AUSTIN, Texas — Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., announced that the Texas General Land Office (GLO) is pledging new support to continue the Trinity Bay well-plugging project with the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC). The GLO has agreed to fund another $8 million to address an additional group of prioritized orphaned wells in Trinity Bay. The new funding to the RRC continues Commissioner Buckingham's good stewardship to ensure Texas coastal waters remain clean for generations to come.
"As a ninth-generation Texan who lived on the coast for over a decade, one of my top priorities is keeping our coastal waters clean. Orphaned wells not only pose a health and safety risk to coastal communities but also marine species and their environments. The GLO’s commitment to our coast runs deep — that is why we are pledging an additional $8 million more to aid the RRC in safely plugging Trinity Bay’s highest-priority wells,” said Commissioner Buckingham. "As the stewards of more than 13 million acres of state-owned land, our agency will continue working alongside the RRC and the project contractors to deliver lasting results for the people of Texas."
A plugged orphan well in Trinity Bay awaiting result of a pressure test
The project began in 2022, when the GLO conducted assessments of more than 300 orphaned wells along the Texas Coast to analyze field data, including distance to wildlife refuges, sensitive habitats, and shorelines. The Agency compiled a report to share with RRC partners for well-removal planning and prioritization. Trinity Bay was selected to maximize cost-effectiveness as the area had many orphaned wells nearby. In mid-2023, under Commissioner Buckingham’s leadership, the GLO entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the RRC and provided $10 million in funding for plugging the orphaned wells in Trinity Bay.
Once initial project funds were close to expended, the Agencies agreed that release of specialized well plugging equipment to return to Louisiana would cause the project to lose momentum. Because several targeted wells remained in the immediate vicinity, the additional $8 million from the GLO will continue the initiative in a timely and cost-effective manner, allowing for a planned eight additional orphaned wells to be removed before demobilizing the well-plugging equipment.
Plugging barge onsite at orphan well in Trinity Bay
As of March 10, RRC contractors report that nine wells have been successfully plugged, and a tenth well is now underway. In addition to plugging wells, contractors have also flushed and removed flowlines from eight wells and are working on the ninth. They have removed all cribbing from around four wells, with a fifth well underway.
As part of the GLO's commitment to the health and safety of coastal waters and the wildlife in the area, 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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