This summer, the Trump administration ruled that states no longer have to measure methane leaks before and after plugging up unused oil wells. But the absence of checking for a leak doesn’t mean there isn’t one. In fact, it’s a big problem in Oklahoma, which has more than 20,000 “abandoned wells.”
Thankfully, the state is set to receive $102 million in federal funds to “plug” up abandoned wells, according to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC). (Disbursement of these funds is currently on hold due to federal policy shifts.) However, the OCC admitted to StateImpact that there are likely many more abandoned wells the state is unaware of because they are out of sight and lack documentation.
Oklahoma has made efforts to diversify its business sector in recent years so that the oil and gas industry is not the sole contributor to the economy. However, despite these efforts, it appears that the oil industry will still contribute to the state’s greenhouse gas emissions for years to come.
This article appears in Fall Guide 2025.