Orphaned Well Program

Orphan wells are unplugged oil and gas wells that are inactive and have no owner or operator who can be found or is willing to plug them. Plugging a well is the process of permanently sealing a well to prevent the release of hydrocarbons and other fluids into the environment.
 

The Orphaned Well Program identifies, prioritizes, and addresses oil and gas wells, locations, and production facilities statewide for which there are no known responsible parties or for which financial assurance instruments have been claimed. If not addressed, these oil and gas locations may impair a surface owner’s farming or ranching activity or other use of the property, harm wildlife, pose risks to the environment or present a safety hazard to the public.
 

As of 2025, there are approximately 47,000 unplugged wells in Colorado and approximately 960 are orphaned wells with private or state ownership. Since its inception in 1990, the Orphaned Well Program at ECMC has plugged more than 700 wells. Of those, more than 230 were plugged since 2013.