Railroad Commission of Texas said in FY2019 it plugged more than 1,700 abandoned wells to exceed the goal set by the Texas legislature. Most operators plug their own wells when they are no longer productive. To protect land and water resources, the commission uses industry fees paid into the Oil and Gas Regulation and Cleanup Fund to plug abandoned wells.
Also, the commission said in FY2019 it assessed and cleaned more than 400 abandoned oilfield sites. This was more than double the goal set by the legislature.