S. 818 — Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act

This section establishes a research, development, and demonstration program, to be administered by the Secretary of Energy in coordination with federal and state agencies, institutions of higher education, national laboratories, and the private sector, to improve data collection on locations of abandoned oil and gas wells (defined as unused, unplugged wells with no anticipated future use); techniques for their plugging, remediation, reclamation, and repurposing; and strategies to mitigate environmental impacts such as methane emissions and groundwater contamination. Program activities include advancing detection technologies (e.g., remote sensors, LiDAR, optical gas imaging, magnetic surveys), analyzing factors affecting methane emission rates (e.g., well age, depth, geology), improving plugging efficiency and cost-effectiveness (e.g., low-carbon lightweight cement, alternative materials, remote access methods, repurposing for geothermal power or carbon capture), and assessing groundwater effects. The program must be established within 120 days of enactment. Authorizes appropriations of $30 million for FY2026, $31.25 million for FY2027, $32.5 million for FY2028, $33.75 million for FY2029, and $35 million for FY2030.