Orphan Oil and Gas Well Prevention Act

This bill requires West Virginia oil and gas well operators to set aside money for future well plugging by mandating that newly drilled and transferred wells must either post a single well plugging bond or have the driller/operator begin depositing a small percentage of the well's revenue into the State Treasurer’s office for future plugging. For active wells, operators are required to pay 15¢ per MCF into the State Treasurer’s office for future plugging. Additionally, horizontal well operators must plug any "abandoned" conventional wells within the drainage area of their horizontal well and can recover the plugging costs from the operator of those conventional wells.

Sponsors: Randy Smith

ISSUES: Climate, Land & Wildlife

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced on 2/12/25 and referred to Senate Energy, Industry, and Mining Committee