50 U.S.C. § 167o

Current through P.L. 118-106 (published on www.congress.gov on 10/04/2024)

Section 167o - Low-Btu gas separation and helium conservation

(a) Authorization

The Secretary of Energy shall support programs of research, development, commercial application, and conservation (including the programs described in subsection (b))-

(1) to expand the domestic production of low-Btu gas and helium resources;

(2) to separate and capture helium from natural gas streams; and

(3) to reduce the venting of helium and helium-bearing low-Btu gas during natural gas exploration and production.

(b) Programs

(1) Membrane technology research

The Secretary of Energy, in consultation with other appropriate agencies, shall support a civilian research program to develop advanced membrane technology that is used in the separation of low-Btu gases, including technologies that remove helium and other constituent gases that lower the Btu content of natural gas.

(2) Helium separation technology

The Secretary of Energy shall support a research program to develop technologies for separating, gathering, and processing helium in low concentrations that occur naturally in geological reservoirs or formations, including-

(A) low-Btu gas production streams; and

(B) technologies that minimize the atmospheric venting of helium gas during natural gas production.

(3) Industrial helium program

The Secretary of Energy, working through the Advanced Manufacturing Office of the Department of Energy, shall carry out a research program-

(A) to develop low-cost technologies and technology systems for recycling, reprocessing, and reusing helium for all medical, scientific, industrial, commercial, aerospace, and other uses of helium in the United States, including Federal uses; and

(B) to develop industrial gathering technologies to capture helium from other chemical processing, including ammonia processing.

(c) Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000.

50 U.S.C. § 167o

Mar. 3, 1925, ch. 426, §17, as added Pub. L. 113-40, §6, 127 Stat. 542.

EDITORIAL NOTES

PRIOR PROVISIONSA prior section 17 of act Mar. 3, 1925, ch. 426, was redesignated section 20 and is set out as a Separability note under section 167 of this title.

Secretary

The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.

low-Btu gas

The term "low-Btu gas" means a fuel gas with a heating value of less than 250 Btu per standard cubic foot measured as the higher heating value resulting from the inclusion of noncombustible gases, including nitrogen, helium, argon, and carbon dioxide.