Plugging Index for regulators
Budget a plugging program, and test bond and financial-assurance amounts, against what publicly funded plugging has cost.
Where we have estimates today. Statewide estimates for 9 states: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, 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
- See the median and typical range of plugging cost for each state with a reliable figure, and how it has moved since 2023.
- Compare bond and financial-assurance amounts with reported costs by state, and by county or well type in Pro.
- Restate older figures in current dollars with the Plugging Cost Index.
- Read exactly how each figure was tested, and which states are withheld because the data is too thin.
Which product
State medians, the index and the methodology are free. County and well-type detail is part of Pro. Bulk data, programmatic access and redistribution need a data licence, from $10,000 a year.