There are thousands of wells around Texas that produce low levels of gas and oil and are leased by companies operating on a shoestring. Different than the problem of non-producing “orphan” wells that have been covered extensively in the media, these low-producing wells are allowed to continue operating unless oil companies spend thousands of dollars to close them. Some ranchers worry that low-producing wells contaminate their groundwater. With support from the Fund, Martha Pskowski investigated the issue, starting with a ranch outside San Angelo owned by Jackie Chesnutt. Pskowski’s story was published by Inside Climate News and republished in the Texas Tribune and local outlets.
Grantee explores toll of low-producing oil wells in Texas
