JEFFERSON CITY, MO. – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded four contracts totaling more than $3 million to locate and assess approximately 1,900 abandoned oil and gas wells in western Missouri. Most of these wells are located near Kansas City in Jackson and Cass counties.
“While no evidence suggests the state’s groundwater or surface water is being affected by these abandoned wells, taking a proactive approach to plug them is the best option to protect our state’s natural resources and avoid any potential pollution,” said State Geologist and Missouri Geological Survey Director Carey Bridges. “Locating and assessing these wells is the first step in understanding any potential health and human safety impacts, and to prevent any losses to our state’s energy reserves.”
Abandoned wells can pose a hazard to human health and safety by potentially leaking oil into surface and subsurface waters. Inventorying and assessing these wells for potential future plugging will help reduce impacts to the environment and ensure beneficial future use of these sites.
Citizens may report abandoned wells to MoDNR through our online Report an Environmental Concern form, by calling the department at 573-368-2165 or emailing oilandgas@dnr.mo.gov.
Visit dnr.mo.gov/land-geology/hazards/abandoned-wells to submit a Report an Environmental Concern form or for more information.