Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§13415 Midcontinent Energy Research Center

Title 42 › CHAPTER 134 — ENERGY POLICY › SUBCHAPTER VIII — REDUCTION OF OIL VULNERABILITY › Part A — Oil and Gas Supply Enhancement › § 13415

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Congress says there is a lot of oil in the midcontinent but some of it is being left behind too soon. The law lets the Secretary create the Midcontinent Energy Research Center to help get more oil from existing fields in the upper midcontinent region, make recovery more efficient, and slow down early abandonment of resources. The Center must work with federal agencies, the midcontinent States, and the oil industry. Its research can include building data systems and sharing technology, managing and characterizing reservoirs, testing advanced recovery methods, and creating new technology.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §13415

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Finding

Congress finds that petroleum resources in the midcontinent region of the United States are very large but are being prematurely abandoned.

(b)Purposes

The purposes of this section are to—

(1)improve the efficiency of petroleum recovery;

(2)increase ultimate petroleum recovery; and

(3)delay the abandonment of resources.

(c)Establishment

The Secretary may establish the Midcontinent Energy Research Center (referred to in this section as the “Center”) to—

(1)conduct research in petroleum geology and engineering focused on improving the recovery of petroleum from existing fields and established plays in the upper midcontinent region of the United States; and

(2)ensure that the results of the research described in paragraph (1) are transferred to users.

(d)Research

(1)In general

In conducting research under this section, the Center shall, to the extent practicable, cooperate with agencies of the Federal Government, the States in the midcontinent region of the United States, and the affected industry.

(2)Programs

Research programs conducted by the Center may include—

(A)data base development and transfer of technology;

(B)reservoir management;

(C)reservoir characterization;

(D)advanced recovery methods; and

(E)development of new technology.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 13415

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110