Orphan, Idle and Marginal Well Closure Services
ҰƵapp is your trusted partner in orphan, idle, abandoned and marginal well program management.
ҰƵapp has demonstrated experience with complex, multi-site orphan well program management projects and synergies developed over many years. Our deep resources and experienced staff are able to respond quickly and efficiently to any need – whether anticipated or unexpected. We support your mission to eliminate safety hazards, methane and other harmful gas entering the atmosphere and the leaching of contaminants, gas and oil into surrounding soils and waters.
Turnkey Services
Full range of services required to assess risks and complete projects on time and within budget.
Making an impact across the United States.
Our relationships with industry partners and vast experience enable ҰƵapp to successfully navigate complex processes while meeting aggressive deadlines.
6
States that we manage orphan well programs.
42K+
Well plugging and abandonment projects in North America.
1,600
Measuring and monitoring DOI-compliant wells in 14 states.
5,900
Orphan well closures in the last 4 years.
19
State and federal programs we lead.
Program Management
ҰƵapp collaborates with public and private organizations to manage projects, expedite environmental reviews and investigations, and design customized well-specific plugging and abandonment techniques to cost-effectively complete decommissioning, restoration, and remediation of sites that safeguard human health and the environment.
Initial phase
- Develop a database of well locations and baseline conditions.
- Establish well-location profiles by researching paper and digital records.
Desktop preliminary site assessment
- Assess indicators of potential environmental concerns.
- Make recommendations for further investigation based on ASTM E 1527-21.
- Utilize historical records and regulatory databases to identify potential sources of contamination.
- Follow National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements if necessary.
Field reconnaissance
- Obtain access and prepare a health & safety plan.
- Conduct emissions readings.
- Document well conditions and environmental impacts.
- Take inventory of ancillary equipment and other nearby facilities.
- Set up quantitative gas monitoring equipment.
- Collect samples to analyze for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
Sampling plan and risk & ranking
- Return to the site to further the sampling plan and investigation of the well.
- Enter information gathered into a Risk Assessment and Ranking database.
- Generate a risk score to prioritize every well.
- Develop plans for plugging and abandonment with site restoration in compliance with state program requirements.
Work plan for well plugging and site restoration
Soil and groundwater sampling, excavation, waste disposal, and site restoration are managed with consideration of well proximity to natural and cultural resources as well as stakeholders, including public outreach.
Thought Leadership
Scott McCready
Project National Orphan, Idle, and Marginal Oil & Gas Well Program Director
More Than Plugging: Orphan and Marginal Conventional Well Site Closure
Across the U.S., federal and state-funded programs are addressing orphan wells and marginal conventional wells (MCWs) that pose risks to land, water, groundwater and air quality. Estimates suggest there are as many as three million orphaned and undocumented wells nationwide, and nearly a million MCWs. Orphan wells are abandoned wells that can have histories that date back many decades. MCWs can also be older wells but they are owned and operated. MCWs may be underperforming wells that are idle or wells that simply produce very low volumes of oil and gas.
Plugging orphan and MCWs is one aspect of the overall closure process of well locations. Effective remediation requires comprehensive site evaluation, a detailed closure plan and post-restoration monitoring to ensure long-term stability.
Featured Projects
Arizona DEQ; Orphaned Well Plug and Abandon
Statewide AZ
ҰƵapp was awarded a task order contract under an MSA with the ADEQ for the Arizona Orphaned Well Site Abandonment, Remediation and Restoration Project. ADEQ plans to plug and abandon legitimately orphaned oil and gas, geothermal and/or helium wells in Arizona incoordination and in compliance with federal requirements followed by reclamation of the associated facilities.
Environmental Assessment and Remediation
Private Client: Southern CA
ҰƵapp provides environmental services to this confidential retail petroleum client for the assessment and remediation of petroleum-oil-impacted soil and groundwater associated with historical oilfield activity in the Santa Maria Valley. In the 16-year history of work on this national client’s portfolio, ҰƵapp researched historical records and identified oilfield features beneath neighborhoods, properties, farmland, city infrastructure, a maintenance yard and within a public park/nature preserve.
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