By Charles Kennedy
October 18th, 2025
Commission spokesperson Bryce Dubee confirmed the figure, noting that orphan well numbers fluctuate due to market conditions, such as the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that the agency “aggressively plugs high-risk wells first” under its prioritization system. The Commission typically seals about 1,300 wells annually, though that pace lags behind the number of new wells added to the list each year.
Critics say the backlog has real consequences. “We’re still hearing from people who report leaking wells that the Commission deems not bad enough yet,” said Virginia Palacios, executive director of Commission Shift. “These sites often worsen because the Railroad Commission can’t get to them fast enough.”
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