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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. Each cell is the median reported cost per well with its grade; a dash means no records of that type.

StateOil wellGas wellInjection or disposal wellOther or unknown
Colorado$90,824 B
101 wells		Insufficient dataInsufficient dataInsufficient data
Illinois$37,544 A
551 wells		Insufficient data$36,501 B
152 wells		Insufficient data
Indiana$54,863 B
171 wells		$43,359 B
174 wells		Insufficient dataInsufficient data
Kentucky$27,216 B
623 wells		Insufficient dataInsufficient dataInsufficient data
Louisiana$25,383 B
306 wells		$41,139 B
284 wells		—Insufficient data
MontanaInsufficient data$10,382 B
136 wells		Insufficient dataInsufficient data
Nebraska$46,003 B
86 wells		$32,581 B
226 wells		Insufficient data$43,308 B
65 wells
New Mexico$140,684 B
167 wells		Insufficient dataInsufficient data—
WyomingInsufficient data$5,520 B
960 wells		Insufficient data—

Data through 2026-06-30. Sample sizes are the wells behind each figure. Grades come from held-out tests, not in-sample fit: A needs 200+ independent cost observations and a held-out error of 25% or less; B needs 60+ and 40% or less. Anything weaker is shown as Insufficient data. How grading works.

Well type explains less than location. In Indiana, Louisiana and Nebraska, both oil and gas wells are graded, so the two can be compared within one state. Comparing a gas-well figure from one state with an oil-well figure from another mostly compares the states.

Estimate a specific well

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