abandoned oil and gas wells

On the left: a leaking abandoned oil and gas well in Union County. On the right: a picture of the well site cleaned up in September 2023.

More than 600 ‘orphan’ oil and gas wells plugged in Kentucky with federal funds

BY: - October 19, 2023

The director of the Kentucky Division of Oil and Gas told state lawmakers Thursday that 627 so-called “orphan” oil and gas wells have been plugged thanks to recent federal funding, though thousands of such abandoned wells remain across the state.  Dennis Hatfield, the Kentucky Division of Oil and Gas director, said the state officials estimate […]

Gas-well cleanup opens 513 acres in Rockcastle River Wildlife Management Area to the public

BY: - January 3, 2023

Federal funding to plug abandoned oil and gas wells has opened 513 acres in Pulaski County to hunters, anglers, wildlife watchers and other nature lovers, according to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The land, part of  the Rockcastle River Wildlife Management Area (WMA), is newly accessible to the public  thanks to an […]