42 U.S.C. § 13415 — Midcontinent Energy Research Center

(a) Finding. Congress found that petroleum resources in the midcontinent region of the United States are very large, but wells are being abandoned too early. (b) Purposes. This section aims to: (1) make petroleum recovery more efficient; (2) increase the total amount of petroleum ultimately recovered; and (3) delay abandoning these resources. (c) Establishment. The Secretary may (this is optional) set up the Midcontinent Energy Research Center — called "the Center" in this section — to (1) research petroleum geology and engineering aimed at recovering more petroleum from existing fields and established drilling areas in the upper midcontinent region, and (2) make sure that research reaches the people who can use it. (d) Research. As much as practical, the Center must cooperate with federal agencies, midcontinent states, and the affected industry when doing its research. The Center's research programs may include: (A) building databases and transferring technology; (B) reservoir management; (C) reservoir characterization; (D) advanced recovery methods; and (E) developing new technology.