Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act

This bill establishes a federal research program to improve the identification and remediation of abandoned oil and gas wells. It requires the Secretary to create a program within 120 days to develop better technologies for locating wells (using LiDAR, sensors, etc.), understand methane emissions from different well types, and improve plugging methods - including low-carbon materials and repurposing wells for geothermal energy or carbon storage. The program will receive $30-35 million annually from 2023-2027, with coordination involving universities, national labs, and private industry. This directly affects federal and state environmental agencies and communities near abandoned wells by addressing methane leaks and groundwater risks through research, not immediate cleanup.