It would cost over $30 billion to plug the inactive wells, with big oil companies responsible for most of the cost.
More than 14,000 oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico remain uncapped and could potentially harm the marine ecosystems and contribute to global warming, according to a study recently published by researchers at the University of California, Davis.are legally required to plug the wells once production at the site has ceded. The process is fairly straightforward, with the upper area of the borehole required to be plugged by cement and then covered with sediment.
Left unplugged, the well continues to seep hydrocarbons like methane which can be digested by microbial life but is then converted to carbon dioxide, which makes its way into the atmosphere. Heavier molecules remain unprocessed and become contaminants putting marine ecosystems at risk.With severe risks associated with uncapping of wells, laws in the U.S. mandate that wells are capped off post their use.
Proportionally, the number is still rather small considering that the region is home to over 82,000 wells. However, given that more than 64,000 of these wells have been retired and capped, 14,000 is still a large number.
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