The Race to Map the Nation’s Hidden Wells

New DOE mapping research sharpens states ability to spot undocumented wells and prepares industry for faster cleanup

25 Sep 2025

A federal research push is reshaping efforts to locate thousands of undocumented orphan wells across the US, as the Department of Energy accelerates work on long-neglected sites that pose environmental and planning risks for states and operators.

The DOE is directing the initiative through its Undocumented Orphaned Well Research Program within the Division of Methane Mitigation Technologies. The programme aims to develop tools that can identify undocumented wells, measure methane emissions and assess the condition of surrounding land. The work spans private, state, federal and tribal areas and is tied to Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding.

Central to the effort is a multi-lab partnership, the Consortium Advancing Technology for Assessment of Lost Oil and Gas Wells, or CATALOG. Run by the DOE with the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, the group includes Los Alamos, the National Energy Technology Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley, Sandia and Lawrence Livermore. With $30mn in federal support over five years, it is tasked with producing field-ready methods that states and tribes can deploy at scale.

Researchers are applying advanced mapping, artificial intelligence and field sensing. At Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, scientists have trained deep-learning models to scan historical US Geological Survey maps for old well symbols. A recent case study in California and Oklahoma identified more than 1,000 potential undocumented wells, several later confirmed through satellite and magnetic surveys.

Los Alamos and partner labs are adding modern imaging and sensing campaigns. Teams are combining aerial and drone surveys, magnetometers and other geophysical tools with machine learning to find wells concealed in forests, farmland and residential areas. Early pilots are influencing how agencies plan field campaigns and select sites for methane testing and environmental assessment.

Funding signals are reinforcing the technical work. Alongside the core $30mn programme, the DOE has opened a separate funding call of up to $15mn for projects to characterise undocumented wells, improve methane measurement and test new concepts for permanent plugging. The moves come amid broader infrastructure law support for state-run orphan well programmes.

States, tribes and contractors expect the research to yield more accurate inventories and clearer cost estimates, while helping target high-risk sites. Service companies are monitoring the work as validated federal methods often shape commercial survey standards.

Regulators note that new tools must be tested to avoid inconsistent data, and smaller contractors point to the cost of advanced sensing equipment. But researchers report rising confidence that federal funding, laboratory expertise and state demand are aligning to improve the nation’s understanding of its legacy well stock.