Industry
Notes from the Field: Capping Orphaned Oil Wells in Montana
Mark Chen
August 8, 2024

Mark Chen, CNaught Founder & CEO, recently traveled to Shelby, Montana, with the Well Done Foundation to measure, monitor, and cap orphaned oil wells. These orphaned wells, remnants of decommissioned oil and gas production, emit methane—a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than CO2 over 100 years—and cause significant environmental contamination. Capping them mitigates these potent greenhouse gas emissions and benefits local communities and wildlife.

Shelby, Montana, a small town near the Canadian border, has a rich history in oil, gas, and railroads. Curtis and Stacy Shuck, founders of the Well Done Foundation, play a vital role in the community through their work capping, measuring, and monitoring orphaned wells that are prevalent in this part of Montana. To date, they have plugged 45 wells, preventing more than 1.2 million metric tons of CO2e emissions, helping to combat climate change and improve the quality of local water, air, and soil. Through meticulous data collection and continuous monitoring, they produce high-quality carbon credits.

Mark’s trip was educational and rewarding, highlighting the critical work groups like the Well Done Foundation are doing to mitigate emissions and environmental hazards from orphaned wells.

Watch the video above to see firsthand how these projects are mitigating potent methane emissions.

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