---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 U.S.C. § 167o"
title: "50"
title_heading: "War and National Defense"
number: "167o"
heading: "Low-Btu gas separation and helium conservation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/50/167o"
units:
  - "Chapter 10 — Helium Gas"
---

# §167o. Low-Btu gas separation and helium conservation

- (a) **Authorization—** The [Secretary](/usc/50/167.md?p=12) of Energy shall support programs of research, development, commercial application, and conservation (including the programs described in [subsection (b)](#b))—
  - (1) to expand the domestic production of [low-Btu gas](/usc/50/167.md?p=6) and helium resources;
  - (2) to separate and capture helium from natural gas streams; and
  - (3) to reduce the venting of helium and helium-bearing [low-Btu gas](/usc/50/167.md?p=6) during natural gas exploration and production.
- (b) **Programs—**
  - (1) **Membrane technology research—** The [Secretary](/usc/50/167.md?p=12) of Energy, in consultation with other appropriate agencies, shall support a civilian research program to develop advanced membrane technology that is used in the separation of [low-Btu gases](/usc/50/167.md?p=6), including technologies that remove helium and other constituent gases that lower the Btu content of natural gas.
  - (2) **Helium separation technology—** The [Secretary](/usc/50/167.md?p=12) of Energy shall support a research program to develop technologies for separating, gathering, and processing helium in low concentrations that occur naturally in geological reservoirs or formations, including—
    - (A) [low-Btu gas](/usc/50/167.md?p=6) production streams; and
    - (B) technologies that minimize the atmospheric venting of helium gas during natural gas production.
  - (3) **Industrial helium program—** The [Secretary](/usc/50/167.md?p=12) of Energy, working through the Advanced Manufacturing Office of the Department of Energy, shall carry out a research program—
    - (A) to develop low-cost technologies and technology systems for recycling, reprocessing, and reusing helium for all medical, scientific, industrial, commercial, aerospace, and other uses of helium in the United States, including Federal uses; and
    - (B) to develop industrial gathering technologies to capture helium from other chemical processing, including ammonia processing.
- (c) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000.

## Source credit

(Mar. 3, 1925, ch. 426, § 17, as added Pub. L. 113–40, § 6(3), Oct. 2, 2013, 127 Stat. 542.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 17 of act Mar. 3, 1925, ch. 426, was redesignated section 20 and is set out as a Separability note under section 167 of this title.