The Scourge of Orphaned and Abandoned Wells: Leveraging Public-Private-Citizen Collaboration to Solve a Big Problem

Abstract

Orphaned and abandoned wells are emblematic of the challenges of abandoned infrastructure. With over 2.5 million idle wells in the United States, this is a large problem that requires engagement across the public, private, non-profit, and civic sectors. This article conducts a focused case study on orphaned and abandoned well reclamation in Pennsylvania. Elite interviews, government document review, and scholarly literature reveal the barriers to effective collaboration across the sectors, but also substantial potential. Using the public-private-citizen partnership (PC2) and collaborative governance regime (CGR) frameworks, the article proposes a PC2 CGR that could leverage the influx of federal well plugging funds for greater effectiveness in solving this big problem. The case also holds lessons for other states and other sources of abandoned infrastructure.