By Alex Hartig, Program Manager and A.J. Alshammasi, Senior Engineering and Operations Manager

This week, we’ll be in Bakersfield, California, joining peers from across the country at the 2nd Annual Orphan, Idle & Marginal Wells California Conference. For those of us working directly on well plugging and abandonment, this gathering comes at an important moment.

Across California — and well beyond — states are facing a growing inventory of orphan, idle and marginal wells. Many of these wells, drilled in the early and mid-20th century, were left without proper documentation or closure, leading to methane leaks, soil and groundwater contamination and safety risks to nearby communities.

From our perspective, conferences like this matter because they create space for honest, technical conversations about what is working, what is not and where programs still struggle.

Why This Work Matters to Us

Both of us dedicate our days to the intricacies of well abandonment, engaging in project planning, navigating regulatory requirements, coordinating field teams and addressing unforeseen issues that arise once operations commence. Each site and well presents unique challenges, frequently extending beyond purely engineering concerns to include data deficiencies, community considerations and long-term land use planning.

Alex’s work focuses heavily on subsurface investigations and remediation across Southern California, including sites with complex contamination histories and limited documentation. Much of that effort involves review of historical aerial photos, available public/private records and aligning closure activities with broader environmental compliance goals.

A.J.’s role centers on leading engineering, operations and risk management for complex orphan, idle and marginal wells — reconstructing incomplete well histories, designing abandonment programs that are technically sound, regulatorily defensible and executable in the field. That often means balancing cost, safety, environmental protection and uncertainty, all at once.

What connects our work is the belief that successful closure programs rely on collaboration — between engineers, geoscientists, regulators and communities — and on the smart use of modern tools.

Sharing Lessons from the Field

At the conference, A.J. will be presenting “A Well Abandonment Journey Overview,” which draws directly from real‑world project experience. The presentation will walk through how teams are approaching complex abandonment projects today, including:

• Reconstructing well histories when records are incomplete or missing.
• Using drone‑based geophysical tools to help locate undocumented wells.
• Integrating engineering design with field execution to reduce surprises.
• Applying risk‑based planning to prioritize work and protect communities.

These are not theoretical concepts — they’re lessons shaped by what we see on the ground. Our goal in sharing them is to contribute practical insights that others can adapt to their own programs.

The Value of Coming Together

The technical challenges around orphan and idle wells are significant, but so are the opportunities. We’re seeing encouraging progress as states invest in closure programs and as the industry becomes more open to new technologies and cross‑disciplinary approaches.

What we value most about this conference is the opportunity to listen — to hear how others are addressing similar challenges, to learn from different regulatory environments and to understand community perspectives that shape how projects move forward. These conversations help refine practices and, ultimately, improve outcomes.

As national efforts to address legacy wells continue to scale, the path forward depends on shared learning and sustained collaboration. We’re looking forward to being part of that conversation in Bakersfield — and to carrying those insights back into the work that continues long after the conference ends.

Learn more about Atlas’��Orphan, Idle and Marginal Well Closure services.

Plugging orphan and MCWs is one aspect of the overall closure process of well locations. Effective remediation requires comprehensive site evaluation, a detailed closure plan and post-restoration monitoring to ensure long-term stability.

The Risks of Leaving Wells Unplugged

When left unaddressed, orphan wells and certain MCWs can create environmental, operation and safety risks:

• Surface Leaks & Groundwater Contamination – Without a reliable seal, gas and fluids can migrate into groundwater-producing zones and affect drinking water. Fluids and gas can migrate to the surface and affect the soil and ground surface.
• Structural Failure & Site Instability – Many old wells have deteriorated, with casing integrity issues, in addition to inadequate plugging materials or the absence of plugging materials. As materials degrade, casing failures can lead to unintended interactions with other producing formations including those containing groundwater and those containing oil and gas.
• Impact on Future Production and Development – Unmapped and improperly plugged wells can interfere with new and existing energy production. Before drilling, companies must often locate and address orphan wells to avoid costly delays, regulatory challenges and operational disruptions. These wells also interfere with potential land development projects.

Well Program Sustainability

Without a broader strategy that includes sustained federal and state funding support, wells will not get the attention they need soon enough. The oil and gas well grant programs of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act/Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (IIJA/BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have provided additional funding to states that are typically underfunded for this work. With this additional funding, state oil and gas programs have been uplifted, hundreds of well sites have been closed and private sector jobs have been expanded to meet the demand. However, the lasting success of these programs depends on sustained existing funding and expanded funding, in addition to workforce investment and policies that support these programs.

A well closure program is only as effective as its long-term strategy. With continued commitment from policymakers and industry leaders, orphan well and MCW programs can turn liabilities into assets — protecting our natural resources and supporting future development opportunities.

Learn more about Atlas’ orphan, idle, abandoned and marginal well program management.

Source The Well Done Foundation | Workers filling in the oil well.