Steve Metzer

Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY — Natural gas wells that have been nonproducing for at least 20 years will have to be plugged by operators, according to a timeline adopted under a new state law.

The intent of the law, created by passage of Senate Bill 132 this year, was to mitigate damage to the environment related to shut-in wells. It also may over time help reduce the number of abandoned “orphan” wells in Oklahoma.

There are approximately 455,000 wells, both producing and nonproducing, across the state owned by some 2,400 active oil and gas operators. The new law will require owners to reduce their inventories of wells that have been nonproducing for at least 20 years by 25% by July 1, 2028, and by 50% by July 1, 2031. They will be required to hav

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