Recent findings reveal thousands of abandoned and unplugged oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico, posing significant environmental risks. These abandoned offshore oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico may be a ticking time bomb for the environment.
The study published in Nature Energy estimates 14,000 deserted oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico’s waters and the states of Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas. The researchers conducted a cost analysis based on data from more than 80,000 wells drilled in the Gulf, revealing that around 14,000 remain uncapped, with potential environmental damage.
These 14,000 open and uncapped wells in the region urgently require cleaning and plugging with cement to prevent further pollution. The cost of plugging these wells to prevent environmental harm could reach up to $30 billion, according to the study’s findings.
Leaks from these wells can negatively impact marine ecosystems and contribute to methane emissions, requiring costly repairs. Scientists warn that the lack of will and financial resources may hinder efforts to address the abandoned and unplugged wells.
Wells located closer to the shore are more likely to cause damage to coastal ecosystems and release methane compared to deepwater wells. Over 90% of inactive wells are situated in shallow areas, with an estimated cost of $7.6 billion required for their plugging.
Dr. Mark Agerton, the lead author of the study from California University, Davis, emphasizes the potential future environmental and financial risks associated with these wells. Data collected from the US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement reveals that although most wells have been plugged, more than 14,000 inactive wells remain uncapped.
Unplugged oil and gas wells can leak methane, a harmful greenhouse gas that poses risks of asphyxiation and is flammable. Approximately 13,000 of these abandoned and unplugged wells are located in federal or state shallow waters, making them a priority for plugging.
Methane leaks from shallow water infrastructure are likely to reach the surface, potentially causing environmental harm, according to the study’s authors. Previous research highlights that these wells can also contribute to water pollution and release other toxic substances, such as arsenic.
Plugging the wells involves using cement to fill the reservoir and inserting a plug, with the associated cost varying depending on the location and tools required. Deepwater wells in offshore areas present challenges for plugging due to their inaccessibility, requiring expensive technologies like remotely operated vehicles.
Unfortunately, it is unlikely that all wells will be plugged soon, as some operators walk away or transfer ownership, leaving them orphaned. The Biden administration allocated over $4 billion to address abandoned wells, but more funding and action will be necessary to address the Gulf’s idle wells.
Collaboration between researchers and government agencies aims to estimate the methane emissions from these wells and conduct a climate cost-benefit analysis.
Utafiti wa hivi karibuni unaonyesha kuwa kuna visima vya mafuta vingi katika Ghuba ya Mexico ambavyo vimeachwa na kuharibiwa na maji. Mabomba ya mafuta na gesi ya pwani ya Ghuba ya Mexico yanaonekana kuwa hatari kwa mazingira. Utafiti huo uliochapishwa katika jarida la Nature Energy, unakadiria kuwa kuna visima 14,000 vya mafuta na gesi vilivyoachwa katika maji ya Ghuba ya Mexico na katika majimbo ya Alabama, Louisiana na Texas. Watafiti hao walifanya uchambuzi wa gharama kulingana na data kutoka kwa visima zaidi ya 80,000 vilivyopigwa katika Ghuba ya Persian, na kufunua kuwa karibu 14,000 bado hazijapigwa, na uwezekano wa uharibifu wa mazingira. Bwawa la maji la 14,000 ambalo halijafungwa linahitaji kusafishwa na kufungwa kwa saruji ili kuzuia uchafuzi zaidi. Gharama ya kuziba visima hivi ili kuzuia uharibifu wa mazingira inaweza kufikia dola bilioni 30, kulingana na matokeo ya utafiti huo. Uvujaji kutoka visima hivi unaweza kuathiri vibaya mifumo ya ikolojia ya baharini na kuchangia uzalishaji wa methane, ukihitaji ukarabati wa gharama kubwa. Wanasayansi wanahofia kwamba ukosefu wa nia na rasilimali za kifedha unaweza kuzuia jitihada za kushughulikia visima vilivyokatwa na kutozwa. Mabwawa yaliyo karibu na pwani yana uwezekano mkubwa wa kuharibu mazingira ya pwani na kutolewa kwa methane ikilinganishwa na mabwawa ya maji ya kina. Zaidi ya 90% ya visima visivyofanya kazi viko katika maeneo ya chini, na gharama ya takriban $ 7.6 bilioni inahitajika kwa kufungwa kwao. "Daktari Mark Agerton, mwandishi mkuu wa utafiti huo kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha California, Davis, anasisitiza hatari za mazingira na kifedha zinazoweza kutokea wakati ujao zinazohusiana na visima hivi.""" Takwimu zilizokusanywa kutoka kwa Ofisi ya Usalama na Utekelezaji wa Mazingira ya Marekani zinaonyesha kwamba ingawa visima vingi vimefungwa, zaidi ya visima 14,000 visivyofanya kazi bado havijafungwa. Mabomba ya mafuta na gesi yasiyofungwa yanaweza kuvuja metani, gesi hatari ya chafu ambayo husababisha hatari ya kukosa hewa na ni yenye kuwaka moto. Zaidi ya visima 13,000 vilivyoachwa na kufungwa viko katika maji ya chini ya ardhi ya serikali, na hivyo ni muhimu kwa ajili ya kufungwa. Uvujaji wa methane kutoka kwa miundombinu ya maji ya chini ya ardhi unaweza kufikia uso, na uwezekano wa kusababisha madhara ya mazingira, kulingana na waandishi wa utafiti huo. Utafiti wa awali unaonyesha kwamba visima hivyo vinaweza pia kusababisha uchafuzi wa maji na kutokeza vitu vingine vyenye sumu, kama vile arseniki. Kuunganisha visima kunahusisha kutumia saruji kujaza hifadhi na kuingiza plagi, na gharama inayohusiana inatofautiana kulingana na eneo na zana zinazohitajika. Mashua za maji ya kina katika maeneo ya pwani zina changamoto kwa ajili ya plugging kutokana na inaccessibility yao, kuhitaji teknolojia ghali kama vile magari remote operated. Kwa bahati mbaya, ni vigumu kwamba visima vyote vitakuwa vimefungwa hivi karibuni, kwani baadhi ya waendeshaji huondoka au kuhamisha umiliki, wakiwaacha yatima. Serikali ya Biden imeweka zaidi ya dola bilioni 4 kwa ajili ya kuondoa visima vilivyopotea, lakini fedha zaidi na hatua zaidi zinahitajika ili kukabiliana na visima vilivyoachwa katika Ghuba ya Persian. Ushirikiano kati ya watafiti na mashirika ya serikali unakusudia kukadiria uzalishaji wa methane kutoka kwa visima hivi na kufanya uchambuzi wa gharama na faida ya hali ya hewa.