Well Abandonment and Remediation
Source: CalGEM
Source: CA Department of Conservation
Taking on California’s Idle Wells Challenge
Governor Newsom and the State of California have made it a priority to reduce the environmental and public health risks of idle and orphaned wells while also reducing methane and other greenhouse gas emissions.
The California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) estimates there are approximately 35,000 idle wells in California that have not been used for two or more years and not been properly plugged and abandoned.
Idle wells that don’t have an operator capable of abandoning and remediating the well are called “Orphan Wells.” Orphan wells present special environmental and community health hazards and are at risk of leaking methane, the second-largest contributor to climate change.
Well Abandonment
Oil and gas operators are required to plug and abandon their wells and remediate surface production facilities when their wells reach the end of their productive lives.
Well abandonment is the process to permanently seal, or “plug” a well that is no longer used to produce oil or gas. Abandonment is sometimes also referred to as “well-capping.” Wells that are plugged have been filled with cement and other materials approved by the State of California. Cement is put at specific places in the well, called “intervals.” These intervals include the groundwater table and any layers of rock that contain oil and gas deposits.
Surface Remediation
Remediation is the process for removing any other surface equipment used for oil and gas production, addressing contamination and restoring the area to its original condition. Surface equipment includes things like pumpjacks, concrete well pads, storage tanks and pipelines.
After a former oil and gas production site has been properly remediated, environmental and public health risks are largely, if not entirely, eliminated, and the site is returned to pristine condition and can be used for other purposes.
Improving the health and safety of disadvantaged communities
Disadvantaged communities have dealt with the impacts of idle and orphaned wells for years. Properly plugging, abandoning and remediating idle wells and other oil and gas facilities helps protect the health and safety of residents who live nearby legacy oil infrastructure.
Well abandonment uses some of the same equipment, like drilling/workover rigs, as when an oil and gas producer is drilling a new well. It’s important to know that this equipment is there to make sure the work is done safely and that idle and orphaned wells are properly plugged and abandoned.
Just because you see a “rig” does not mean a new well is being drilled or that there are plans to return idle wells to production. Operators must receive permits from the California Division of Geologic Energy Management (CalGEM) for any new drilling, rework, well deepening, sidetracks, well abandonment or re-abandonment.