Damn Orphans

[BOHICA]

The gift that keeps on giving left by the fossil fuel industry
 

 

 

https://www.edf.org/orphanwellmap

While oil and gas operators are required to seal wells at the end of their productive lives, one hundred seventy years of oil and gas development has nonetheless left a massive inventory of so-called "orphan" wells across the United States — oil and gas wells that are inactive, unplugged, and have no solvent owner of record. This map covers the 120,000 documented orphan wells eligible for federal closure funding, but estimates of additional undocumented orphan wells range from the many hundreds of thousands to several million in the U.S. alone.

These wells pose significant risks to human and environmental health by leaking toxic chemicals into the air, contaminating groundwater and emitting methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that methane emissions from over 2 million inactive, unplugged wells, of which documented orphan wells are a subset, range from a CO2 equivalent of 7-20 million metric tons per year (approximately the emissions of 2 to 5 million cars). They can also lower property values and land productivity, with one study in Pennsylvania showing a 50% drop-off in building development in areas with high orphan well concentration.

[Frostynuts]

It,s to bad our governments weren,t smart enough to collect double the extra fees required for someone to properly plug wells up front, when each permit is issued for the well in the first place. That way, either the owner of the well plugs it, or a reputable company could be hired to properly plug it. Kinda tough when you gotta keep chasing the wild horses, once they get out of the barn.

[Stephen Hawking]

11 hours ago, BOHICA said:

The gift that keeps on giving left by the fossil fuel industry
 

 

 

https://www.edf.org/orphanwellmap

While oil and gas operators are required to seal wells at the end of their productive lives, one hundred seventy years of oil and gas development has nonetheless left a massive inventory of so-called "orphan" wells across the United States — oil and gas wells that are inactive, unplugged, and have no solvent owner of record. This map covers the 120,000 documented orphan wells eligible for federal closure funding, but estimates of additional undocumented orphan wells range from the many hundreds of thousands to several million in the U.S. alone.

These wells pose significant risks to human and environmental health by leaking toxic chemicals into the air, contaminating groundwater and emitting methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that methane emissions from over 2 million inactive, unplugged wells, of which documented orphan wells are a subset, range from a CO2 equivalent of 7-20 million metric tons per year (approximately the emissions of 2 to 5 million cars). They can also lower property values and land productivity, with one study in Pennsylvania showing a 50% drop-off in building development in areas with high orphan well concentration.

It didn't seem to bother you before you became a solar warrior.