A team of LSU researchers is tackling thousands of orphaned oil wells in Louisiana to determine which ones are leaking methane into the atmosphere so they can be prioritized for plugging them.
There are more than 4,500 orphan oil wells in Louisiana, according to a university news release, meaning they were abandoned by the oil companies that drilled them. The team, led by petroleum engineering professor Ipsita Gupta, has so far tested 800 wells and found more than 180 leaking.
Detecting gas emissions from orphan wells is trickier in Louisiana than in other states because the wells are often located in wetlands that also emit methane. The process is also made more difficult because many wells are on private land, meaning researchers need permission to measure emissions.
Federal and state governments want to locate leaking wells so they can be prioritized to plug them, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“This project will impact the people of Louisiana,” Gupta said. “This will not only have an immediate impact on reducing methane emissions from orphan wells, which is a significant health, safety and environmental concern; Plugging orphan wells will also impact ongoing and future carbon dioxide storage efforts.
The project is funded by a $3 million grant from the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.
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A team of LSU researchers is tackling thousands of orphaned oil wells in Louisiana to determine which ones are leaking methane into the atmosphere so they can be prioritized for plugging them.
There are more than 4,500 orphan oil wells in Louisiana, according to a university news release, meaning they were abandoned by the oil companies that drilled them. The team, led by petroleum engineering professor Ipsita Gupta, has so far tested 800 wells and found more than 180 leaking.
Detecting gas emissions from orphan wells is trickier in Louisiana than in other states because the wells are often located in wetlands that also emit methane. The process is also made more difficult because many wells are on private land, meaning researchers need permission to measure emissions.
Federal and state governments want to locate leaking wells so they can be prioritized to plug them, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“This project will impact the people of Louisiana,” Gupta said. “This will not only have an immediate impact on reducing methane emissions from orphan wells, which is a significant health, safety and environmental concern; Plugging orphan wells will also impact ongoing and future carbon dioxide storage efforts.
The project is funded by a $3 million grant from the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.
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