wells

During its existence the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board has spent more than $135 million to restore more than 18,000 unattended well sites. OKLAHOMA ENERGY RESOURCES BOARD / COURTESY PHOTOS

During its existence the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board has spent more than $135 million to restore more than 18,000 unattended well sites. OKLAHOMA ENERGY RESOURCES BOARD / COURTESY PHOTOS

Federal funds eyed for well plugging, site reclamation

OKLAHOMA CITY — Almost 18,000 abandoned oil and gas wells are scattered across Oklahoma, and it would cost an estimated half-billion dollars to plug all of them and remediate the production sites.
A crew from Morgan Well Service, of Prague, repairs a hole in the casing at a 10,000-foot-deep gas well outside Tuttle in 2017. Ledger file photo by Mike W. Ray

A crew from Morgan Well Service, of Prague, repairs a hole in the casing at a 10,000-foot-deep gas well outside Tuttle in 2017. Ledger file photo by Mike W. Ray

Corp Comm lets oil producers shut in some wells

OKLAHOMA CITY – The state Corporation Commission has given oil producers permission to temporarily shut in unprofitable wells on the grounds of “economic waste.” The request was filed with the commission on April 10 by Tulsa attorney and oilman Lee Levinson on behalf of LPD Energy Co.