Abandoned & Orphan Well Program

DEP's Abandoned and Orphaned Well Plugging Program was created to plug abandoned wells that have the potential to cause health, safety or environmental concerns.

Pennsylvania has thousands of oil and gas wells drilled since 1859. Active wells with known operators are responsible for plugging them when they reach the end of their useful life. Abandoned wells that don't have a responsible party are addressed by the Well Plugging Program.