Over the last few years we have heard of the growing concern over orphaned oil and gas wells. It seems like a complete oxymoron. With current prices for a barrel of oil well over $100 per barrel (April 2022) and gas prices well over double that of 2021 prices, why would anyone want to orphan one of these wells?

Why would anyone orphan an oil and gas well?

The answer is that it is not always a choice. Oil and gas well operators go out of business for a variety of reasons, leaving their wells behind. In some cases, the operator may have died or gone bankrupt. In other cases, the operator may have just abandoned the well, leaving it to the elements.

The federal government has taken notice of this problem and has organized a nationwide effort to clean up these orphaned oil and gas wells. The main goals of this effort are to protect public health and safety, as well as to protect the environment. Oil and gas wells can leak harmful contaminants into the ground, which can then find their way into drinking water supplies. In addition, orphaned wells can be a hazard to people who might stumble across them.

The federal government is working with state and local governments, as well as private companies, to clean up these orphaned oil and gas wells. In November 2021, Congress has directed $4.7 billion toward the plugging of wells on federal, tribal, and private lands.

The nations orphaned oil and gas wells have been estimated by the EPA to be in the millions.

The Oil and Gas Orphan Well Program is a great start, but it will take many years and billions of dollars to clean up all of the orphaned oil and gas wells in the United States.

The Department of the Interior has begun working with the departments of Energy, Agriculture, EPA, and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commision to address this growing concern.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said the orphan well cleanup efforts will help curb “highly polluting” sources of methane.

“Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that traps 87 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period,” said Granholm. “These efforts will put people to work while protecting our environment and public health.”

How can we help clean up these orphaned wells?

Royalty Well Service has been solely focused on plugging wells since 1988. We are committed to doing our part in plugging these wells properly and protecting the environment for our future generations. If you live near an orphaned oil or gas well, you can help by reporting it to the appropriate authorities. If you are not sure who that is, we are here to help. Send us an email (info@royaltywellservice.com) and we will make sure we help to identify the regulatory agency that oversees the orphan well. You can also help by spreading the word about this problem and encouraging others to do their part in solving it.