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Fall3n7s t1_j5zdnrv wrote

It's not even unconventional wells. There are thousands of conventional wells that were drilled in the 1900's that are just orphaned across the state. If you walk through the woods in western PA you will see pipes or leftover production equipment that was just too heavy to steal.

These are problematic 2 ways. First, they're most likely leaking methane and secondly depending on their location and depth they could be hit during the drilling of a unconventional well which creates all kinds of issues.

The reason why they're still there? They cost 10's of thousands to plug. PADEP ain't got the budget to do that across the state. So they started making drilling companies plug wells that impacted their drilling plans as a way to try to and get caught up. However, there are just too many for this to be a feasible practice. Plus the pushback by drillers is pretty high.

https://gis.dep.pa.gov/PaOilAndGasMapping/OilGasWellsStrayGasMap.html

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Generic_Mustard t1_j60t4cn wrote

As a child I had my finger smashed playing around with a DEP abandoned oil well.

30 years later, my finger is still misshapen and the well is still there, unplugged and accessible for the next generation to learn a lesson.

Thanks for posting the map!

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sirpranksamillion t1_j61fwf5 wrote

Wait til you see how much money it will cost to plug the large, unconventional Marcellus/Utica wells they are drilling now. They started drilling these well types up here around 2008 and the plugging of them has only really begun in the last 5 years. It can get into the millions to plug one well to PA standards. It’s the elephant in the room for alot of Appalachian drilling companies

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Fall3n7s t1_j61gw8p wrote

I worked for an O&G company who drilled in PA. I’m well aware of how much it cost to drill/frac those wells.

You are correct though. To properly plug & abandon them it will run 7 figures easy.

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GTholla t1_j653b40 wrote

I'm surprised there aren't wells in my county with how everyone acts around here, and I'm not even talking about 'Ho bott!' lol

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