AUSTIN— Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., announced new developments in the Texas General Land Office's (GLO) partnership with the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) to plug orphan wells in north Trinity Bay.
"As a Texan who lived on our coast for more than a decade, ensuring our coastal waters are clean is a responsibility I take very seriously. Abandoned wells can become a hazard for coastal communities and wildlife, and I am thankful our agency was able to provide key resources for the significant project of safely plugging these wells in Trinity Bay," said Commissioner Buckingham. "The GLO is committed to assisting with the resources to plug these targeted wells to safeguard the people and marine life that call the Texas coast home. I am thrilled with the progress the Texas Railroad Commission, GLO, and the project contractors have made on this major undertaking of ridding Trinity Bay of these environmental hazards. I look forward to continuing this crucial work to deliver results for the people of Texas."
Plugging barge onsite at orphan well in Trinity Bay
Under Commissioner Buckingham’s leadership in 2023, the GLO entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with RRC to provide $10 million in funding for plugging the abandoned wells in Trinity Bay. Unplugged wells can be environmental hazards, and the forty-seven wells in Trinity Bay pose the most risk to wildlife in the area.
A plugged orphan well in Trinity Bay awaiting result of a pressure test
On Thursday, February 13, 2025, the GLO's Oil Spill Prevention and Response team conducted a patrol to visit the Trinity Bay well-plugging project. The GLO monitors the wells weekly as safety permits to ensure no oil escapes into coastal waters.
As of Monday, February 17, 2025, RRC contractors reported the following:
- Eight wells have been successfully plugged and a ninth is underway.
- Contractors have also flushed and removed flowlines from the eight wells.
- Currently, they have removed all cribbing from around three wells and a fourth is underway.
The GLO's Oil Spill Prevention and Response team will continue conducting weekly boat patrols, weather and safety conditions permitting, to inspect plugging operations and ensure Trinity Bay remains free of spills.
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