Landgraf, who is from Odessa, said he has seen the issue firsthand and knows how big of a problem it can be.
“I’ve seen orphaned wells that are 50, 60, 70 years old,” he said. “They’re a real eyesore, and they can be a real environmental hazard.”
Landgraf said he is working with the Railroad Commission of Texas, the state agency that regulates the oil and gas industry, to come up with a plan to plug as many orphaned wells as possible.
“The federal government has made some money available to help with the costs, but it’s not nearly enough,” he said. “We’re going to need all the help we can get.”
Landgraf said he is hopeful that the state Legislature will appropriate additional funding for the effort during its next session.
“This is something that’s going to take a lot of time and a lot of money, but it’s something we have to do,” he said. “We have to clean up our state.”
If you know of an orphaned well in your area, you can report it to the Railroad Commission of Texas. You can also find more information about the issue on the Commission’s website.
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.