Start your day with breakfast and networking before the event

This session will explore production and new drilling rates, along with the growing number of idle wells in California, and the challenges posed by production limitations. We will examine what these factors reveal about the future of the state's oil and gas industry, particularly in terms of well abandonment and orphaned well management, as well as the regulatory shifts shaping these trends.
•    Assessing production trends and limits
•    The impact of increasing idle wells on future industry operations
•    Regulatory drivers, and more 

Explore the rich history of California’s oil industry and its influence on today’s plugging challenges. From the first commercial well in 1897 to its role in shaping Los Angeles into a major metropolis, California’s oil legacy offers valuable insights.
Key topics include:
•    A recent high-risk plugging case: lessons learned and broader applications.
•    Wells embedded in downtown Los Angeles and their urban challenges.
•    How oil fueled LA’s population boom from 50,000 to 2 million.
•    Modern challenges: legacy wells, evolving plugging standards, vapor barriers, and more.
•    The role of AI and new technologies in addressing modern plugging complexities.

This session explores innovative strategies for preventing idle wells from becoming orphaned assets through proactive intervention and creative partnerships. Learn about practical solutions for identifying at-risk wells, sustainable intervention methods, and creating positive environmental impact through responsible well management, leveraging data-driven insights to enhance decision-making.

Ensuring the proper abandonment of orphan wells in Los Angeles requires close coordination with CalGEM, elected officials, community residents, and environmental justice stakeholders. From 2021 to 2025, LA City has navigated complex regulatory, funding, and community engagement challenges to secure resources for well plugging. This session will highlight key lessons learned, a case study, and strategies for effective collaboration.

Explore solutions for decommissioning, monitoring, and redeveloping 2-3 million abandoned U.S. wells, including over 1 million orphaned wells.
Discuss the shift from drilling to repurposing as shale deposits shrink and states embrace cleaner energy. Case studies will highlight successful cleanup programs like AML and NDT Funds, job creation potential, and how evolving policies are reshaping long-term decommissioning efforts..

This session explores the evolving stakeholder landscape in orphan and idle well management. We’ll discuss best practices for collaboration among private, public, and tribal entities, nonprofits, and other key players.
•    Strategies to align priorities, build trust, and drive impactful solutions.
•    Addressing the diverse concerns of stakeholders in California’s well-plugging and remediation efforts.
•    Incorporating AI and emerging technologies to streamline collaboration and efficiency.

This session will address the unique challenges of orphan wells in California and across the nation, including the geological factors influencing emissions and the risks they pose to groundwater aquifers. We will discuss the historical context of orphan wells in the state and the challenges they present to local communities. Additionally, we will explore strategies and USGS resources for effective well-plugging.

Lunch and Learn with Our Speakers
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to engage with our speakers during the lunch break. Ask your questions, share ideas, and connect directly with industry experts in a relaxed and informal setting.

•    Methane detection and quantification methodologies for orphaned wells
•    Insights from the CATALOG program and SUMMATION project
•    Addressing regulatory challenges and compliance in methane emissions
•    The role of AI and real-time analytics in improving emissions tracking and reporting

•    Analyzing the national picture of orphan and idle wells and their environmental impacts.
•    Preliminary analytics on idle well populations in key states.
•    Exploring innovative solutions, including technological advancements and policy recommendations.
•    Exploring AI-driven solutions, cutting-edge technologies, and adaptive policies shaping the industry

Plugging offshore wells involves significant challenges, from managing high costs to addressing environmental and technical complexities. This session will explore these hurdles in depth.
•    Cost Management: Navigating the financial burden of decommissioning offshore wells and finding efficient funding solutions.
•    Corrosion Issues: Addressing the unique risks of corrosion and its impact on plugging offshore wells safely and effectively.
•    Integrating AI and automation to enhance compliance and efficiency in offshore well abandonment

• Minefield: Process and Improvements for Plugging Legacy Wells in the LA Basin
  Thomas Walker, Evans & Walker 
• Urban Design and Orphan and Idle Wells in California's Urban Areas
  Clement Lau, Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office
• Scaling Up Innovative Well Sealing Technologies: Challenges and Opportunities
  Bernard Leung, TS-Nano

This session highlights how California’s tribal governments are addressing the pressing challenges of orphan and idle wells on their lands. With a focus on both traditional knowledge and innovative solutions, tribal leaders are navigating complex regulatory frameworks to create sustainable outcomes for their communities and the environment.
Key discussion points include:
•    Insights into tribal governance: drafting and enforcing their own codes.
•    The layered complexities of Indian Country compliance, including the management of 20% of American resources and the role of Indian energy programs.
•    Addressing historical environmental burdens left by external parties and how tribes are responding to these challenges with accountability and resilience.
Discover how tribal leadership is shaping orphan well management and balancing cultural values with modern solutions.

As California tightens regulations on idle wells, operators, investors, and regulators must adapt to evolving compliance requirements. This session will explore how these changes impact risk assessment, asset valuation, and overall oilfield due diligence. Experts will discuss best practices for managing idle well liabilities, integrating compliance into transaction strategies, and mitigating financial and environmental risks. Attendees will gain critical insights into navigating the regulatory landscape and ensuring responsible asset management in a shifting energy market.

This session delves into the lifecycle of older oil and gas wells in the Anadarko Basin of Kansas and Oklahoma, highlighting their economic and environmental implications as they approach the end of their productive life. Experts will explore decline curve analysis (DCA) as a critical tool for forecasting well behavior and informing decisions on plugging and abandonment (P&A) or repurposing. Attendees will gain insights into how these efforts can mitigate methane emissions and the broader implications for greenhouse gas management.

This session will explore the use of a drone-magnetometry system to accurately locate abandoned and buried test holes and wells in sensitive, partially flooded environments to support tidal habitat restoration efforts in the California Delta. Discussions will cover the challenges of identifying and addressing legacy wells in ecologically fragile areas, potential safety concerns, and key lessons learned from the planning and surveying process and workflow.

This session will explore the intersection of public health and climate change challenges posed by orphan and idle wells in California. Topics will include:
•    Risks to groundwater from contamination exacerbated by climate-induced droughts.
•    Wildfires' proximity to orphan wells and their role in air quality and safety risks.
•    Corrosion and subsurface complexities affecting California’s water systems.
•    Methane leaks from underground wells contributing to climate change and potential water contamination.
The discussion highlights the urgent need for adaptive policies and proactive measures to mitigate these interconnected risks.

This session delves into Los Angeles’ efforts to address orphan wells in densely developed areas, focusing on challenges like leaking wells under new construction, outdated regulations, and leak testing hurdles. Discover strategies for balancing urban growth with community safety, environmental needs, and proactive stakeholder engagement. Learn how collaboration with developers, local communities, and policymakers is driving innovative solutions to ensure responsible urban expansion.

Explore the factors that make repairing leaking wells a significant challenge. Key topics include:
•    Linking leakage rates, leakage pathways and primary causes for underground leakage
•    Variability in primary cementing outcomes and impacts on leakage and repair 
•    Long term well integrity and cement, after decommissioning  
•    Repair techniques like squeeze cementing and their effectiveness on old wells
•    Strategies for reducing leakage and improving outcomes.
 

California is exploring innovative ways to repurpose orphaned and idle wells to support clean energy and environmental goals.
•    Geothermal Energy: Converting wells for geothermal power generation, tapping into renewable energy potential.
•    Carbon Sequestration: Using wells for storing CO2 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
•    Water Management: Repurposing wells for water storage or monitoring in drought-prone regions.
These alternative uses contribute to sustainability efforts while addressing legacy well issues.

This session explores innovative strategies for repurposing orphaned and idle wells to serve new purposes beyond oil and gas production. Topics include converting wells for geothermal energy production, carbon storage, and water management. We will discuss the technical, regulatory, and financial challenges of repurposing infrastructure while ensuring environmental safety. Learn how these efforts can align with California's clean energy goals and provide sustainable solutions for communities impacted by legacy wells.

This session will showcase a case study on a complex well abandonment in Los Angeles, highlighting the challenges of legacy idle and abandoned wells. Discover how technical evaluations of drilling histories, workover records, and subsurface geology can inform tailored solutions that enhance safety, environmental protection, and cost efficiency. Learn from real-world insights into regulatory collaboration and innovative approaches to well decommissioning.

This session will provide a comprehensive overview of key scientific topics explored by the AAAS Orphaned and Abandoned Wells (OAW) working group over the past two years. It will synthesize emerging questions and critical research needs in areas such as methane quantification, groundwater impact studies, and health-related implications of OAW. Join us for an insightful discussion that highlights the latest scientific advancements and their potential to drive informed action in addressing orphan and idle wells.

This session delves into groundbreaking research analyzing gas emissions from 48 abandoned wells in western Pennsylvania, shedding light on the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene alongside methane. Learn how emission rates vary based on gas flow and VOC concentration, and explore the proximity of these wells to residential and commercial buildings, raising important health and safety concerns. Join this discussion to uncover the urgent need for further investigation into the inhalation risks posed by abandoned well emissions and their implications for public health and environmental policy.

This session will explore the use of drone-based geophysics to detect and map orphan wells, even in challenging terrains such as flooded or heavily vegetated areas. Discussion will focus on the technology’s capabilities, its role in environmental assessment and restoration, and lessons learned from recent applications.

This session will explore key findings from recent well closure research, highlighting advancements in technology, cost-effective solutions, and regulatory considerations. We will discuss lessons learned and next steps to improve closure efficiency and long-term site integrity.

Offshore decommissioning is a complex process requiring careful planning, regulatory navigation, and stakeholder engagement. This talk will explore key considerations for decommissioning aging offshore infrastructure, with a focus on recent case studies from California. The discussion will highlight the logistical, environmental, and policy challenges faced in the region, providing insights that can inform decommissioning efforts elsewhere. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the strategic planning required for successful decommissioning and the lessons learned from recent projects.

Details to follow