Cost to plug an oil or gas well in Texas
Reported costs of publicly funded well plugging in Texas, 2022 to 2026.
Insufficient data
There is no graded statewide estimate for Texas. 1,556 wells are on file, giving 1,322 independent cost observations, and the held-out error of a statewide median was 46%. Estimates for a well type or county are shown below where they pass.
If you hold actual plugging costs for this state, report a plugging cost.
By well type
| Well type | Median per well | Typical range (10th–90th pct.) | Grade | Wells | Held-out error |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas well | — | — | Insufficient data | 323 | — |
| Oil well | — | — | Insufficient data | 1,231 | — |
By depth
Insufficient data No depth data with terms that allow commercial use is available for wells in Texas, so costs by depth band and per foot are not published.
By year plugged
| Year | Median per well | Typical range (10th–90th pct.) | Grade | Wells | Held-out error |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | — | Insufficient data | 145 | — |
| 2023 | — | — | Insufficient data | 597 | — |
| 2024 | — | — | Insufficient data | 203 | — |
| 2025 | — | — | Insufficient data | 386 | — |
| 2026 | — | — | Insufficient data | 225 | — |
Cost index for Texas
| Year | Index (2023 = 100 where 2023 is on file, otherwise first year) | Grade | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 90.0 | B | 145 |
| 2023 | 100.0 | A | 597 |
| 2024 | — | Insufficient data | 203 |
| 2025 | 139.3 | B | 386 |
| 2026 | 130.3 | B | 225 |
Counties with a graded estimate
| County | Median per well | Typical range (10th–90th pct.) | Grade | Wells | Held-out error |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caldwell | $16,471 | $13,803 – $28,277 | B | 168 | 18% |
| Crockett | $24,026 | $17,590 – $44,395 | B | 72 | 27% |
| Hutchinson | $54,160 | $30,317 – $150,000 | B | 79 | 38% |
| Palo Pinto | $24,013 | $17,647 – $33,206 | B | 70 | 15% |
Contractors active
Companies awarded federal contracts for well plugging in this state, from USAspending (federal-land wells only): Clear Creek Energy, LLC.
Receipts
Every figure on this page is computed from public records you can inspect:
- Well-level records for Texas in the US Department of the Interior Orphaned Wells Program Office data layer (well identifier, county, type, reported cost, date).
- Orphaned Wells Program maps and data, US Department of the Interior.
Some figures here are withheld because the data is too thin to grade. If you hold actual plugging costs, report a plugging cost. Reports are reviewed before any use.