idle oil wells - Inside Climate News

Plugging Away at the Millions of Derelict Oil and Gas Wells in the US

The Well Done Foundation is remediating abandoned and orphaned fossil fuel wells that pollute water, soils and the atmosphere. But plugging a borehole can be even harder than drilling it.

Story and photos by J. Matt

A crew works to plug an orphaned well in the Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge of Oklahoma.

Low-Producing Oil Wells in Texas Cause Headaches for Landowners

Story by Martha Pskowski, photos by Paul Ratje

A Small Oil Company Polluted Midland’s Water Reserve. The Cleanup Has Dragged on for Years.

By Martha Pskowski

Loretta Johnson stands by a water well on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. According to an EPA report, the well produces water tainted with arsenic. Credit: Jerry Redfern/Capital & Main

On the Navajo Nation, the List of Mystery Wells Continues to Grow

By Jerry Redfern, Capital & Main

Texas Legislature Increases Well Plugging Budget as Backlog Grows

By Martha Pskowski

An Oil Well Sinkhole Grows in the Permian Basin

By Martha Pskowski

As a Major California Oil Producer Eyes Carbon Storage, Thousands of Idle Wells Await Cleanup

By Emma Foehringer Merchant

Study Finds High Levels of Hydrogen Sulfide in Central Texas Oilfield

By Martha Pskowski

California Climate and Health Groups Urge Legislators to Pass Polluter Pays Bills

By Liza Gross

A Legal Fight Over Legacy Oil Industry Pollution Heats Up in West Texas

By Martha Pskowski

Battle to Prioritize Public Health over Oil Company Profits Heats Up

By Liza Gross

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