A forthcoming paper in the journal Nature Energy estimates that the cost to plug and abandon the 14,000 unplugged, non-producing oil and gas wells in U.S. Gulf of Mexico offshore waters, inland waters, and wetlands is $30 billion. Wells closer to shore, in shallower waters, make up 90% of inactive wells but account for only 25% of the total cost to plug and abandon.
When a well is no longer econ...