Bill to allow private takeover of orphaned wells for geothermal, storage advances 8–0

Representative Archer told the Energy Committee that House Bill 3173 would allow public or private entities to take ownership of orphaned and abandoned wells for potential geothermal or energy storage use if there is a viable proposal.

“...if there is a viable use, for some of these orphaned and abandoned wells and a company has interest, they can they can come and take those over for those purposes,” Archer said, framing the measure as a narrow tool to reduce the state’s orphaned well inventory.

Archer referenced an interim presentation by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission projecting that, at current plugging rates, it could take roughly 200 years to address the state’s backlog of orphaned wells. He cautioned the bill is not a silver bullet but said removing even a few wells from the state list would reduce future state plugging obligations.

Representative Lippack asked whether the bill’s 12‑month clock would require the new operator to plug the well if it was not used for its intended purpose. Archer confirmed that the entity taking the well would be responsible for plugging or remediation after that 12‑month period.

The committee voted 8–0 to advance HB 3173 to the oversight committee; the clerk announced the unanimous result.