Colorado Approves up to $14 Million to Plug Oil Wells Before They End up on State’s “Orphan List”

Colorado approves up to $14 million to plug oil wells before they end up on state’s “orphan list”

Colorado is committing up to $14 million in federal and state funds to plug 142 marginal wells with the aim of cutting pollution and avoiding the sites ending up on the state’s orphan well list. The Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission awarded grants to plug and abandon the wells and remediate the sites to 30 operators across 21 counties. The money will come from a $12.6 million federal grant to reduce methane emissions and $5 millio…

142 methane-spewing wells to be plugged, a fraction of Colorado’s eligible ‘orphan’ risks

An oil pump jack is pictured east of Longmont, Colo. on June 24, 2020. (Andy Bosselman for Newsline)State regulators in Colorado have chosen 142 older, low-producing oil and gas wells to be permanently plugged, funded by well operator fees and federal grant money. The voluntary well plugging program is part of the state’s effort to reduce methane emissions, which are a major contributor to climate change. These low-producing wells, called margin…