Plugging Abandoned Wells Easier With New State Law

Abandoned natural gas wells are all over the state, from family farms to commercial wells. Gov. Patrick Morrisey celebrated in Wheeling Wednesday the passage of a new law that makes it easier to plug those wells. 

There are more than 21,000 abandoned natural gas wells across West Virginia. Those wells can leak oil, gas and other pollutants onto the ground into nearby streams. 

“We need every tool available to address this challenge efficiently and safely,” said WVDEP Secretary Harold Ward.

Some of those potential chemicals include arsenic, benzene, and hydrogen sulfide as well as methane  —  an odorless gas that can seep into nearby buildings and pose major health hazards.

Methane is also a more potent planet-warming gas than carbon dioxide.

House Bill 3336 allows operators to pierce the casing of abandoned and orphaned wells and fill them with concrete without having to remove the central casing. 

“House Bill 3336 gives our plugging partners and operators the flexibility to adapt to real-world conditions and maximize every dollar of available funding without compromising environmental protection,” Ward said. “We’re grateful to Governor Morrisey and the legislature for recognizing the urgency of this issue and providing the support needed to move this solution forward.”

This method has been successfully tested in the field under a state Department of Environmental Protection pilot project and meets environmental and safety standards. Previously, State Code required operators to remove most of a well’s infrastructure before plugging it with concrete or other materials, even when the casing was damaged or unsafe to remove.

The law was officially signed on April 25 and will take effect on July 10.