Who is responsible for plugging oil and gas wells in Ohio?
Ohio law requires the well owner to plug and abandon any well which cannot produce oil or gas in commercial amounts, except wells that are used for a domestic supply. The owner of a well is the person or company who has the right to produce the oil and natural gas. What is the Orphan Well Program? The Orphan Well Program was established in 1977 to plug improperly abandoned oil and natural gas wells. Funded by a portion of the state tax on oil and gas production, Ohio’s program has plugged more than a thousand wells and is recognized as one of the best in the nation. Proper plugging of orphan wells is necessary to protect public health and safety, conserve natural resources, and allow the efficient development of Ohio’s oil and gas resources. Four separate programs are used to plug these wells: • Emergency Services Program is used when a sudden problem threatens physical harm to the public. For example, if an abandoned well near a house or school suddenly begins to release natural gas i
