About the Conference:
The 2025 Orphan and Idle Wells Southwest Conference, taking place October 29–30 in Houston, builds on the success of our Texas-focused event, which quickly became a central platform for industry, regulators, and technology leaders addressing orphan and idle wells.
Now expanding to include New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and the broader Gulf Coast, this regional gathering brings together key stakeholders to explore practical strategies, cross-border collaboration, and emerging solutions for environmental liability, well retirement, and long-term risk reduction.

The Challenge:
The U.S. is home to an estimated 2.3 million abandoned wells, with Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Louisiana accounting for a significant portion. Many remain undocumented, especially on private and rural lands. These wells leak methane, oil, and toxic chemicals into groundwater and ecosystems, posing risks to landowners and nearby communities. In the Southwest, extreme weather, varied terrain, and historical underreporting add to the complexity—making coordinated remediation efforts both urgent and challenging.

2025 Key Themes:

• Regulatory & Policy Landscape – Updates from state and federal agencies on evolving rules, funding programs, and enforcement priorities.
• Carbon Credit Markets: Where to Start – How credits are being created and traded, and what role methane reduction from well plugging can play.
• Repurposing Idle Wells – Exploring conversion potential for geothermal, carbon storage, and other alternative uses.
• Landowner Rights & Access – Navigating liability, communication, and cooperation in well discovery and remediation.
• Technology in Action – Leveraging drones, AI, and predictive modeling to detect and prioritize undocumented and inactive wells.

Featured Session Highlights:

• Drone-Led Discovery: Revealing Wells Where Records Fall Short
• A look at how drone surveillance and methane detection are reshaping search and monitoring practices in the field.
• Inactive Wells: Risk, Retirement, and Regulatory Pressure
• Addressing the gray zone of wells that aren’t producing—but aren’t yet plugged—and what operators need to prepare for.
• Carbon Credits – Where to Start
• A practical panel discussion for those new to the space: How carbon offset projects are structured, where protocols are headed, and how orphan well plugging fits in.

Why Attend?
This conference is the go-to forum for those working at the intersection of regulation, technology, and field operations in the orphan well space. With expert-led panels, hands-on workshops, and networking with cross-sector peers, you’ll walk away with practical insights and new connections to move your work forward.

Secure your spot at the conference and be part of the digital transformation. For more information please contact Brandy Cormier at brandy.cormier@energyconferencenetwork.com