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119-s-818119th Congress

Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act

Sponsored By: Senator Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a federal research, development, and demonstration program to find, plug, and repurpose abandoned oil and gas wells. The bill focuses on better mapping, testing detection technologies, and evaluating ways to plug or reuse wells while measuring environmental risks like methane leaks and groundwater harm.

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  • Communities and the environment: Would fund research to map undocumented wells, measure how well features affect methane emissions, and study impacts on groundwater quality. This aims to reduce local air and water risks.
  • Researchers and industry partners: Would support universities, National Laboratories, and private firms to improve remote sensing, LiDAR, optical gas imaging, magnetic surveys, and other detection tools. It also pushes work on cost and efficiency of plugging remote wells.
  • Energy and reuse opportunities: Would test low-carbon cements and other plugging materials and study repurposing wells for geothermal energy or carbon capture, utilization, and storage.

*Authorizes $162.5 million in appropriations over fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the program.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New research and funding for abandoned wells

This bill would create a federal research, development, and demonstration program for abandoned oil and gas wells. The program would be set up within 120 days after enactment. It would define an "abandoned well" as an oil and gas well not used, not plugged, and with no planned future use. The program would study how to find wells, measure methane leaks, test plugging and reuse methods, and study groundwater risks. It would coordinate with universities, National Laboratories, states, and private partners. The bill would authorize $30.0 million in FY2026; $31.25 million in FY2027; $32.5 million in FY2028; $33.75 million in FY2029; and $35.0 million in FY2030 (about $162.5 million total).

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

NM • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]

    ND • R

    Sponsored 3/3/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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