Sealing Wells With Science Instead of Cement

A biomineralization fix is helping states plug orphan wells faster by stopping stubborn gas leaks that drive costly rework

18 Mar 2026

A biomineralisation technique developed by BioSqueeze is being used to address gas leakage in abandoned US oil wells, as state programmes scale up plugging efforts with federal funding.

The US has an estimated 3.4m abandoned wells, including more than 120,000 classified as orphaned, with no operator responsible for remediation. These sites can leak methane and pose risks to groundwater. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has allocated $4.7bn to accelerate clean-up, with projects under way in more than 27 states.

A persistent obstacle has been annular gas migration, where gas escapes through micro-channels in well cement. Conventional fixes often require drilling out failed plugs and reapplying cement, a process that can push costs above $1m per well and slow progress across state inventories.

BioSqueeze deploys a fluid containing non-pathogenic soil bacteria into compromised sections of the wellbore. The bacteria induce a reaction that forms a mineral barrier similar to limestone. The low-viscosity fluid is designed to penetrate pathways that cement cannot reach, avoiding the need for drill-out.

The company says the method is more than four times as effective as conventional cement in stopping gas migration on the first attempt and has been applied to more than 350 wells across North America.

For state agencies, reducing rework is central to programme delivery. Each failed plug can divert funding, delay other sites and strain limited labour capacity. As projects move from simpler wells to more complex cases in 2026, demand for alternative sealing methods is expected to rise.

The Government Accountability Office has estimated total remediation costs could reach $300bn, far exceeding current federal funding. Technologies that improve first-time success rates are likely to play a larger role as policymakers seek to extend the impact of available funds.