50 USC § 167o - Low-Btu gas separation and helium conservation

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t50/s167o"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "50 USC § 167o - Low-Btu gas separation and helium conservation"
title_number: 50
title_name: "WAR AND NATIONAL DEFENSE"
section_number: "167o"
section_name: "Low-Btu gas separation and helium conservation"
chapter_number: 10
chapter_name: "HELIUM GAS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Mar. 3, 1925, ch. 426, § 17, as added Pub. L. 113–40, § 6(3), Oct. 2, 2013, 127 Stat. 542.)"
---


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

**(a)** **Authorization** 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)** **Programs**

**(1)** **Membrane technology research** 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)** **Helium separation technology** 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)** **Industrial helium program** 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)** **Authorization of appropriations** There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000.

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

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 17 of , was redesignated section 20 and is set out as a Separability note under .