News & Updates

Virginians asked to help find old oil, gas wells

February 24, 2010 (Big Stone Gap). The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy is asking Southwest Virginia residents to help the agency locate, plug and clean up old, abandoned gas and oil wells.

Big South Fork to plug 45 abandoned wells

February 26, 2010 (WLVT TV, Knoxville, TN). – The National Park Service will plug 45 abandoned oil and gas wells in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

PA DEP announces 259 Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells Plugged in 2009

February 4, 2010 (Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection). Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger today reported the department last year managed 14 project sites in nine counties that successfully plugged 259 abandoned oil and gas wells.

Oklahoma celebrates 10,000th well site restoration by OERB

December 2, 2009 (OERB). Through voluntary funds paid by oil and natural gas producers and royalty owners, the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB) will begin work to clean up its 10,000th site after a news conference on Wednesday, Dec. 9th.

Kansas Corporation Commission plugs abandoned wells on Tallgrass Prairie

July 31, 2009. (KCC). The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) is scheduled to begin plugging a series of abandoned natural gas wells located on the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve this fall.  Total cost for the project is estimated to be $75,000 and will be financed by the Abandoned Oil and Gas Well / Site Remediation Fund.

Wyoming reviews bonds for wells

July 29, 2009 (Casper Star-Tribune). Since 1997, according to the agency, the commission's field staff has plugged 273 orphaned wells across the state, for a total cost of $5.38 million. Bonds from operators responsible for those wells covered slightly more than $1 million of that cost.

Texas Plugging Program Reaches 30,000 Milestone

June 30, 2009 (Railroad Commission of Texas). Railroad Commissioners announced this month that plugging activities for the state’s abandoned oil and gas wells reached a milestone with the plugging of the 30,000th abandoned well.

CO2 storage in abandoned wells to be studied

October 21, 2009 (The State). Researchers will focus on abandoned wells, coal beds and underground reservoirs of salt water commonly referred to as deep saline aquifers.