But while the Orphan Well Prevention Act will help reduce the number of abandoned and orphaned wells — currently around 5,300 — industry watchers said it does little to address the looming issue of wells that remain dormant indefinitely, some of which leak climate-warming methane and toxic fumes.

    • @[email protected]OPM
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      fedilink
      411 months ago

      Damaging an idle well makes little sense. It has no impact on the oil company and does environmental damage.

      Proper end of life for a well means not just some cap on top, but a plug or multiple plugs down in the borehole to prevent hydrocarbons from migrating into aquifers and salt water from migrating into freshwater aquifers