PA Environment Digest Blog: Zefiro Methane Corp To Begin Monitoring Abandoned Conventional Wells For Plugging To Create Emission Offsets

DEP inspection reports show the Zefiro Methane Corp has begun evaluating abandoned conventional wells in Springfield Township, Erie County to be part of its privately-funded effort to plug wells to generate methane emission offsets it will offer for sale.

On January 2, 2024, DEP inspection reports show five abandoned conventional wells located on State Game Land 314 and placed on DEP’s abandoned well list June 17, 2015 will be monitored by Zefiro to quantify the amount of methane leaking from the wells.

The conventional abandoned wells included--

-- J. Baker 2: [DEP inspection report]

-- L. Statzer 1: [DEP inspection report]

-- L. Statzer 2: [DEP inspection report]

-- Jay Childs: [DEP inspection report]

-- Henry Johnson: [DEP inspection report]

The DEP reports said a total of six wells are being targeted on State Game Land 314.

DEP said the monitoring is to determine if “a measurable amount of methane is leaking from the well and [if] the well can ultimately fit within their business model and goals.”

If a well does meet the company’s goals, DEP said they will “become the operator of the well through a transfer and plug the well.”

DEP said the target date to start monitoring is mid-February, but that date is “very flexible.”

Background

On May 17, 2023, Marcellus Drilling News reported Zefiro Methane Corp. announced it has acquired a majority ownership stake in McKean County-based Plants & Goodwin for the purpose of plugging orphan and abandoned oil and gas wells to create methane emission offsets.

[Note: Plants & Goodwin won several DEP contracts to plug abandoned conventional wells under the federally-funded well plugging program.]

Zefiro said this acquisition will position the company to address the burden to communities posed by millions of non-productive wells left idle by oil and gas producers over recent decades.

Curt Hopkins, CEO of Zefiro, points out that this allows the company “to provide an immediate solution, at scale, to this long-standing and often environmentally dangerous legacy problem.”

Steve Plants, P&G President of Abandonment Operations said, “Our family has been plugging wells for more than 50 years and our partnership with Zefiro is a game-changer for finally bringing about a large-scale, nationwide solution to methane emissions from abandoned wells.”

Luke Plants, CEO of P&G said, “Public concern and awareness about the health and environmental implications of orphaned oil and gas wells is at an all-time high. And with the federal government behind a solution and the support of Zefiro, we will be among the first to tackle the problem and take our experience and lessons learned to other basins across the U.S.”

Under executive leadership that includes members of the former carbon market team at J.P. Morgan, Zefiro actively deploys crews to decommission wells throughout the United States.

In addition, with unprecedented global demand for carbon offsets as corporations and institutions work towards net-zero targets, Zefiro’s methane emission reductions strategically align with industry leaders for a greener future.

Zefiro’s Founder & Chairman, Talal Debs, PhD., said, “Zefiro’s strategy is to integrate real (physical process) innovation with new forms of capital, through the ‘environmental’ credit markets; the result will be a new kind of enterprise. By enlisting veteran operators like Plants & Goodwin, we are taking the first big step to making our unique vision a reality.”

Click Here for the complete announcement.

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Dec. 30 to Jan. 3 - Saga Of Plugging Nancy 13; Conventional Well Emission Offsets; Venting Since June; Still No Well Integrity Reports [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industry Compliance So Far In 2023 - It Isn’t Pretty [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - January 6 [PaEN]

-- DEP Disapproves Land Recycling Risk Assessment For Dozens Of Chemicals At American Refining Group Refinery In Bradford, McKean County [PaEN]

-- DEP Reviewing Act 2 Cleanup Reports For Trainer Refinery, Delaware County; Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refinery [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 49 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In January 6 PA Bulletin [PaEN]