---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 13415"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "13415"
heading: "Midcontinent Energy Research Center"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/13415"
units:
  - "Chapter 134 — Energy Policy"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Reduction of Oil Vulnerability"
  - "Part A — Oil and Gas Supply Enhancement"
---

# §13415. Midcontinent Energy Research Center

- (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](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) 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)](#c-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](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) of the Federal Government, the [States](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) 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.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 102–486, title XX, § 2015, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3060.)