Plugging Index for methane-reduction projects
Developers and verifiers of orphan-well methane-reduction projects need a documented baseline for what plugging a well costs. Plugging Index publishes one, with its tests.
Where we have estimates today. Statewide estimates for 10 states: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Wyoming. Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas are not yet covered: records are on file, but no statewide estimate passes testing. 4 Texas counties and 2 Oklahoma counties do pass on their own and are included in Pro and in portfolio reports where a well matches; no Kansas county does. Wells in any other state cannot be estimated yet, and a report says so for each of them.
How you would use it
- Look up the reported cost of publicly funded plugging in a state and see how far it can be trusted, as a documented, dated baseline.
- Cite a figure that states its data date, methodology version and limitations.
- Price a list of project wells with a portfolio report: a total with its range, and the wells we cannot estimate, with the reason.
- Read the limits: the records are mostly old, shallow orphan wells, and agencies differ on whether surface restoration is included.
Which product
The estimator and the state figures are free. A portfolio report prices a project's whole well list; an analyst-reviewed report adds a written basis and appendix. We make no statement about the rules of any particular credit or offset program.
Services: a portfolio liability report for a project's wells, and an analyst-reviewed report with a written basis and methodology appendix.