Researchers hope to spur initiative to plug orphaned wells by identifying methane ‘super emitters’
Thursday, August 5, 2021
The US Environmental Protection Agency pegs the number of unplugged, abandoned oil and gas wells scattered across the country at about 2 million. Other experts believe that number is higher and some estimate it’s lower, according to the Journal of Petroleum Technology.
Regardless of how many there are, experts believe orphaned wells are a growing problem for the environment.
Natalie Pekney, an environmental engineer with the US Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory, and her team hope to increase the urgency for plugging orphaned wells by identifying those with the largest methane emissions or “super emitters.”
Ultimately, Pekney hopes to assist states in establishing plugging prioritization of abandoned wells.
Learn more: Journal of Petroleum Technology > Hide and seek: The orphan well problem in America
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.