§16295 Oil and Gas Research Programs

Summary

The Secretary must run a research, development, demonstration, and commercial program about oil and gas. It covers seven areas, including exploration and production; gas hydrates; extending reservoir life; transport and distribution systems; ultraclean fuels; heavy oil, oil shale, and tar sands; and related environmental research. The goal is to improve science and technology for U.S. petroleum producers, especially independent operators, to help reduce economic harm when domestic supplies decline. Not later than 2 years after August 8, 2005, and every 2 years after that, the Secretary of the Interior, working with other federal agencies, must send Congress a report with the latest estimates of natural gas and oil reserves, reserves growth, and undiscovered resources in Federal and State waters off the coast of Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi. The Secretary must also create a national center or consortium for clean energy and power generation, using the Clean Power and Energy Research Consortium that existed on August 8, 2005. That center will do research, testing, and commercial work in six areas: gas turbine efficiency and reliability; cutting emissions from power generation; promoting energy conservation; using alternative fuels and renewable energy; advanced materials for oil and gas work in harsh environments; and education about energy and power generation.