The California Council on Science and Technology estimated that the state already is liable for more than $500 million in cleanup costs for more than 5,500 orphaned wells up and down the state. The companies holding wells identified as orphaned in the 67-page report made just $26 million available to the state for their cleanup. The report says orphaned wells are concentrated in Los Angeles and Long Beach, where costs associated with cleanup are “systematically high.” Two orphaned wells that started emitting odors in Echo Park in 2016 cost the state more than $1 million to seal. But, the report points out, issues with sealing wells are not limited to offshore wells, which represent just 2% of the state total. The report was prepared after being requested by the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources under the California Department of Conservation.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 24, 2020 23:37 UTC