42 U.S.C. § 17195: Geothermal energy production from oil and gas fields and recovery and production of geopressured gas resources

The Secretary shall establish a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application to support development of geothermal energy production from oil and gas fields and production and recovery of energy, including electricity, from geopressured resources. In addition, the Secretary shall conduct such supporting activities including research, resource characterization, and technology development as necessary. include not less than five oil or gas well sites per project award; use a range of oil or gas well hot water source temperatures from 150 degrees Fahrenheit to 300 degrees Fahrenheit; cover a range of sizes up to one megawatt; are located at a range of sites; can be replicated at a wide range of sites; facilitate identification of optimum techniques among competing alternatives; include business commercialization plans that have the potential for production of equipment at high volumes and operation and support at a large number of sites; and satisfy other criteria that the Secretary determines are necessary to carry out the program and collect necessary data and information. necessary and appropriate site engineering study; detailed economic assessment of site specific conditions; appropriate feasibility studies to determine whether the demonstration can be replicated; design or adaptation of existing technology for site specific circumstances or conditions; installation of equipment, service, and support; operation for a minimum of 1 year and monitoring for the duration of the demonstration; and validation of technical and economic assumptions and documentation of lessons learned. The Secretary shall implement a program to support the research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of cost-effective techniques to produce energy from geopressured resources. The Secretary shall solicit preliminary engineering designs for geopressured resources production and recovery facilities. Based upon a review of the preliminary designs, the Secretary shall award grants, which may be cost-shared, to support the detailed development and completion of engineering, architectural and technical plans needed to support construction of new designs. Based upon a review of the final design plans above, the Secretary shall award cost-shared development and construction grants for demonstration geopressured production facilities that show potential for economic recovery of the heat, kinetic energy and gas resources from geopressured resources. Not less than 90 days after December 19, 2007 , the Secretary shall conduct a national solicitation for applications for grants under the programs outlined in subsections (b) and (d). Grant recipients shall be selected on a competitive basis based on criteria in the respective subsection. No funds may be used under this section for the purpose of drilling new wells.