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
17 January 2025
Supply glut or supply deficit are both plausible outlooks, with tariffs and sanctions among the key risks that could swing the pendulum
17 January 2025
European Commission is on its way to meeting clean energy goals, but energy security concerns and higher costs may give it second thoughts
17 January 2025
The CEO of QatarEnergy has highlighted the potential impact a new EU directive could have on energy exports to the continent
16 January 2025
The government’s resource nationalism is aggravating the NOC’s debt position and could yet worsen if also tasked with the decarbonisation shift
