Addressing Orphan Oil and Gas Wells: A Path Towards Environmental Restoration and Justice
by Clement Lau
Orphan oil and gas wells—abandoned wells with no known responsible party—present a significant challenge for communities across the U.S., particularly in regions with a history of oil and gas production. These wells, scattered by the tens of thousands nationwide, pose serious environmental, health, and safety risks. For parks and recreation professionals, this challenge also represents an opportunity: transforming these hazardous sites into safe, healthy, and accessible parks and public spaces for the benefit of communities.
As the country transitions toward cleaner energy sources, addressing orphan wells becomes essential to creating healthier environments and promoting environmental justice, particularly in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color that are disproportionately affected by pollution. Converting some of these remediated sites into parks is one way that local governments and community advocates can work together to provide spaces that contribute to the well-being of all residents. Parks and green spaces offer unique benefits by promoting physical and mental health, fostering community connections, and improving environmental resilience through increased biodiversity and carbon sequestration. These spaces also serve as equitable, accessible resources that enhance the quality of life for all, especially in underserved neighborhoods.
The Legacy of Orphan Oil and Gas Wells
The U.S. oil and gas industry, which peaked during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, has left behind a significant number of abandoned wells. Many companies have since gone out of business, leaving these wells unplugged and improperly sealed. Los Angeles County, once a hub of oil and gas production, is home to thousands of such wells, many of which are in densely populated areas. These wells continue to pose serious threats to nearby communities, especially those already burdened by environmental injustices.
In addition to contributing to air and water pollution, orphan wells are responsible for methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas that exacerbates climate change. Residents in affected areas often live with the constant threat of contamination, air pollution, and safety hazards—risks that disproportionately impact historically marginalized neighborhoods. Transforming these sites into community assets such as parks can help reverse some of these environmental injustices, offering a tangible improvement to residents' quality of life.
Health and Environmental Risks of Orphan Wells
Orphan wells pose direct risks to the environment and public health. Methane leaks, for example, trap heat more effectively than carbon dioxide, accelerating the effects of climate change. Additionally, these wells may cause groundwater contamination, introducing harmful chemicals like benzene and toluene into drinking water sources. In regions like Los Angeles County, where air pollution and extreme heat are already pressing concerns, the need to address the ongoing environmental risks of orphan wells is urgent.
The health and well-being of the community should be a top priority for policymakers. Addressing orphaned wells must be a key component of efforts to improve public health. Many of the residents living near these wells—particularly children and the elderly—are at an increased risk of respiratory and neurological problems due to long-term exposure to pollutants. The opportunity to repurpose these dangerous sites into parks would not only help mitigate these health risks but also offer a space for physical activity, mental well-being, and community engagement.
Policy and Remediation Efforts
Addressing orphan oil and gas wells requires coordinated efforts between local, state, and federal agencies. Recent legislative actions in states like California have aimed to hold companies accountable for plugging abandoned wells. The federal government has also stepped in, with the Biden administration allocating funds to remediate orphan wells as part of a broader effort to reduce methane emissions and create jobs in the process. However, the scope of the problem remains vast, with tens of thousands of wells scattered across the country and high remediation costs.
For communities, the key is to ensure that these cleanup efforts translate into meaningful change at the local level. Remediating orphan wells can pave the way for the creation of much-needed green spaces, particularly in underserved neighborhoods. By working together with environmental agencies, community members, and policymakers, parks and recreation departments can play a vital role in shaping the future of these sites, turning former industrial hazards into areas that benefit public health and environmental sustainability.
Repurposing Orphan Well Sites for Public Parks and Green Space
Restoring and regenerating orphan oil and gas well sites into parks and recreational areas offers a promising opportunity to address both environmental challenges and inequities in public space access. Many of the communities near these wells already suffer from a lack of green space, contributing to poorer health outcomes and lower quality of life. By focusing on park creation, we can make a real impact on environmental justice.
For example, some remediated orphan well sites in L.A. County can be repurposed for urban parks, playgrounds, or community gardens, providing safe spaces for residents to gather, exercise, and relax. This concept aligns with the goals of a "just transition"—ensuring that the communities most affected by the decline of fossil fuels are prioritized in recovery and restoration efforts. As many of these neighborhoods face ongoing environmental burdens, the creation of parks can help rectify historical injustices while providing essential services such as cooling areas during extreme heat and improving air quality.
Larger remediated sites may also offer opportunities for innovative projects like renewable energy installations, combining environmental restoration with long-term sustainability goals. This approach not only addresses the legacy of oil and gas extraction but also helps create more resilient, sustainable communities.
Challenges and the Role of Parks and Recreation Professionals
While the idea of transforming orphan well sites into parks is promising, several significant barriers remain. First, remediation costs are high, and available funding often falls short of what is required to fully address the contamination and infrastructure needs. In many cases, local governments may prioritize other urgent community needs, such as affordable housing, public safety, or basic infrastructure improvements, leaving orphaned well sites in limbo. Policymakers and activists must navigate these competing priorities, making the case that converting these sites into green spaces can provide long-term environmental, social, and economic benefits that rival or complement other land uses.
In addition to financial hurdles, there may be competition for the land itself. Redevelopment for commercial or residential purposes can seem more immediately profitable, attracting developers who see potential value in these remediated spaces. These interests may conflict with community desires for green spaces, especially in areas where affordable housing or job creation is seen as a more pressing issue. This dynamic can make it difficult for parks and recreation advocates to secure these lands for park use without a strong, united voice highlighting the long-term public health, environmental justice, and community well-being benefits of parks over other land uses.
Public-private partnerships, while offering a potential solution to the funding gap, also present their own set of challenges. On one hand, such collaborations can bring in much-needed capital, expertise, and resources for remediation and park development. However, these partnerships can also raise concerns about accountability, the privatization of public spaces, and the potential for inequitable outcomes. There may be a tension between private sector goals—such as profit maximization—and the public interest, especially when it comes to ensuring that parks remain accessible, affordable, and aligned with community needs.
Moreover, navigating public-private partnerships requires strong governance structures to maintain transparency, equitable decision-making, and long-term commitments to the community. If not carefully managed, these partnerships can lead to outcomes that prioritize corporate or developer interests over those of local residents, or introduce limitations on the use and accessibility of the space. Parks and recreation professionals, as well as planners and policymakers, must work diligently to balance these dynamics, ensuring that partnerships remain focused on public benefit and that community voices are heard throughout the process.
Conclusion
The challenge of orphan oil and gas wells represents both a serious environmental hazard and a unique opportunity for parks and recreation professionals to make a difference. By transforming some of these hazardous sites into parks and recreational facilities, we can address pressing environmental justice issues while providing much-needed green spaces for communities that have long been underserved. With coordinated action, innovative funding solutions, and community engagement, orphan well remediation can be a catalyst for creating healthier, more equitable, and more sustainable communities for generations to come.
Clement Lau, DPPD, FAICP, is a Senior Analyst with the Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office. He was previously a Departmental Facilities Planner with the County’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
