Description: Orphaned well locations reported to the Orphaned Wells Program Office (OWPO) by states that have received BIL funding, as of the end of September 2023. Data is self-reported by states and subject to correction.Orphaned wells and well sites are part of the exploration and production segment of the oil and gas supply chain. Each site may contain various pieces of old infrastructure and equipment depending on age, location, state of disrepair, original purpose, and other factors. “Orphaned” or “orphan” wells are wells that no longer produce oil, gas, or otherwise serve the intended purpose and have no known owner or operator capable of properly plugging or closing the well and reclaiming the well site. When an oil or gas well is orphaned, the clean-up responsibilities and associated financial costs fall on the federal government or state governments, in essence, U.S. taxpayers. Enacted in November 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) includes a historic $4.7 billion for orphaned well plugging, site remediation, and restoration activities across the country. Of this total, $4.275 billion is for cleaning up wells on state and private lands.
Copyright Text: U.S. Department of Interior, Orphaned Wells Program Office (OWPO)