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Rewriting Pennsylvania’s Legacy

Orphan Well Plugging Grant Program

An “Orphan Well”, as defined in Section § 3203 of the Oil & Gas Act, is a well abandoned prior to April 18, 1985, that has not been affected or operated by the present owner or operator and from which the present owner, operator or lessee has received no economic benefit other than as a landowner or recipient of a royalty interest from the well.

The Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), was signed into law by President Biden on November 15, 2021. IIJA has the potential to provide approximately $400 million to Pennsylvania to plug and remediate abandoned and orphan (AO) oil and gas wells across the commonwealth through 2030.

2022 Act 136 - PA General Assembly

A portion of these funds will be available for grants to a “Qualified Well Plugger”— a person who “demonstrates access to the equipment, materials, resources and services to plug wells in accordance with” statutory and regulatory requirements.

The grants will be used to cover costs associated with construction activities necessary to plug, remediate, and reclaim a well determined by DEP to be orphaned. Complete applications will be processed on a “first come, first served” basis until all program funds have been committed for the current, federal fiscal year (October 1 to September 30).

A well classified as abandoned may be an orphan well if it meets certain criteria. For more information, please go to the orphan well classification request and instruction forms.

Individuals that become aware of abandoned wells – especially those wells causing environmental or public safety issues – are encouraged to contact the appropriate DEP Oil and Gas District Office, fill out the Abandoned Well Reporting Form, and/or text 717-788-8990. Upon notification, DEP will investigate the well to determine if it qualifies as an abandoned or orphan well.

Contacts and Directions Oil and Gas Office Locations

Locations of Eligible Orphan Wells are available in two locations:

  1. PA Oil and Gas Mapping
    • a. To view orphan wells on the map, go to the “Oil and Gas Well Layers” tab (left side of page)
    • b. Well Destination - select “Conventional Wells”
    • c. Well Type - select All Types
    • d. Well Status - select “DEP Orphan”
    • e. Select “Submit Request”
    • f. DEP Orphan wells will be displayed on the interactive map
    • g. Select the “I” (information icon), then select any well on the map for well name, permit number, and additional information
  2. Abandoned Orphan Web - Report Viewer
    • a. Select the dropdown arrow on the right side of the “Well Status” field
    • b. Unselect all well statuses other than “DEP Orphan List”
    • c. Select the “View Report” button in the upper right corner.
    • d. This will generate a list of only “DEP Orphan List” wells.
    • e. Select the “Export drop down menu” button just to the left of the print button.
    • f. This will allow you to export the data in various file formats.

More information coming soon…

Reporting an Abandoned Well

Please use this form (Abandoned Well Reporting Form) to report an abandoned oil and gas well.  Once the form is submitted, it will be reviewed to confirm it is not in our current inventory, and a field investigation may be performed for additional information.

Plugging & Plugging Support Contractor Survey

Plugging and Plugging Support Contractors Wanted:
Funding may become available to advance DEP's efforts to plug orphan and abandoned wells in Pennsylvania. For that reason, DEP would greatly appreciate that your firm completes its registration survey. The survey will assist DEP in assessing your interest, availability and ability to perform plugging and plugging support work. Click here to take the survey.


Abandoned and Orphan Well Program

Abandoned Gas WellIt is estimated that hundreds of thousands of oil and gas wells have been drilled in Pennsylvania since 1859. Although owners and operators are legally responsible for plugging wells when oil and gas production is no longer economically viable, this does not always happen.  In addition to the wells that were drilled historically – prior to regulations pertaining to well decommissioning – there are instances in which an oil and gas company files for bankruptcy protection or moves out of the commonwealth, leaving its wells improperly abandoned.  There are also circumstances when DEP must address wells purchased by or transferred to landowners who are not familiar with the financial and regulatory responsibilities associated with becoming a well owner/operator in the commonwealth (reporting, well integrity assessments, possible environmental investigative work, and ultimately providing well decommissioning costs that range from tens of thousands of dollars to over $100,000.)  Whatever the mechanism, there remain many thousands of abandoned wells in the commonwealth that have no identifiable responsible party to complete plugging.

Leaking wellDEP's Well Plugging Program was established under the authority of the Oil and Gas Act to plug oil and gas wells where there is no identifiable responsible party. If not addressed properly, wells have the potential to cause health, safety, environmental and economic concerns.  The Act also established permit surcharges that range from $150 to $250 per new oil and gas well permit.  These surcharges are paid by well operators and deposited in accounts established for well decommissioning activities conducted by DEP.  Although well intentioned, the surcharges are not sufficient to allow the commonwealth to address the liability associated with legacy oil and gas wells.

If you discover a well on your property, DEP is available to ensure that it has been properly identified and that any potential environmental, health and safety issues are addressed, as resources allow. You can contact DEP by calling one of the Oil and Gas District offices:

Ritchey Well

  • Meadville District Office: 814.332.6860
  • Williamsport District Office: 570.327.3636
  • Pittsburgh District Office: 412.442.4000
  • Central Office: 717.772.2199

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