Team Effort Powers a Cleanup Across Four Refuges

A federal partnership will seal more than one hundred ten orphan wells across four wildlife refuges starting in 2025

15 Aug 2025

A federally backed partnership will begin plugging more than 110 orphan oil and gas wells on four US wildlife refuges in 2025, in one of the most extensive clean-up programmes yet attempted on federal land. The $19.2mn initiative brings together the Well Done Foundation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Well Done New Mexico to address long-standing environmental and safety risks.

The effort targets refuges in Oklahoma, Montana and Oregon where aging wells have posed growing threats to wetlands and protected habitats. Deep Fork and Sequoyah refuges in Oklahoma, Hailstone in Montana and Baskett Slough in Oregon all contain legacy infrastructure that can release methane and contaminate soil and water. By treating the sites as a single portfolio, the partners aim to reduce emissions and restore sensitive areas more efficiently.

Under the agreement, the Well Done Foundation will lead technical work such as locating, assessing and sealing wells, followed by land reclamation. Well Done New Mexico will add field capacity and manage local contractors. For the Fish and Wildlife Service, the partnership provides a means to address environmental risks without diverting staff from daily refuge operations.

The programme includes pre- and post-plugging measurements, site restoration and long-term monitoring to confirm that leaks are permanently resolved. Training components are expected to create opportunities for local workers and students, supporting regional skills in land stewardship.

Analysts say the model reflects a broader shift towards coordinated clean-up strategies that combine federal funding with specialist non-profit expertise. Previous remediation on public lands often relied on smaller projects that were difficult to scale. Shared goals around methane reduction, land restoration and monitoring may allow this initiative to serve as a template for future efforts.

Costs remain uncertain, and expanding the model beyond the initial grant will depend on continued investment. The work also requires trained crews, specialised equipment and close oversight, particularly on protected land where environmental standards are strict.

As fieldwork begins, officials view the project as a chance to improve safety for nearby communities and cut greenhouse gas emissions. If the approach proves effective across the four refuges, it could accelerate remediation in other regions and shape expectations for future clean-up partnerships.