Millions to Plug Orphan Wells and Heal Refuge Lands

A $19.2 million partnership will seal 110 orphan wells on wildlife refuges, cutting methane and restoring habitat

13 Jan 2026

A decades-old problem buried beneath public lands is finally getting a serious fix. Orphan oil and gas wells, drilled decades ago and abandoned without a responsible owner, are now the target of a $19.2 million cleanup campaign that blends conservation, climate action, and community safety.

The Well Done Foundation and the US Fish and Wildlife Service are teaming up to seal and restore more than 110 orphan wells beginning in 2025. Their work will stretch across four National Wildlife Refuges: Deep Fork and Sequoyah in Oklahoma, Hailstone in Montana, and Baskett Slough in Oregon. The sites have long posed hazards to wildlife and visitors alike, with open wells threatening ecosystems meant to protect both species and people.

The project’s scale and scope mark a shift in how the nation treats orphan wells. Once seen as scattered relics of the oil boom, they are now recognized as potent climate threats. Plugging methane-leaking wells curbs greenhouse emissions, cuts explosion risks, and improves air and water quality for surrounding communities.

The Well Done Foundation has carved out a niche by taking on wells that fall through regulatory cracks, proving that nonprofit operators can move faster than traditional cleanup efforts. The Fish and Wildlife Service brings its own strengths, including oversight, habitat expertise, and a mandate to ensure restoration work enhances refuge ecosystems.

“This is about fixing yesterday’s problems with today’s urgency,” said Curtis Shuck, the foundation’s founder. Field operations will be led by Well Done New Mexico, which applies oilfield safety standards to ensure long-term site stability.

Beyond the immediate cleanup, the initiative offers a blueprint for future federal investment in orphan well remediation. It promises local jobs, safer landscapes, and cleaner skies, a rare win-win in the overlapping worlds of energy, environment, and conservation.