SALT LAKE CITY  — The Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining (OGM) has been awarded $5 million through the Department of the Interior’s State Orphaned Wells Initial Grant. This significant federal investment will enable the OGM Orphan Well Plugging Program to accelerate its mission to eliminate the environmental and safety risks posed by abandoned oil and gas wells on state and private lands.

Work began at the end of March in the Uintah Basin and will expand to southeastern Utah. The current project involves 24 wells that the division plans to plug within the next two years. There are an additional 34 wells that another operator might take over; if they don’t, the division will plug them. More wells will be added as they become orphaned. OGM finalized a five-year master service agreement with Utah-based Peak Well Services to manage downhole operations, while a separate contract for surface reclamation is currently out to bid. Together, these contracts will enable a streamlined, statewide approach to site restoration.

“Our goal with this program is to reduce the orphaned well inventory in Utah to zero and to plug newly orphaned wells shortly after they come before the Board of Oil, Gas and Mining,” said OGM Engineering and Geoscience Manager Megan Crocker. “With this new funding and our contracting strategy, we aim to decrease the amount of time that wells stay in orphan status after going before the Board, ensuring these orphan wells are safely plugged, and the land is reclaimed in a timely manner.”

OGM maintains a comprehensive database of all known orphan wells in the state, including key data such as drilling dates, well depths, resource types, and ownership histories. Staff regularly verify this information by comparing database records with conditions observed during field inspections.

Every orphan well undergoes a rigorous risk assessment to determine its remediation priority. Evaluations occur at least annually, or more often as new wells are discovered or conditions change based on ongoing field inspections, ensuring the state’s response remains current and data-driven.

Prioritization is based on several factors, including well depth, internal pressure, geological formations, and the condition of the well and equipment. Proximity to population centers, water sources, and other sensitive resources is also critical. Any well that is leaking, or at significant risk of leaking, is automatically prioritized for immediate plugging.

Established in 1992, the program has successfully plugged 154 wells for $5.8 million, funded by oil and gas producers through a two-tenths of one percent levy on the value of production. The fund covers the costs of plugging and reclaiming orphan wells when no reclamation surety exists or when forfeited surety funds are insufficient. 

OGM remains committed to reducing Utah’s orphan well inventory while protecting the state’s natural resources through ongoing, coordinated plugging efforts.

For more information about the program, visit ogm.utah.gov/orphan-well/.