Texas rancher battles orphaned oil wells
Texas rancher Schuyler Wight is taking a stand against the pollution caused by orphaned oil and gas wells that is endangering both his ranch and the state's environment.
Elliott Woods reports for Capital & Main.
In short:
- More than 8,400 orphan wells dot Texas, causing environmental and health hazards as they leak harmful substances.
- Despite state efforts to plug these wells, the backlog and emerging issues mean many remain a threat, including on Wight's ranch.
- Ranchers like Wight, facing immediate impacts, argue for more aggressive state action to tackle the problem effectively.
Key quote:
“I know you think it’s just a wasteland, but we live out there. We have to work out there. We have to drink that water. Our cattle have to drink that water.”
— Schuyler Wight, rancher
Why this matters:
The unchecked spread of orphan wells, abandoned by defunct or untraceable operators, have been left to the whims of time and erosion, often without proper closure, leading to a variety of environmental risks. For example, the contaminants can seep into groundwater, posing severe risks to drinking water supplies and agricultural water sources. This contamination has been linked to an array of health issues ranging from respiratory problems to neurological disorders, depending on the nature and concentration of the pollutants.
