---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 6247b"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "6247b"
heading: "Purchase of oil from marginal wells"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/6247b"
units:
  - "Chapter 77 — Energy Conservation"
  - "Subchapter I — Domestic Supply Availability"
  - "Part B — Strategic Petroleum Reserve"
---

# §6247b. Purchase of oil from marginal wells

- (a) **In general—** From amounts authorized under [section 6246 of this title](/usc/42/6246.md), in any case in which the price of oil decreases to an amount less than $15.00 per barrel (an amount equal to the annual average well head price per barrel for all domestic crude oil), adjusted for inflation, the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) may purchase oil from a marginal well at $15.00 per barrel, adjusted for inflation.
- (b) **Definition of marginal well—** The term “marginal well” has the same meaning as the definition of “stripper well property” in [section 613A(c)(6)(E) of title 26](/usc/26/613A.md?p=c-6-E).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–163, title I, § 169, as added Pub. L. 106–469, title III, § 301(a), Nov. 9, 2000, 114 Stat. 2037.)