(a) Study
The Secretary shall make a grant to an organization of oil and gas producing States, 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 geologist of each State being studied.
(b) ContentsThe studies under this section shall—
(c) Data analysisData development and analysis under this section shall be performed by an institution of higher education with GIS capabilities. If the organization receiving the grant under subsection (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
(d) Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for carrying out this section—
(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.