D22AP00164

WV Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Oil and Gas
Orphaned Well Grant Program
Project Abstract
May 13, 2022

West Virginia has continuously produced oil and gas for over one hundred years. This extensive history of oil and gas exploration and development predates the establishment of regulations of those activities. Consequently, there exists thousands of documented and undocumented abandoned wells for which no responsible party can be identified. Currently, West Virginia identifies approximately 6,300 wells as orphaned, abandoned wells, with an additional estimated 9,000 undocumented orphaned, abandoned wells. Each of these wells represents an active or potential threat to human health and safety, the environment, or future resource development.

Under the authority of West Virginia Code 22-10-1 et seq, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Office of Oil and Gas (OOG) permanently plugs wells such as these, on a priority basis, as funding allows. Through the large-scale initial grant phase of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Section 40601 Orphaned Well Program, the OOG will immediately supplement its existing Abandoned Well Plugging Program (ABWP) in its efforts to locate, prioritize, permanently plug, and reclaim abandoned natural gas and oil wells for the benefit of the state and its citizens.

Particular emphasis will be placed on orphaned, abandoned wells that are leaking oil, natural gas, or other well fluids which may be directly impacting the environment. In the case of methane emissions, any leakage will be quantified both before and after plugging operations to provide direct evidence of the success of plugging operations toward the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from these wells. To that end, the ABWP will subdivide the state into six regions and enter into competitively bid contractual agreements with well plugging vendors and their subcontractors to accomplish its program goals. Within each region, a fixed number of wells must be plugged based on the number of documented orphaned, abandoned wells located within that region.

Under BIL funding, West Virginia anticipates the permanent plugging of at least 160 orphaned, abandoned wells over the 12-month grant term.

West Virginia Department Of Environmental Protection

DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF METHANE EMISSIONS FROM ORPHANED WELLS. ENHANCE THE PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY AND PROPERTY FROM ADVERSE EFFECTS OF OIL DRILLING PRACTICES FROM ORPHANED WELLS ON STATES AND PRIVATE LANDS. PLUG AND REMEDIATE OR RECLAIM ORPHANED WELLS ON STATE AND PRIVATE LANDS.

15.018 - Energy Community Revitalization Program (ECRP)

Interior Business Center (IBC) [DOI]

West Virginia United States

State-Wide

D-AQD-FA-22-003

Infrastructure $25,000,000 (100%) percent this Project Grant was funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Act.
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 09/30/23 to 03/31/24.