Pennsylvania continues efforts to plug orphan wells in county
When people think of wells, they often picture a crew drilling for oil. What they don’t picture is the pollution caused by the hundreds of thousands of out-of-use wells, known as orphan wells, that need to be plugged.
But for some, it’s a prominent problem organizations are working to address.
According to Marty Comini, vice president of operations at Keystone Wireline, an orphan well is defined as having no known owner or records. His company has plugged about 200 of these wells since it began working in the area.
“Plugging wells stops natural gas leaks, prevents oil and brine from contaminating soil and groundwater and eliminates stray gas migration into nearby homes or water supplies,” Tom Decker, regional communications manager for the state Department of Environmental Protection’s northwest office, said. “It also removes physical hazards at the surface, making property safer and more usable for residents and landowners.”
The DEP also plays a major role in the process by bundling packages of orphan wells for companies to bid on for plugging. So far, the DEP has overseen the plugging of 82 wells in Butler County.
Adelman Fields in Butler County is the site of the next orphan well targeted by the DEP for plugging. The well is located near a youth baseball field and has been leaking methane gas.
Before creating a bid package for a well, the DEP sends an oil and gas inspector and a water quality specialist to assess the gas leak and determine how it may be affecting nearby water sources.
“Some background on this well … is that we received a call from a concerned citizen who brought the well to our attention and we had already been eyeing up other orphan wells, so we sent our inspectors to look at it,” DEP oil and gas inspector supervisor Kevin Jordan said.
Because this well is located in a residential area, it receives a higher priority, Jordan said.
“Location, history of ownership and documented spills are some of the things we look for and the first thing the department is going to do is identify the responsible party and they have to plug it up. But if that isn’t the case, we create a package,” DEP environmental group leader Steve Lencer said.
Once the DEP creates a package, it begins the bidding process to find a contractor for the job. For the Adelman Fields well, Keystone Wireline was awarded the bid.
Since funding for the program began, over 500 orphan wells have been plugged across Pennsylvania. The 500th was celebrated Oct. 21.
Understanding the environmental impact of orphan wells is another important part of the plugging process. Leaking gas and well fluids can affect nearby water sources, the surrounding environment and people who may be exposed to the gas.
During a recent well-plugging operation, DEP representatives were on-site alongside a Keystone crew and Keystone president and CEO Robert Kozel.
Kozel said the goal of plugging orphan wells is to protect the environment. However, the process can sometimes be challenging because many orphan wells are discovered on private property, where homeowners may worry the work will damage their land.
Decker expanded on that concern, emphasizing crews work to ensure the property is left in better condition than when they arrived. That effort was visible on the late October afternoon Eagle staff were invited to see the process. Protective pads were placed over the grass to allow vehicles to travel across the area.
“Abandoned wells are a source of natural gas migrating into water supplies and structures. These wells continue to release natural gas into the atmosphere, contributing to climate and odor problems. They can also leak fluids that can harm vegetation, contaminate groundwater and surface waters,” Decker said.
To help reduce environmental risks, anyone who discovers a potential orphan well should avoid disturbing it and document its location with photos or GPS coordinates if possible. They should then report it to the DEP.
“Landowners often notice that odors disappear quickly once a well is plugged and any stressed vegetation begins to recover,” Decker said.
