(WO) — The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) plugged a record 2,022 orphaned oil and gas wells during fiscal year 2026, exceeding the performance target set by the Texas Legislature by 300 wells, or 18.9%.
The commission spent approximately $125.6 million on well-plugging activities during the fiscal year. Funding came from federal and state appropriations as well as oil and gas industry contributions, including the RRC’s Oil and Gas Regulation and Cleanup Fund.
The RRC assumes responsibility for monitoring and plugging wells designated as orphaned after the responsible operator is no longer in compliance. The agency prioritizes wells based on factors including age, location, condition and potential environmental impact.
“Protecting Texas land and groundwater requires decisive action,” RRC Executive Director Wei Wang said. “Our fiscal year 2026 accomplishments demonstrate the RRC’s firm dedication to environmental and public safety.”
According to the commission, operators are responsible for plugging approximately 86% of oil and gas wells. The RRC oversees contractor plugging of wells that become orphaned and works with state agencies and collection services to seek reimbursement from operators of record where applicable.
Texas also enacted measures during the previous legislative session aimed at reducing the state’s orphaned-well inventory. Senate Bill 1146 streamlined the process for operators to plug orphaned wells located on or near their leases, while Senate Bill 1150 requires operators to plug wells more than 25 years old that have been inactive for at least 15 years.
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