. Mid-term: develop and test technologies that are identified but not yet proven, then spread their use widely. Long-term: develop advanced techniques to recover oil that no current technique can reach.

(c) Accelerated program plan. Within 180 days after October 24, 1992, the Secretary had to give Congress a plan for quickly field-testing technologies that meet the goals in part (b). In writing the plan, the Secretary had to consult industry, colleges, federal agencies (including national laboratories), professional and technical groups, and the Advisory Board created under section 13522.

(d) Proposals. Within 1 year after October 24, 1992, the Secretary had to ask for proposals to carry out this program.

(e) Consultation. In running this program, the Secretary must consult oil and gas industry representatives about new research and development ideas to improve recovery, and must consider relevant technical data from industry and other research centers.

(f) Authorization of appropriations. Congress authorized the Secretary to spend $57,250,000 for fiscal year 1993 and $70,000,000 for fiscal year 1994 on this program, including advanced extraction and processing technology.