This bill addresses the issue of abandoned and orphaned oil and gas wells in Oklahoma, recognizing the environmental and public health risks they pose. It establishes legislative intent to mitigate these risks, particularly concerning the over twenty thousand documented orphaned wells and an estimated two hundred thousand undocumented wells in the state. The bill amends 17 O.S. 2021, Section 53, granting the Corporation Commission the authority to create rules for the plugging of all abandoned oil and gas wells, including shut-in gas wells, which are now specifically defined in the legislation.

Key amendments include the establishment of a maximum exemption period of five years for shut-in gas wells from the date they are shut in, after which they must be plugged unless otherwise determined by the Commission. The previous provision that prevented the Commission from ordering the plugging of wells located on producing leases has been removed, allowing for more stringent oversight. The Commission is also directed to promulgate rules to implement these changes and ensure enforcement. The bill is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.