Climate

There could be millions of abandoned wells in the U.S. Plugging them is a monumental task.

The Biden administration has supercharged existing efforts by putting billions toward the problem. While exact figures are tough to come by, experts believe hundreds of thousands of orphan wells remain around the country.

By
April 11, 2023 at 7:00 a.m. EDT
Workers cap an orphaned well near Oil City, La., on March 8. (Cooper Neill for The Washington Post)
13 min

OIL CITY, La.

The events that led Joe Tolbert to Well #173054 on a recent Tuesday began years ago, when President Biden promised to plug hundreds of thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells that “pose an ongoing threat to the health and safety of our communities.”

More on climate change

Understanding our climate: Global warming is a real phenomenon, and weather disasters are undeniably linked to it. As temperatures rise, heat waves are more often sweeping the globe — and parts of the world are becoming too hot to survive.

What can be done? The Post is tracking a variety of climate solutions, as well as the Biden administration’s actions on environmental issues. It can feel overwhelming facing the impacts of climate change, but there are ways to cope with climate anxiety.

Inventive solutions: Some people have built off-the-grid homes from trash to stand up to a changing climate. As seas rise, others are exploring how to harness marine energy.

What about your role in climate change? Our climate coach Michael J. Coren is answering questions about environmental choices in our everyday lives. Submit yours here. You can also sign up for our Climate Coach newsletter.