Successful Plugging of Orphaned Well in Pinal County Paves Way for Eleven Mile Solar Center Project

PHOENIX (May 23, 2024) – The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Orphaned Oil and Gas Well Program announced today the successful plugging and abandonment of the first orphaned oil and gas well eligible for the program. This work was completed as part of the $25 million competitive grant awarded in 2022 to ADEQ on behalf of the Arizona Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AZOGCC) by the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

“Our successful plugging of the orphaned well in Pinal County marks a significant milestone for ADEQ,” said ADEQ Air Quality Division Director Daniel Czecholinski. “While we celebrate this success, we recognize it is just the beginning of our journey. We look forward to continuing to protect Arizonans and our environment by locating, verifying and if needed, plugging dozens more orphaned wells across the state. Our dedicated team has boots on the ground, tackling numerous challenges – from accessing remote areas to navigating complex landscapes – all to protect our beautiful state and the people who call it home.”

Plugging an oil and gas well involves filling the well with cement plugs. This process protects aquifers from contamination and prevents the release of gasses like methane, a potent greenhouse gas, to the air. The average cost for plugging a typical well in Arizona ranges from $85,000 to $100,000 and takes about four days to complete.

The orphaned well in Pinal County, drilled in the 1940s to a depth of over 4,000 feet near Casa Grande, was prioritized for plugging due to its proximity to the Eleven Mile Solar Center, a major upcoming economic development initiative in the area. While the typical well plugging process takes around four days to complete, this well presented numerous challenges, including a compromised metal casing and the presence of significant trash and debris. Despite these hurdles, after four weeks of diligent efforts, the well was successfully plugged on April 5, 2024. This achievement marks the first well plugged using DOI grant funds and provides a benchmark for future well plugging projects. The total cost associated with plugging activities for this well was approximately $500,000, which was paid for in its entirety with DOI grant funds. 

ADEQ’s Orphaned Oil and Gas Well Program began with 246 potential orphaned wells. Nearly 200 of these wells were found to be eligible for plugging and progressed to the site characterization phase. To date, ADEQ has field-verified over 80 of these wells to confirm orphaned wells, plugged wells, and converted water wells. This process is often challenging –  while some wells are located in easily accessible areas, many others are located in extremely remote areas of our state. To find these wells, ADEQ often has to travel to and cover large areas of difficult terrain, requiring high clearance vehicles for access. To help with this challenging task, ADEQ and its specialized contractors use advanced technologies, including drones fitted with magnetometers to accurately locate and gather other important information about these wells.

Arizonans can play a role in safeguarding the environment and public health by helping to locate potential orphaned oil and gas wells. People who come across a suspected orphaned well can report it to ADEQ by calling 602-771-4501, emailing the program, or using the online reporting tool | Email > | Report Online > 

The plugging and abandonment of orphaned wells, including the recent success in Pinal County, is part of an ongoing effort to address environmental concerns and ensure public safety. ADEQ aims to complete this project by December 2025.

Background

Orphaned wells are oil and gas wells that are not producing and have no identifiable operator responsible for their plugging and site reclamation. In Arizona, these wells were primarily drilled for oil, natural gas, potash, and helium. ADEQ’s Orphaned Oil and Gas Well Program covers the cost to plug eligible wells with DOI grant funds.

• About the program | Learn More  >
• About the grant | Learn More >

Contact

ADEQ Public Information Officer
Ph: 602-540-8072 (cell) 
Email >