Three Key Facts:
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- The Biden law has provided over $185 million to plug orphaned oil and gas wells.
- Uncapped, orphan wells pose a significant threat, leaking methane—a potent greenhouse gas—into the atmosphere and contaminating groundwater.
- In 2011, an uncapped orphan well near Bradford, PA, caused an explosion that destroyed a home and resulted in $250,000 in damages.
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Since 2021, Pennsylvania has received over $185 million in federal funds to plug orphaned oil and gas wells under Joe Biden’s energy plan.
Orphan Wells and Public Risks
“Orphan wells” are oil and gas wells that are no longer in service, but were left unplugged by their owners before 1985. The wells pose a significant threat, leaking methane—a potent greenhouse gas—into the atmosphere and contaminating groundwater. “It’s not a matter of ‘if’ an orphan well will threaten public health and the environment, but ‘when’,”said Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley.
In 2011, methane from an uncapped well caused an explosion in Bradford, resulting in $250,000 in damage. The DEP estimates that Pennsylvania has between 200,000 and 560,000 orphaned and abandoned wells.
Preventing Disasters and Protecting Communities
The DEP has identified 550 high-priority wells and is focusing on those that pose the greatest risks, especially in disadvantaged communities. Monitoring programs are in place to track methane emissions and assess water contamination.
When a well dries up, owners and operators are legally required to plug it upon abandonment. However, orphan wells, which lack a legal or financial owner, become the state’s responsibility. This often happens when owners fail to properly decommission wells, leaving government agencies like the DEP to manage the cleanup. DEP aggressively pursues operators who walk away from wells, but some wells are over 100 years old – relics from the oil industry’s earliest days when there was very little regulation and even fewer records documenting ownership.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has identified some 550 high-priority orphan wells and is focusing on those that pose the greatest risks, especially in disadvantaged communities. Monitoring programs are in place to track methane emissions and assess water contamination.
Boosting Jobs and Rural Economies
The project is already creating hundreds of good-paying union jobs and supporting local businesses like Penn Mechanical Group, which has expanded its workforce and operations. U.S. Senator Bob Casey emphasized the dual benefits of job creation and environmental protection: “Communities have suffered from pollution and methane leaks for too long. With this funding, we can finally clean up these hazards and create jobs.”
A Comprehensive Effort to Tackle Pollution
The Pennsylvania initiative is part of a broader $104 million federal investment in Pennsylvania to combat legacy pollution, backed by over $6 billion in infrastructure funding. The state is also studying groundwater impacts and addressing surface water contamination to prevent future damage.
