D22AP00241
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Application for Initial Grant
State of Louisiana
Project Abstract Summary
The state of Louisiana is applying for the full 25 million dollars available under initial grant funding. In 1993, Louisiana established an Orphan Site Restoration Program to remediate orphaned oil and gas well sites on land, the state's navigable waterbodies both inland and offshore, and the state's 2.5 million acres of wetlands. This initial grant from DOI provides a historic opportunity for Louisiana to increase jobs, safeguard the environment, and safely plug oil and gas wells. Additionally, this initial grant provides an opportunity to advance the current orphan program through partnerships with universities, other state and federal agencies, and industry to develop new tools to track environmental, economic, and social metrics.
Louisiana plans to use initial grant funding to plug and restore orphaned wells and related sites under a modified version of Louisiana's existing orphan well program. The initial grant funding will be used to establish and implement methane monitoring protocols, include consideration of disparate impacts on disadvantaged communities, and work to improve water quality monitoring and verification protocols for orphaned well sites. Much of this work will be performed under contract and include the purchase of necessary equipment and materials. Louisiana intends to meet the requirement that such equipment and material be American-made where possible.
Activities to be performed under the initial grant program will include:
1. The plugging, remediation, and reclamation of orphaned wells and removing associated infrastructure on state or privately owned lands.
2. Identifying and documenting undocumented orphaned wells on state or private lands.
3. Creation of a federal project orphaned well ranking system, including methane monitoring and disparate impacts on disadvantaged communities.
4. Creation and maintenance of a public website containing information on the use of the initial grant monies.
5. Developing and implementing a protocol to measure and track emissions of methane and other gases associated with orphaned wells, as well as contamination of groundwater or surface water associated with orphaned wells.
Expectations are that, compared to our state's orphan well program, more than double the average annual number of orphaned wells and associated infrastructure will be removed, plugged, and sites restored with the initial grant funding. Additionally, significant data will be collected, providing quantitative metrics on the reduction in methane emissions and water contamination. Some data will be gathered to update information provided to DOI for purposes of allocating formula grant monies. Finally, displaced energy workers and members of disadvantaged communities will have the opportunity to be trained for jobs in oilfield site plugging and remediation. It is expected that many lessons learned from the use of the initial grant funding can be used to further improve the use of subsequent IIJA grant funding opportunities.
The intended beneficiaries are those communities adjacent to and most impacted by the orphaned well sites to be plugged and remediated, those persons employed in undertaking the plugging and related work, those persons provided training for good-paying jobs in oilfield site plugging and related fields, and the public generally.
State of Louisiana
Project Abstract Summary
The state of Louisiana is applying for the full 25 million dollars available under initial grant funding. In 1993, Louisiana established an Orphan Site Restoration Program to remediate orphaned oil and gas well sites on land, the state's navigable waterbodies both inland and offshore, and the state's 2.5 million acres of wetlands. This initial grant from DOI provides a historic opportunity for Louisiana to increase jobs, safeguard the environment, and safely plug oil and gas wells. Additionally, this initial grant provides an opportunity to advance the current orphan program through partnerships with universities, other state and federal agencies, and industry to develop new tools to track environmental, economic, and social metrics.
Louisiana plans to use initial grant funding to plug and restore orphaned wells and related sites under a modified version of Louisiana's existing orphan well program. The initial grant funding will be used to establish and implement methane monitoring protocols, include consideration of disparate impacts on disadvantaged communities, and work to improve water quality monitoring and verification protocols for orphaned well sites. Much of this work will be performed under contract and include the purchase of necessary equipment and materials. Louisiana intends to meet the requirement that such equipment and material be American-made where possible.
Activities to be performed under the initial grant program will include:
1. The plugging, remediation, and reclamation of orphaned wells and removing associated infrastructure on state or privately owned lands.
2. Identifying and documenting undocumented orphaned wells on state or private lands.
3. Creation of a federal project orphaned well ranking system, including methane monitoring and disparate impacts on disadvantaged communities.
4. Creation and maintenance of a public website containing information on the use of the initial grant monies.
5. Developing and implementing a protocol to measure and track emissions of methane and other gases associated with orphaned wells, as well as contamination of groundwater or surface water associated with orphaned wells.
Expectations are that, compared to our state's orphan well program, more than double the average annual number of orphaned wells and associated infrastructure will be removed, plugged, and sites restored with the initial grant funding. Additionally, significant data will be collected, providing quantitative metrics on the reduction in methane emissions and water contamination. Some data will be gathered to update information provided to DOI for purposes of allocating formula grant monies. Finally, displaced energy workers and members of disadvantaged communities will have the opportunity to be trained for jobs in oilfield site plugging and remediation. It is expected that many lessons learned from the use of the initial grant funding can be used to further improve the use of subsequent IIJA grant funding opportunities.
The intended beneficiaries are those communities adjacent to and most impacted by the orphaned well sites to be plugged and remediated, those persons employed in undertaking the plugging and related work, those persons provided training for good-paying jobs in oilfield site plugging and related fields, and the public generally.
Funding Goals
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.
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Louisiana
United States
Geographic Scope
State-Wide
Related Opportunity
D-AQD-FA-22-003
Analysis Notes
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 12/31/24.
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 09/30/23 to 12/31/24.
Louisiana Department Of Natural Resources was awarded
Louisiana Orphan Well Restoration: Initial Jobs & Environment
Project Grant D22AP00241
worth $25,000,000
from Interior Business Center in October 2022 with work to be completed primarily in Louisiana United States.
The grant
has a duration of 2 years 2 months and
was awarded through assistance program 15.018 Energy Community Revitalization Program (ECRP).
Status
(Complete)
Last Modified 4/18/24
Period of Performance
10/1/22
Start Date
12/31/24
End Date
Funding Split
$25.0M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$25.0M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to D22AP00241
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
D22AP00241
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
None
Awardee Classifications
State Government
Awarding Office
140D04 IBC ACQ SVCS DIRECTORATE (00004)
Funding Office
140D04 IBC ACQ SVCS DIRECTORATE (00004)
Awardee UEI
TMMEDSRFDGT9
Awardee CAGE
3NFD0
Performance District
LA-06
Senators
Bill Cassidy
John Kennedy
John Kennedy
Budget Funding
| Federal Account | Budget Subfunction | Object Class | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy Community Revitalization Program, Department-Wide Programs, Interior (014-2641) | Conservation and land management | Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) | $25,000,000 | 100% |
Modified: 4/18/24