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

• (a) The Secretary of Energy shall support programs of research, development, commercial application, and conservation (including the programs described in subsection (b))—
  • (1) to expand the domestic production of low-Btu gas 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 during natural gas exploration and production.
• (b)
  • (1) The Secretary 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, including technologies that remove helium and other constituent gases that lower the Btu content of natural gas.
  • (2) The Secretary 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 production streams; and
    • (B) technologies that minimize the atmospheric venting of helium gas during natural gas production.
  • (3) The Secretary 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) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000.