Beneath the surface of modern energy production lies an escalating environmental and public health crisis: zombie wells. These abandoned oil and gas wells, once thought sealed and dormant, are reawakening to spew toxic substances, threatening groundwater, air quality, and the safety of nearby communities. The term “zombie wells” might sound like something out of a horror movie, but the issue is all too real, presenting a critical challenge for regulators, industry leaders, and environmental advocates.
Zombie wells are a byproduct of aging infrastructure in the oil and gas industry. Regulations require operators to seal inactive wells with cement, ensuring they remain safely contained. However, many of these wells were plugged decades ago, using methods and materials that are now failing under new underground pressures. Activities such as wastewater injection, a byproduct of modern hydraulic fracturing (fracking), have increased subterranean pressure, causing old plugs to rupture. When this happens, the wells begin leaking toxic water, crude oil, or even dangerous gases.
In one alarming incident near Toyah, Texas, a geyser erupted from an old well linked to Kinder Morgan, shooting toxic water into the air. This water was laden with salt, benzene, oil, and hydrogen sulfide—a poisonous gas that can be lethal in high concentrations. Such dramatic events are rare, but even less visible leaks pose serious risks. Toxic substances from zombie wells can seep into protected groundwater, potentially contaminating drinking supplies and wreaking havoc on ecosystems.
While zombie wells are often conflated with orphaned wells, the two are distinct problems with overlapping risks. Orphaned wells are abandoned by companies that have gone bankrupt and left uncapped holes in the ground. Zombie wells, by contrast, were initially plugged but have since failed, “coming back to life” to release their dangerous contents. Both, however, underscore the consequences of neglect and inadequate oversight in the energy sector.
The exact number of zombie wells is difficult to determine. Some trickle toxic substances quietly, while others erupt dramatically, as in the Toyah incident. Evidence suggests that these occurrences are becoming more frequent as decades-old infrastructure struggles to withstand modern extraction pressures. For communities near these wells, the risks are undeniable: contaminated water supplies, polluted air, and potential exposure to lethal gases.
Regulators are scrambling to address the growing threat. In Texas, where much of the problem is concentrated, the Railroad Commission has requested over $100 million in additional funding to tackle emergency well-plugging operations and investigate the causes of these failures. The commission also plans to establish a specialized team to study the phenomenon and develop strategies to prevent future incidents. On a federal level, the Environmental Protection Agency has begun reviewing the Railroad Commission’s management of oil and gas wastewater, a process tied to both zombie wells and the increasing frequency of earthquakes in the region.
However, critics argue that these efforts are insufficient. The scale of the problem demands more robust enforcement of regulations, increased funding, and innovations in well-plugging technologies. Advocates stress that addressing zombie wells is not just an environmental issue but also a matter of public health and industry accountability.
One of the leading voices in this fight is Sarah Stogner, a Midland-based oil and gas attorney. Stogner gained national attention during her 2022 campaign for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, where she highlighted the dangers of zombie wells and the regulatory failings that allowed them to proliferate. Although her campaign was unsuccessful, she has continued to advocate for stronger oversight. Partnering with well-control expert Hawk Dunlap, Stogner has documented over 100 leaking wells across West Texas, exposing gaps in the industry’s record-keeping and the limitations of current remediation practices.
Stogner’s work has brought much-needed visibility to the issue, emphasizing the human and environmental costs of neglecting these wells. Her efforts highlight a crucial point: while zombie wells are a relic of past energy production, they are also a stark reminder of the need for accountability and forward-thinking policies in the energy sector.
The fight against zombie wells is far from over. Addressing the issue will require a multi-pronged approach. Regulators must enforce stricter standards for well-plugging and ensure adequate funding for remediation. The industry must take greater responsibility for its aging infrastructure, investing in new technologies and contributing to cleanup funds. Meanwhile, public awareness and advocacy are critical to maintaining pressure on policymakers and industry leaders to act.
Zombie wells may symbolize the ghosts of the energy industry’s past, but they are a present and growing challenge. Left unaddressed, they threaten to undermine not only environmental and public health but also the energy sector’s ability to operate responsibly and sustainably in the future. For now, the question remains: will the industry and regulators rise to the occasion, or will these wells continue to haunt us for years to come?
