---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 16522"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "16522"
heading: "Low-volume gas reservoir study"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/16522"
units:
  - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter XVI — Studies"
---

# §16522. Low-volume gas reservoir study

- (a) **Study—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall make a grant to an organization of oil and gas producing [States](/usc/42/16511.md?p=6), specifically those containing significant numbers of marginal oil and natural gas wells, for conducting an annual study of low-volume natural gas reservoirs. Such organization shall work with the [State](/usc/42/16511.md?p=6) geologist of each [State](/usc/42/16511.md?p=6) being studied.
- (b) **Contents—** The studies under this section shall—
  - (1) determine the status and location of marginal wells and gas reservoirs;
  - (2) gather the production information of these marginal wells and reservoirs;
  - (3) estimate the remaining producible reserves based on variable pipeline pressures;
  - (4) locate low-pressure gathering facilities and pipelines;
  - (5) recommend incentives which will enable the continued production of these resources;
  - (6) produce maps and literature to disseminate to [States](/usc/42/16511.md?p=6) to promote conservation of natural gas reserves; and
  - (7) evaluate the amount of natural gas that is being wasted through the practice of venting or flaring of natural gas produced in association with crude oil well production.
- (c) **Data analysis—** Data development and analysis under this section shall be performed by an [institution of higher education](/usc/42/15801.md?p=2-A) with GIS capabilities. If the organization receiving the grant under [subsection (a)](#a) does not have GIS capabilities, such organization shall contract with one or more entities with—
  - (1) technological capabilities and resources to perform advanced image processing, GIS programming, and data analysis; and
  - (2) the ability to—
    - (A) process remotely sensed imagery with high spatial resolution;
    - (B) deploy global positioning systems;
    - (C) process and synthesize existing, variable-format gas well, pipeline, gathering facility, and reservoir data;
    - (D) create and query GIS databases with infrastructure location and attribute information;
    - (E) write computer programs to customize relevant GIS software;
    - (F) [generate](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=8) maps, charts, and graphs which summarize findings from data research for presentation to different audiences; and
    - (G) deliver data in a variety of formats, including Internet Map Server for query and display, desktop computer display, and access through handheld personal digital assistants.
- (d) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) for carrying out this section—
  - (1) $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
  - (2) $450,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2010.
- (e) **Definitions—** For purposes of this section, the term “GIS” means geographic information systems technology that facilitates the organization and management of data with a geographic component.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–58, title XVIII, § 1808, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 1124.)