An idle well fee program is masking vast cleanup costs while harming residents and the climate.

But while the Orphan Well Prevention Act will help reduce the number of abandoned and orphaned wells — currently around 5,300 — industry watchers said it does little to address the looming issue of wells that remain dormant indefinitely, some of which leak climate-warming methane and toxic fumes.

  • MisterD
    32·
    1 year ago

    These wells might become prime targets for eco terrorists. They should be capped with cement

    • silence7@slrpnk.netOPM
      6·
      1 year ago

      Damaging an idle well makes little sense. It has no impact on the oil company and does environmental damage.

      Proper end of life for a well means not just some cap on top, but a plug or multiple plugs down in the borehole to prevent hydrocarbons from migrating into aquifers and salt water from migrating into freshwater aquifers