TITLE V--OIL AND GAS PROVISIONS

`SEC. 45K. CREDIT FOR PRODUCING OIL AND GAS FROM MARGINAL WELLS.

`(a) GENERAL RULE- For purposes of section 38, the marginal well production credit for any taxable year is an amount equal to the product of--

`(1) the credit amount, and

`(2) the qualified credit oil production and the qualified natural gas production which is attributable to the taxpayer.

`(b) CREDIT AMOUNT- For purposes of this section--

`(1) IN GENERAL- The credit amount is--

`(A) $3 per barrel of qualified crude oil production, and

`(B) 50 cents per 1,000 cubic feet of qualified natural gas production.

`(2) REDUCTION AS OIL AND GAS PRICES INCREASE-

`(A) IN GENERAL- The $3 and 50 cents amounts under paragraph (1) shall each be reduced (but not below zero) by an amount which bears the same ratio to such amount (determined without regard to this paragraph) as--

`(i) the excess (if any) of the applicable reference price over $15 ($1.67 for qualified natural gas production), bears to

`(ii) $3 ($0.33 for qualified natural gas production).

The applicable reference price for a taxable year is the reference price of the calendar year

preceding the calendar year in which the taxable year begins.

`(B) INFLATION ADJUSTMENT- In the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2003, each of the dollar amounts contained in subparagraph (A) shall be increased to an amount equal to such dollar amount multiplied by the inflation adjustment factor for such calendar year (determined under section 43(b)(3)(B) by substituting `2002' for `1990').

`(C) REFERENCE PRICE- For purposes of this paragraph, the term `reference price' means, with respect to any calendar year--

`(i) in the case of qualified crude oil production, the reference price determined under section 29(d)(2)(C), and

`(ii) in the case of qualified natural gas production, the Secretary's estimate of the annual average wellhead price per 1,000 cubic feet for all domestic natural gas.

`(c) QUALIFIED CRUDE OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION- For purposes of this section--

`(1) IN GENERAL- The terms `qualified crude oil production' and `qualified natural gas production' mean domestic crude oil or natural gas which is produced from a qualified marginal well.

`(2) Limitation on amount of production which may qualify-

`(A) IN GENERAL- Crude oil or natural gas produced during any taxable year from any well shall not be treated as qualified crude oil production or qualified natural gas production to the extent production from the well during the taxable year exceeds 1,095 barrels or barrel equivalents.

`(B) Proportionate reductions-

`(i) SHORT TAXABLE YEARS- In the case of a short taxable year, the limitations under this paragraph shall be proportionately reduced to reflect the ratio which the number of days in such taxable year bears to 365.

`(ii) WELLS NOT IN PRODUCTION ENTIRE YEAR- In the case of a well which is not capable of production during each day of a taxable year, the limitations under this paragraph applicable to the well shall be proportionately reduced to reflect the ratio which the number of days of production bears to the total number of days in the taxable year.

`(3) Definitions-

`(A) QUALIFIED MARGINAL WELL- The term `qualified marginal well' means a domestic well--

`(i) the production from which during the taxable year is treated as marginal production under section 613A(c)(6), or

`(ii) which, during the taxable year--

`(I) has average daily production of not more than 25 barrel equivalents, and

`(II) produces water at a rate not less than 95 percent of total well effluent.

`(B) CRUDE OIL, ETC- The terms `crude oil', `natural gas', `domestic', and `barrel' have the meanings given such terms by section 613A(e).

`(C) BARREL EQUIVALENT- The term `barrel equivalent' means, with respect to natural gas, a conversation ratio of 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas to 1 barrel of crude oil.

`(d) Other Rules-

`(1) PRODUCTION ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE TAXPAYER- In the case of a qualified marginal well in which there is more than one owner of operating interests in the well and the crude oil or natural gas production exceeds the limitation under subsection (c)(2), qualifying crude oil production or qualifying natural gas production attributable to the taxpayer shall be determined on the basis of the ratio which taxpayer's revenue interest in the production bears to the aggregate of the revenue interests of all operating interest owners in the production.

`(2) OPERATING INTEREST REQUIRED- Any credit under this section may be claimed only on production which is attributable to the holder of an operating interest.

`(3) PRODUCTION FROM NONCONVENTIONAL SOURCES EXCLUDED- In the case of production from a qualified marginal well which is eligible for the credit allowed under section 29 for the taxable year, no credit shall be allowable under this section unless the taxpayer elects not to claim the credit under section 29 with respect to the well.

`(4) NONCOMPLIANCE WITH POLLUTION LAWS- For purposes of subsection (c)(3)(A), a marginal well which is not in compliance with the applicable State and Federal pollution prevention, control, and permit requirements for any period of time shall not be considered to be a qualified marginal well during such period.'.

(b) CREDIT TREATED AS BUSINESS CREDIT- Section 38(b), as amended by this Act, is amended by striking `plus' at the end of paragraph (20), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (21) and inserting `, plus', and by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

`(22) the marginal oil and gas well production credit determined under section 45K(a).'.

(c) NO CARRYBACK OF MARGINAL OIL AND GAS WELL PRODUCTION CREDIT BEFORE EFFECTIVE DATE- Subsection (d) of section 39, as amended by this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

`(19) NO CARRYBACK OF MARGINAL OIL AND GAS WELL PRODUCTION CREDIT BEFORE EFFECTIVE DATE- No portion of the unused business credit for any taxable year which is attributable to the marginal oil and gas well production credit determined under section 45K may be carried back to a taxable

year ending on or before the date of the enactment of such section.'.

(d) COORDINATION WITH SECTION 29- Section 29(a) is amended by striking `There' and inserting `At the election of the taxpayer, there'.

(e) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of sections for subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1, as amended by this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

`Sec. 45K. Credit for producing oil and gas from marginal wells.'.

(f) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section shall apply to production in taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.