In this insightful session, Julie Murphy, the esteemed Director of the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission, will provide an in-depth overview of the various grant opportunities and environmental regulations specific to orphaned and idle wells in Colorado. Her talk will focus on guiding stakeholders through the intricacies of accessing state and federal grants designed to mitigate the environmental and public health risks posed by these wells. Additionally, she will elaborate on the current regulatory landscape in Colorado, discussing how these regulations impact the management, remediation, and plugging of orphaned and idle wells. This presentation will be particularly valuable for attendees seeking to understand the financial and regulatory frameworks that govern the handling of orphaned and idle wells in Colorado, offering key insights into state-level strategies and initiatives.

This session will present a comprehensive overview of National Energy Technology Laboratory’s (NETL) ambitious National Emissions Reduction Initiative (NEMRI). This five-year, $60 million project focuses on reducing emissions from the oil and gas sector. A key emphasis of his talk will be on how NETL’s multidisciplinary team is proactively collaborating with state governments and industry stakeholders to prevent today's marginal wells from becoming tomorrow’s orphaned wells. It will detail the initiative's innovative approaches, technological advancements, and the cooperative efforts aimed at identifying at-risk wells early and implementing effective interventions. His presentation will provide valuable insights into the synergies between federal research and state-level implementation, highlighting the critical role of these partnerships in achieving long-term environmental and energy goals.

Nick Gianoutsos, a Physical Scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver, Colorado, will offer a detailed presentation on the impacts of orphaned and idle wells. His talk will focus on the latest research and findings from the USGS regarding the geological sources of methane emissions, the threat orphan wells pose to groundwater quality, and updates to the national orphan well database.

In this enlightening session, Natalie Pekney, the Technical Lead of the Natural Gas Infrastructure Program at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), will present an in-depth overview of the upcoming national guideline established by NETL for a standardized approach to monitoring and mitigating emissions from marginal conventional wells. The guidelines, set to be published in February 2024, represent a significant step towards uniformity and efficacy in addressing environmental concerns associated with marginal well operations. This session will prove to be a valuable resource for stakeholders committed to environmental stewardship and sustainable industry practices.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has directed the Secretary of the Interior to establish programs to inventory and properly close orphaned wells, allocating a historic investment for the program’s effective implementation. Kimbra Davis, Director of the Orphaned Wells Program Office, Department of the Interior, shares valuable insights into understanding the program’s funding allocation, challenges & environmental impact. 

This session is dedicated to providing a comprehensive overview of the public health risks associated with orphaned and idle wells. The primary focus will be on identifying and communicating these risks to communities, engaging effectively with local populations, and emphasizing the critical need for ongoing monitoring and safety measures to protect public health.

Xplorobot has developed a cost-effective solution tailored for measuring methane emissions, in accordance with the United States Department of Interior regulations. Our Xplorobot Laser OGI device surpasses the DOI's 1-gram-per-hour detection threshold. This presentation will showcase field deployments in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio, illustrating the efficacy and versatility of our solution

This panel discussion will focus on the critical importance of collaboration and engagement among various stakeholders in tackling the complex challenges posed by orphaned and idle wells. Representatives from government bodies, energy companies, environmental groups, and local communities will come together to share insights, experiences, and strategies for effective multi-stakeholder collaboration.

In this session, Markus Drouven, the Technical Director at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), will delve into the innovative realm of open-source, optimization, and machine-learning based decision-support tools. These tools are designed to aid the broader emission mitigation community, with a particular focus on software tools that assist in prioritizing wells for plugging and optimizing Plug and Abandonment (P&A) campaigns. Mr. Drouven will discuss how these advanced software solutions integrate data analytics, machine learning algorithms, and optimization techniques to make informed decisions about well plugging. He will highlight how these tools can effectively identify high-risk wells, forecast environmental impacts, and plan efficient and cost-effective abandonment strategies. This presentation will be especially beneficial for stakeholders seeking advanced technological solutions to address the complex challenges of well abandonment and emissions reduction.

This session is designed to provide a thorough understanding of carbon credits, carbon registries, and carbon markets, particularly focusing on their relevance and application in the context of well plugging and the energy sector. The presentation will serve as a comprehensive guide for industry professionals, regulators, and stakeholders interested in the intricacies of carbon credit systems and how they intersect with state plugging programs and environmental sustainability efforts.

Join us for an engaging session with James Maio, Environmental Protection Specialist at the Orphaned Wells Program Office. Mr. Maio will share invaluable on-the-ground experiences, challenges, successes, and firsthand insights into the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) within the context of orphaned wells. Through real-life case studies and practical examples, he will illustrate the impact of the law on the ground and provide valuable insights into the collaborative efforts between government agencies, industry stakeholders, and local communities.

This session will delve into the critical aspects of measurements and detection in the context of managing orphaned and idle wells, with a particular focus on on data measurement objectives and quality assurance criteria that will meet federal guidelines for methane measurements. The presentation is designed to equip participants with the knowledge of various measurement techniques and their applications, ensuring compliance with new regulations and fulfilling specific federal requirements.