After successful trials using drones to discover abandoned oil and gas wells, Ohio authorities are looking to expand their use and to speed up remediation at hundreds of sites across the state. Ohio has roughly 1,000 sites on its orphan well inventory.

Is there oil under Ohio?

Most of Ohio’s oil reserves are located in northwestern and eastern parts of the state, with the largest concentrations being located south of Toledo. As of 1950, oil companies guessed that the equivalent of another twenty-eight million barrels of oil remained under Ohio’s surface.

How much oil is produced in Ohio?

Cumulatively, Ohio’s petroleum industry has produced more than 1 billion BBL of oil and 9 trillion CF of natural gas since 1860. Commercial quantities of oil and gas have been found in 69 of Ohio’s 88 counties; however, most current production is from the eastern third of the state.

How do you get abandoned wells?

Clues to the location of these wells include:

1. Pipes sticking out of the ground.
2. Small buildings that may have been a well house.
3. Depressions in the ground.
4. The presence of concrete vaults or pits (perhaps covered by lumber or metal plates)
5. Out-of-use windmills (wind pumps) are likely to be located near an old well.

Where was oil first discovered in Ohio?

Ohio lays claim to the first discovery of oil from a drilled well, when in 1814, Silas Thorla and Robert McKee, two saltwater well drillers discovered unwanted oil at a reported depth of 200 feet, along Duck Creek in Noble County. The well was drilled using the spring pole method.

Is Ohio rich in oil?

The petroleum industry in Ohio dates from 1859. Ohio continues to produce significant quantities of oil and gas, having produced more than 1 billion barrels of oil and 9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas since 1860. Unconventional resources, primarily in eastern Ohio, are likely to increase production in Ohio.

What happens to old fracking wells?

After completion, a well can produce for as long as 20 to 40 years–providing energy and long-term revenue to governments and mineral owners and sustaining local jobs. The drilling rig and related equipment are only temporary and are removed when the well is finished.

What is an orphaned oil well?

Orphaned oil and gas wells are abandoned wells for which the cost of environmental impacts usually falls on governments and the general public. Government agencies responsible for well plugging often face funding shortfalls and many orphaned wells remain unplugged.

How to find an oil and gas well in Ohio?

Ohio Oil & Gas Well Database. The Division has revised several of its online search tools related to the oil and gas well database and features expanded search capabilities. This online search is linked directly to the Risk Based Data Management System (RBDMS) database, therefore a search always yields the most current well information.

Do you have to report oil and gas production in Ohio?

Oil and gas operators are required by Ohio law to report production of oil, natural gas, and brine to the Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management. Horizontal well production must be provided quarterly while vertical well production is required annually.

How do I download oil & gas data by County?

Oil & Gas Data by County is available for download by clicking on the Data tab on the pop-up menu. Users may then download the data via a .zip file. Metadata is included with each zip file. The data is provided in a Shapefile format.