A coalition of eight environmental groups is urging Gov. Jeff Landry to address Louisiana’s growing orphan well problem, citing a new report that identifies more than 6,300 abandoned oil and gas wells statewide, up from 4,900 in March 2025, Louisiana Illuminator reports.
At least 724 of the orphan wells are in state coastal waters and were previously owned by major oil companies, some of which changed hands through acquisitions. Orphan wells are those whose operators are unwilling or unable to pay for permanent closure, leaving the state responsible for cleanup.
The Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy plugs about 125 wells annually, a pace that would take more than 50 years to eliminate the current backlog if no additional wells become orphaned. At an estimated $113,000 per well, plugging all 6,300-plus sites could cost nearly $712 million.
What should the state’s top priority be in addressing the growing orphan oil and gas well problem?
The groups also highlight the Barataria-Terrebonne estuary, which spans 16 parishes and contains 509 orphan wells and 3,231 inactive wells. They argue that low annual fees for inactive wells discourage companies from permanently plugging sites that may remain idle for decades.
In a letter requesting a meeting with Landry, the coalition recommends prioritizing coastal and offshore wells, requiring former operators to plug wells before they become orphaned, closing loopholes that allow companies to pay fees instead of plugging inactive wells, and restricting lease transfers involving companies with overdue plugging obligations. The governor’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
