Well plugging cost: frequently asked questions
Plain-English answers, each taken from the graded data on this site.
How much does it cost to plug an oil well?
In the 7 states with a graded estimate, the median reported cost to plug an oil well ranges from $25,383 in Louisiana to $140,684 in New Mexico. There is no single national figure, because cost differs several-fold between states.
Cost to plug an oil well, by state
How much does it cost to plug a gas well?
In the 5 states with a graded estimate, the median reported cost to plug a gas well ranges from $5,520 in Wyoming to $43,359 in Indiana.
Cost to plug a gas well, by state
What does it cost to plug a well per foot?
In the 3 states with a graded per-foot estimate, the median reported plugging cost runs from $14.75 per foot in Colorado to $47.94 per foot in New Mexico. Per-foot rates fall as wells get deeper.
Which states are cheapest and most expensive?
Among the 9 states with a graded statewide estimate, the lowest median reported cost per well is $5,590 in Wyoming and the highest is $132,792 in New Mexico.
Where do the numbers come from?
From 11,741 costs reported to the US Department of the Interior for wells plugged with federal infrastructure-law funds since late 2022. Only sources whose terms allow commercial use are included, and each state page links to the public records.
What do the grades A and B mean?
A grade says how well a figure held up on wells it was not computed from. Grade A needs 200 or more independent cost observations and a held-out error of 25% or less; grade B needs 60 or more and 40% or less. Anything weaker is shown as insufficient data instead of a number.
Why does my state show insufficient data?
Either there are too few independent cost records, or costs within the state vary too much for one figure to be reliable, or the state reported contract averages instead of a cost for each well. A county or well-type estimate may still be available.
Can I use these figures for a deep or horizontal well?
No. The records are mostly old, shallow, vertical orphan wells plugged under public contracts. They do not describe deep or horizontal wells, or wells plugged by operators.
Do the costs include surface restoration?
It depends on the reporting agency. Some include restoration in the reported cost and some do not, and the source does not always say which.
How do I adjust an older plugging cost for inflation?
Multiply it by the ratio of the Plugging Cost Index values for the two periods. The latest quarterly value is 102.0 for 2026Q2, with 2023 set to 100.
Plugging Cost Index and adjuster
How often is the data updated?
Sources are re-collected monthly and the site is republished only if every check passes. The current data runs through 2026-06-30.
Can I download the data?
Yes. The state estimates and the Cost Index are available as CSV and JSON, free, with a citation line.