§ 13411. Enhanced oil recovery
(a)
Program direction
The Secretary shall conduct a 5-year program, in accordance with sections
13541 and
13542 of this title, on technologies to increase the recoverability of domestic oil resources to—
(3)
field test and demonstrate enhanced oil recovery processes, including advanced processes, in reservoirs the Secretary considers to be of high priority, ranked primarily on the basis of oil recovery potential and risk of abandonment;
(4)
transfer proven recovery technologies to producers and operators of wells, including stripper wells, that would otherwise be likely to be abandoned in the near term due to declining production;
(b)
Program goals
(1)
Near-term priorities
The near-term priorities of the program include preserving access to high potential reservoirs, identifying available technologies that can extend the lifetime of wells and of stripper well property, and developing environmental field operations for waste disposal and injection practices.
(c)
Accelerated program plan
Within 180 days after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Congress a plan for carrying out under this section the accelerated field testing of technologies to achieve the priorities stated in subsection (b) of this section. In preparing the plan, the Secretary shall consult with appropriate representatives of industry, institutions of higher education, Federal agencies, including national laboratories, and professional and technical societies, and with the Advisory Board established under section
13522 of this title.
(d)
Proposals
Within 1 year after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall solicit proposals for conducting activities under this section.
(e)
Consultation
In carrying out the provisions of this section, the Secretary shall consult representatives of the oil and gas industry with respect to innovative research and development proposals to improve oil and gas recovery and shall consider relevant technical data from industry and other research and information centers and institutes.
(f)
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for carrying out this section, including advanced extraction and process technology, $57,250,000 for fiscal year 1993 and $70,000,000 for fiscal year 1994.