Guides
Short answers to common questions about plugging costs, 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.
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 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.
Plugging cost by well type
Median reported plugging cost by well type and state: graded estimates for oil wells in 7 states and gas wells in 5 states.
Frequently asked questions
Plain-English answers about sources, grades, limits and adjusting for inflation.
Data downloads
The published state estimates and the Cost Index as CSV and JSON, with a citation line.