In the near future we plan to introduce legislation designed to improve the abandoned and orphaned oil and gas well plugging process in Pennsylvania.

Current estimates point to upwards of 350,000 abandoned and orphaned wells in our Commonwealth, with the first known wells drilled in the mid-1800s. The vast majority of the orphaned and abandoned wells in our state remain unidentified, and, when identified, adequate records to determine the well depth are not available.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection requires orphaned and abandoned wells to be plugged to depth, and if depth cannot be determined, the wells must be plugged to the identified attainable bottom approved by the Department. In determining the attainable bottom, the Department approves what they consider to be a reasonable effort to clean out a well, which has led to vast ambiguity and uncertainty.  The lack of clarity has discouraged plugging companies from pursuing opportunities in Pennsylvania, and instead undertaking work in Ohio and West Virginia, which have much more predictable processes for obtaining state agency approval.

Pennsylvania is in line to receive upwards of $400 million in federal funds dedicated to plugging these legacy wells, and our objective is to ensure those funds are being utilized in the most efficient manner. Our legislation will provide consistency in determining what a reasonable effort is when plugging to the attainable bottom, leading to increased predictability and improved utilization of orphaned and abandoned well plugging funds.    
 
 
 
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 726 (May 02, 2025): 58-3203