[ECO]Abandoned Oil Well Cleanup Project Protects Wildlife Refuges in Three States

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The US federal government granted $19.2 million for abandoned oil well cleanup across four wildlife refuges in three states.

A Montana-based nonprofit has received $19.2 million to seal more than 110 abandoned oil and gas wells across four national wildlife refuges. The project, set to begin in January 2025, will help protect wildlife, water sources, and visitors in Oklahoma, Montana, and Oregon. The grant represents one of the largest single investments in orphaned well cleanup on federal lands.

The

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(WDF) will lead this environmental cleanup effort in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The abandoned oil well cleanup targets Deep Fork and Sequoyah refuges in Oklahoma, Hailstone in Montana, and Baskett Slough in Oregon. Collectively, these refuges span over 125,000 acres of critical wildlife habitat.

These abandoned wells, also called orphan wells, pose serious environmental risks. They can leak methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that traps 25 times more heat than carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. They may also contaminate groundwater and surface water with hydrocarbons and heavy metals, threatening both wildlife and human health. Some wells have been leaking for decades.

The presence of these wells reflects decades of oil industry activity in these regions. In Oklahoma, oil production began in the early 1900s during the famous oil *****, with thousands of wells drilled before modern environmental regulations existed. The state’s first commercial well was drilled in 1897, and by 1920, Oklahoma produced one-third of all U.S. oil.

Montana’s oil history dates back to the 1910s, with the first major discovery in Cat Creek Field in 1920. Oregon saw limited oil exploration in the mid-1900s, with most activity concentrated in the eastern part of the state. Today, these states face the challenge of cleaning up this industrial legacy, which includes an estimated 3.2 million abandoned wells nationwide.

Even if you don’t live near these refuges, abandoned wells affect everyone in several important ways. They release methane that contributes to climate change and can affect local air quality in surrounding communities.

These wells can contaminate drinking water sources, potentially affecting municipal water supplies across wide geographic areas. They also create significant safety hazards for hikers, wildlife, and livestock, including physical dangers and explosion risks.

The financial impact is substantial – when left unaddressed, cleanup costs range from $40,000 to $300,000 per well, expenses ultimately borne by taxpayers. Abandoned oil well cleanup is relatively inexpensive in comparison.. Additionally, these abandoned wells can reduce property values in surrounding areas by up to 15%, according to some recent real estate studies, affecting homeowners and local tax bases.

The abandoned oil well cleanup involves several steps to ensure proper well closure:

First, teams will locate all wells, including those that may not be documented. This process requires sophisticated magnetometers and ground-penetrating radar, as many old wells were abandoned before modern record-keeping began. Some wells may be hidden under decades of vegetation growth.

Next, workers will

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using specialized infrared cameras and gas analyzers. They’ll also conduct comprehensive water quality testing for contaminants, including benzene, toluene, and heavy metals. This data helps prioritize which wells need immediate attention and provides a baseline to measure improvement.

The plugging process involves filling the well with cement and other materials to seal it permanently. Think of it like filling a deep straw with concrete so nothing can flow through it anymore. The process typically takes 3-5 days per well and requires specialized equipment, such as workover rigs and cement pumps.

A similar abandoned oil well cleanup project in Pennsylvania successfully sealed 50 wells in state forests in 2023. The project improved water quality in nearby streams and eliminated methane emissions equivalent to removing 5,000 cars from the road. Follow-up studies showed the return of native plant species and increased wildlife activity in restored areas.

Texas completed an abandoned oil well cleanup of 400 wells in 2024, restoring over 1,000 acres of habitat. The project created 200 temporary jobs and led to permanent environmental monitoring positions. Local communities reported improved air quality and increased tourism after the restoration.

Since 2019, WDF has sealed 46 high-priority wells across five states, including California, North Dakota, and Kentucky. These efforts have prevented the release of over 1.5 million metric tons of methane. In perspective, it’s equivalent to taking about 326,000 cars off the road for a year, every year, forever. The organization maintains a 98% success rate in permanent well sealing.

The project will create opportunities for:

• Local job training programs focused on environmental restoration techniques
• Educational internships for college students in environmental science
• Volunteer positions for community members interested in conservation
• Partnerships with Native American tribes to incorporate traditional ecological knowledge
• Public education about environmental conservation through site visits and workshops

The success of this abandoned oil well cleanup project could inspire other groups to move forward with their own restoration efforts. Similar projects are currently being planned in Wyoming, Kansas, and Louisiana, with potential funding of over $50 million in federal grants. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that completing all necessary well cleanups nationwide would cost approximately $435 billion.

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