Orphaned Oil & Gas Wells in Colorado

In my Environmental Policy class, I worked as part of a team to research the current state of orphaned oil & gas wells in Colorado. Orphaned wells are a national problem involving Oil and Gas wells that have not been properly closed, no longer have an owner, and have become a health and financial liability for tax payers.

• Researched the social and environmental issues with orphaned wells, the current Colorado state policy on managing orphaned wells, and the future financial risk to the taxpayers of Colorado

• Interviewed a former state senator

• Recommended mitigation strategies to protect the citizens of Colorado which included closing loop holes in the current policy.