Abandoned oil wells are scattered across the US
US industry and government must work together on abandoned wells
Dealing with end-of-life oil and gas wells has costs and challenges. But a joined-up approach should also offer benefits
Millions of abandoned oil and gas wells are scattered across the US, leaking greenhouse gases (GHGs) and contaminating the local environment. A combination of tightening rules on oil companies to ensure the safe retirement of these wells and a government-funded programme to address older, undocumented wells provides a path forward. And it is one that has the potential to create employment opportunities while improving public health. Widespread problem The term abandoned wells generally refers to wells that have not recently been used for production of oil or natural gas. A well that is both abandoned and unplugged is not in use but also has not been properly sealed, or ‘plugged’, to prevent
Also in this section
16 April 2025
Israel continues to strike new oil and gas concession agreements and gas exports continue to rise, but an overreliance on Egypt remains the big concern
15 April 2025
Loss of US shipments of key petrochemical feedstock could see Beijing look to Tehran with tariffs set to upend global LPG flows
15 April 2025
Australia’s East Coast Gas projections for a supply shortfall have been pushed further out, but the challenge to meet evolving gas demand and the shifting assumptions around the fundamentals remain just as stark
15 April 2025
Long-delayed prospects for onshore LNG production in Mozambique have improved thanks to US financing approval, but security challenges blight way ahead
