BLM NM Statewide Orphan Well Reclamation Program

As wells play out and become uneconomical to operate, they must be plugged, primarily to protect underground sources of drinking water by preventing migration of oil, gas, and saltwater from the producing zones to shallower fresh water zones. Occasionall, wells are left orphaned by a company that becomes insolvent. When that happens, reclamation bonds are often not sufficient to plug the wells that are left behind and reclaim the surface disturbances associated with these wells and facililities. It then becomes the BLM's or the State's responsitilibity to have the inactive well properly plugged and the surface reclaimed. Although it is BLM���s mission to provide responsible energy development while protecting health, safety and the environment, BLM will defer to the expertise of the State to plug and abandon wells in accordance with State oil and gas and water quality regulations.