Well Done Foundation (WDF), a national nonprofit whose mission is to plug orphaned oil and gas wells across the United States, has announced a collaboration between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Well Done New Mexico LLC (WDNM) and the Well Done Foundation (WDF), in a groundbreaking effort to restore and conserve critical habitats across four National Wildlife Refuges, including Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge south of Vian.

The initiative will focus on plugging more than 110 or- phaned oil and gas wells and reclaiming the well sites that will protect refuge visitors, subsurface and surface waters, wetlands, protected species, and sensitive natural resources in both the Deep Fork and Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuges in Oklahoma, Hailstone National Wildlife Refuge in Montana, and Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.

“We are humbled and honored to be a part of this critical effort to restore our nation’s precious wildlife refuges,” Curtis Shuck, Founder and Chairman of the Board at WDF, said.

“By collaborating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we’re ensuring that orphaned oil and gas wells are properly and permanently sealed, and the impacted areas reclaimed, protecting not only wildlife habitats but also the public and the surrounding environment.

“This project is an important step in restoring the balance between natural ecosystems and built environments, and we are committed to doing our part for future generations, one well at a time.”

This collaboration will address the safety hazards and environmental risks posed by legacy orphaned oil and gas wells located on refuge lands. WDF will locate documented and undocumented orphan wells, tank batteries, surface structures and product flow lines, survey, permit and establish access, install and maintain erosion and spill control measures.

They will also perform pre- and post-plug methane emissions and water quality testing, remove and dispose of contaminated soil, and plug and abandon orphan oil and gas wells in accordance with state requirements and industry best practices.

According to a press release, that also includes restoring and remediating impacted surface areas and performing annual post plug monitoring, properly plugging and abandoning these orphan wells, and reclaiming affected sites.

This will result in the USFWS and WDF eliminating these risks, protecting both public and private resources, safeguarding wildlife and critical habitats, and enhancing the overall visitor experience at the refuges.

By building upon the WDF’s workforce development, training and volunteer programs, they will be able to engage with other nonprofits, educational institutions and local tribes for internships and new volunteer opportunities to support access, awareness and help enhance public lands.

Since 2019, the WDF has plugged more than 46 high-priority orphan wells in five states.

The plugging of these has eliminated methane emissions measured at over 1.5 million metric tons, making a difference one well at a time.