Abandoned oil, gas wells get plugged in New Mexico

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN
Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Land managers in one of the top oil and gas producing states in the U.S. have plugged more than 200 inactive wells on state trust lands. New Mexico officials announced Wednesday that the cleanup costs are being shouldered by the industry as part of the State Land Office’s accountability and enforcement program. The work has resulted in a nearly 20% decrease in the number of abandoned wells on state trust lands. Separately, New Mexico was awarded $25 million in federal infrastructure funding last year to plug and reclaim orphaned wells and associated sites around the state. In all, the federal government has committed $4.7 billion to addressing orphan wells nationwide.