ECMC’s marginal well plugging program aims to accelerate plugging of old wells; funds come from MERP and industry fees
June 17, 2026 | Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance State Advisory Committee, Governor's Boards and Commissions, Organizations, Executive, Colorado
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Sabrina Trask, manager of ECMC's Cumulative Impacts and Energy Transition Unit, provided details on the agency’s marginal well plugging program, launched in 2025 to reduce methane emissions and remediate aging infrastructure.
Sabrina said the program accepts operator applications during limited enrollment windows; ECMC reviews eligibility based on productivity and other criteria, awards funds only to wells meeting those criteria, and reimburses operators after verification that plugging was completed. The program targets smaller “mom‑and‑pop” operators rather than large national companies, focusing on wells that might otherwise drift into the orphan well program.
Funding and outcomes
The program’s funding sources include the federal Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP) and a state enterprise marginal well plugging fund supplied by industry fees. "This means that no taxpayer dollars are going toward the program and the plugging of wells," Trask said. She reported the first two wells were plugged in November 2025 and that the first round of awards is on track to plug 107 wells; staff are reviewing a second round of applications that could award funds for roughly 90 more wells.
Program mechanics and reporting
Operators propose wells and must complete the work and seek reimbursement; ECMC verifies plugging before releasing funds. For federally funded wells (MERP), the agency requires methane emission readings at the wellhead before and after plugging to quantify mitigation. ECMC maintains a public dashboard with award and plugging data and said it will link that dashboard in the slide deck and recording.
Context and rationale
Staff framed the program as a way to accelerate plugging versus waiting for enforcement or operator collapse into orphan status, and to reduce methane and other long‑term impacts in disproportionately impacted communities. The program’s design emphasizes monitoring and compliance with federal MERP rules.
Sabrina said the program accepts operator applications during limited enrollment windows; ECMC reviews eligibility based on productivity and other criteria, awards funds only to wells meeting those criteria, and reimburses operators after verification that plugging was completed. The program targets smaller “mom‑and‑pop” operators rather than large national companies, focusing on wells that might otherwise drift into the orphan well program.
Funding and outcomes
The program’s funding sources include the federal Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP) and a state enterprise marginal well plugging fund supplied by industry fees. "This means that no taxpayer dollars are going toward the program and the plugging of wells," Trask said. She reported the first two wells were plugged in November 2025 and that the first round of awards is on track to plug 107 wells; staff are reviewing a second round of applications that could award funds for roughly 90 more wells.
Program mechanics and reporting
Operators propose wells and must complete the work and seek reimbursement; ECMC verifies plugging before releasing funds. For federally funded wells (MERP), the agency requires methane emission readings at the wellhead before and after plugging to quantify mitigation. ECMC maintains a public dashboard with award and plugging data and said it will link that dashboard in the slide deck and recording.
Context and rationale
Staff framed the program as a way to accelerate plugging versus waiting for enforcement or operator collapse into orphan status, and to reduce methane and other long‑term impacts in disproportionately impacted communities. The program’s design emphasizes monitoring and compliance with federal MERP rules.
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