Plugging Cost Index
A quarterly index of the cost to plug a well in the United States, holding location and well type constant. Latest: 102.0 for 2026Q2 (2023 = 100).
National index, quarterly
| Quarter | Index | Grade | Wells | Independent obs. | States | Held-out level error |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022Q4 | 96.9 | A | 492 | 305 | 7 | 2.7% |
| 2023Q1 | 93.1 | A | 1,390 | 628 | 14 | 3.0% |
| 2023Q2 | 95.7 | A | 2,122 | 876 | 17 | 2.6% |
| 2023Q3 | 105.0 | A | 1,749 | 916 | 20 | 3.2% |
| 2023Q4 | 106.9 | A | 1,167 | 603 | 18 | 4.2% |
| 2024Q1 | 107.1 | B | 831 | 414 | 15 | 5.5% |
| 2024Q2 | 131.1 | B | 649 | 402 | 14 | 8.9% |
| 2024Q3 | 115.2 | B | 543 | 310 | 16 | 6.1% |
| 2024Q4 | — | Insufficient data | 385 | 204 | 14 | 14.5% |
| 2025Q1 | 95.4 | B | 158 | 101 | 11 | 8.1% |
| 2025Q2 | 100.8 | B | 203 | 121 | 17 | 8.3% |
| 2025Q3 | 96.1 | B | 385 | 254 | 20 | 7.3% |
| 2025Q4 | 108.4 | B | 567 | 415 | 17 | 6.2% |
| 2026Q1 | 111.5 | B | 486 | 356 | 14 | 6.0% |
| 2026Q2 | 102.0 | B | 554 | 396 | 14 | 5.2% |
National index, annual
| Year | Index | Grade | Wells | Independent obs. | States | Held-out level error |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 98.8 | A | 492 | 305 | 7 | 3.4% |
| 2023 | 100.0 | A | 6,428 | 2,942 | 20 | 2.4% |
| 2024 | 111.1 | A | 2,408 | 1,287 | 21 | 1.7% |
| 2025 | 103.5 | A | 1,313 | 861 | 23 | 3.5% |
| 2026 | 106.9 | B | 1,040 | 742 | 16 | 5.5% |
State indexes
State indexes use the same method within one state. Most state periods do not have enough independent observations to grade, and are withheld. Each state series is scaled to its own 2023 level where that year is graded, otherwise to its first period.
| State | Graded annual values |
|---|---|
| Colorado | 2026: 113.1 B |
| Illinois | 2022: 113.1 B, 2023: 100.0 B |
| Indiana | 2023: 100.0 A, 2024: 91.1 B |
| Kentucky | 2022: 123.7 B |
| Louisiana | 2023: 100.0 B |
| Montana | 2023: 100.0 B |
| Nebraska | 2023: 100.0 A, 2024: 104.0 B |
| Oklahoma | 2023: 100.0 B, 2024: 109.9 A |
| Texas | 2022: 90.0 B, 2023: 100.0 A, 2025: 139.3 B, 2026: 130.3 B |
| Wyoming | 2023: 100.0 B, 2024: 93.1 B |
Graded state quarters
| State | Graded quarterly values |
|---|---|
| Illinois | 2022Q4: 112.2 B, 2023Q4: 95.8 B |
| Indiana | 2023Q2: 88.4 B |
| Kentucky | 2022Q4: 123.8 B |
| Louisiana | 2023Q2: 115.1 B |
| Nebraska | 2023Q2: 86.8 B, 2023Q3: 91.1 B |
| Oklahoma | 2023Q2: 99.0 B, 2023Q3: 97.5 A, 2024Q1: 107.6 B, 2024Q2: 114.8 B |
| Texas | 2022Q4: 81.0 B, 2023Q1: 89.8 A, 2023Q2: 93.0 B, 2025Q4: 122.3 B, 2026Q1: 114.8 B |
| Wyoming | 2023Q4: 90.8 B |
Cost per foot
Per-foot figures use only the 4,478 wells (38%) with total depth from a source whose terms allow commercial use. Cost per foot falls steeply with depth, so compare like with like.
| State | Median cost per foot | Typical range | Grade | Wells with depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | — | — | Insufficient data | 11 |
| Arizona | — | — | Insufficient data | 48 |
| Colorado | $14.75 | $6.62 – $55.38 | B | 299 |
| Florida | — | — | Insufficient data | 18 |
| Kansas | — | — | Insufficient data | 2,487 |
| Kentucky | — | — | Insufficient data | 604 |
| Louisiana | $17.47 | $10.84 – $22.19 | A | 560 |
| Mississippi | — | — | Insufficient data | 14 |
| Montana | — | — | Insufficient data | 226 |
| New Mexico | $47.94 | $31.15 – $120.93 | B | 77 |
| New York | — | — | Insufficient data | 24 |
| Ohio | — | — | Insufficient data | 59 |
| Utah | — | — | Insufficient data | 4 |
| Wyoming | — | — | Insufficient data | 47 |
Per-foot index, annual (2023 = 100)
| Year | Index | Grade | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | Insufficient data | 157 |
| 2023 | 100.0 | B | 2,955 |
| 2024 | — | Insufficient data | 742 |
| 2025 | — | Insufficient data | 313 |
| 2026 | 100.9 | B | 302 |
Adjusting a plugging cost estimate for inflation
To restate a plugging cost from one period in the dollars of another, multiply by the ratio of the index values:
cost in period B = cost in period A × index(B) ÷ index(A)
Use graded periods only, and prefer annual values for anything older than a year. The index measures the change in reported cost for a like-for-like well (same location, same well type); it is not a general price index and does not adjust for depth or scope of work. For financial-assurance or asset-retirement work, state the index values, the edition (Q4 2026) and the methodology version (1.1) you used.
Method in brief
The index is a regression of the logarithm of reported cost on location (county where a county has 20 or more wells, otherwise the rest of its state), well type and period. Each independent cost observation counts once, so a contract average shared by many wells does not dominate. The period effects, scaled to 2023 = 100, are the index. Each period is graded by fitting on 80% of observations and measuring how far the fitted level is from the held-out 20% of that period, over five splits. Full detail: methodology.