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​​Office of Oil and Gas Management


What's New

Orphan Well Plugging Grant Program

We are excited to announce that the Orphan Well Plugging Grant application will officially open on Wednesday, October 9th at 9:00 AM EST. The application will be located at https://grants.pa.gov/. You will need to register for a Keystone Login for the application. Go to the Pennsylvania Keystone Login Portal (pa.gov) to register if you do not have a Keystone Login. You can register for a Keystone Login in advance to ensure you can login at the grant opening. Please visit DEP’s abandoned and orphan well webpage for more information about the grant program.

In response to the passage of Act 96 and Act 136, DEP has developed the Orphan Well Plugging Grant Program that provides funding to a qualified well plugger to plug an eligible orphan well.

This grant program provides up to:

  • $40,000 to a Qualified Well Plugger for every eligible well plugged that is an orphan well of a depth of 3,000 feet or less or the actual cost to plug the well, whichever is less.
  • $70,000 to a Qualified Well Plugger for every eligible well plugged that is an orphan well of a depth greater than 3,000 feet or the actual cost to plug the well, whichever is less.

A “Qualified Well Plugger” is a “person who demonstrates access to equipment, materials, resources and services to plug wells in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements.”

An “Orphan Well” as defined in Section 3203 of the Pennsylvania Oil and 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.”

For any inquiries or questions about the orphan well plugging grant, please feel free to reach out via email at RA-epOilandGas@pa.gov

Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP) Grant

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is excited to announce that the Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP) grant application will officially open on Wednesday, October 16th at 9:00 am EST and close on Monday, December 16th at 11:59 pm EST. The application will be located here. You will need to register for a Keystone Login for the application. Go to the Pennsylvania Keystone Login Portal to register if you do not have a Keystone Login. You can register for a Keystone Login in advance to ensure you can login at the grant opening.​

In response to the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which provides new authorities under Section 136 of the Clean Air Act to reduce methane emissions from the petroleum and natural gas sector, DEP has created the Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP) Grant that provides funding to an applicant to plug an eligible Marginal Conventional Well (MCW).


A Marginal Conventional Well (MCW) is defined as a conventional oil and/or gas well that produces less than 15 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE, i.e. 15bbl/day oil or 90,000 cubic feet (90 mcf) of gas/day or combination thereof).

The MERP grant provides up to:

  • $420,000 for any single applicant within each application period
  • $20,000 for each eligible well plugged that is a marginal conventional well of a depth of 3,000 feet or less or the actual cost of the qualified well plugger to plug the well, whichever is less.
  • $35,000 for each eligible well plugged that is a marginal conventional well of a depth greater than 3,000 feet or the actual cost of the qualified well plugger to plug the well, whichever is less.
  • An eligible applicant who plugs all eligible wells approved to plug as part of the application submitted to the Department, may plug additional eligible wells with prior Department approval up to the maximum grant approved as part of the application.

MERP Small Operator Assistance

An Operator of 10 or less wells, a Qualified Well Plugger, or a Third Party may apply.

MERP Small Operator Assistance Grant program guidelines (PDF)

MERP General Assistance

An Operator of 11 or more wells, a Qualified Well Plugger, or a Third Party may apply.​

MERP General Assistance Grant program guidelines (PDF)

For any inquiries or questions about MERP, please feel free to reach out via email at RA-epOilandGas@pa.gov

More information coming soon on the MERP webpage.

Pressure Barrier Policy - The Department published the final technical guidance document titled: ”Guidelines for Development of Operator Pressure Barrier Policy for Unconventional Wells (DEP ID 800-0810-003)” on May 6, 2023. The purpose of the guidance is to assist unconventional operators developing the Pressure Barrier Policy component of a Preparedness, Prevention and Contingency plan requirements of 25 Pa. Code, Chapter 78a.55. These guidelines have been developed to facilitate appropriate well control incident risk mitigation.

The Oil and Gas Industry is ever evolving; and as such, DEP’s Bureau of Oil and Gas Planning and Program Management is at the forefront. Check back often to keep informed on the Bureau’s latest activities and subscribe to the Oil and Gas News Line below.

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The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is not involved in regulating lease agreements between mineral property owners and producers. Lease agreements are contractual matters between private parties. DEP does not audit payments, read or calibrate meters or tanks, or otherwise get involved in lease matters.