ECONOMY
2 min readTexas Orphaned Oil Well Count Hits 17-Year High Amid New Regulations
TrueGov Editorial Team•3 months ago•2 min read
Governor Abbott signs legislation to address growing backlog of abandoned wells
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Texas has reported 10,029 orphaned oil and gas wells, reaching the highest level since 2006 according to data confirmed by the Texas Railroad Commission. This growing inventory represents abandoned wells that companies have left without proper plugging, potentially creating environmental and safety concerns. The Commission typically seals approximately 1,300 wells annually, though this pace has not kept up with the number of new orphaned wells being added to the state's registry.