ClimateNGO
One Nonprofit Has Plugged 117 Leaking Orphan Oil and Gas Wells Across the US
by Well Done Foundation · HQ 🇺🇸 United States
0wellsOrphan wells plugged nationwide since 2019 (cumulative)as of 2026-05-20
0wellsOrphan wells plugged in Pennsylvaniaas of 2026-10-21
Well Done Foundation was founded in 2019 to tackle the estimated 3.5 million orphaned oil and gas wells in the United States. It finds wells, measures their gas emissions, then plugs and restores the site with landowners, agencies, companies and nonprofits. A May 2026 partner release says it has plugged more than 117 wells. In 2026 it also marked its 15th plugged well in Pennsylvania and began a project in New Mexico targeting more than 60,000 tonnes of CO2e of methane cuts, a target and not yet a result.