Renewable energy production potential of abandoned and orphaned oil and gas wells and sites

Abstract Abandoned and orphaned oil and gas well sites may be repurposed for wind and solar energy, while the wells themselves can be redeveloped for geothermal energy production. We estimate the total number of abandoned and orphaned wells in Canada and the United States to be 3,485,480 of which 4% are orphaned and in need of government funding. When normalized by today’s oil production, the United States has twice the number of abandoned and orphaned wells compared to Canada. Across Canada and the United States, we find more than 15,000 gigawatt of wind capacity and 7 gigawatt of solar capacity at abandoned and orphaned well sites. More than 90% of abandoned and orphaned wells with available depth are better suited for shallow geothermal systems and heating applications, yet deep geothermal is possible at up to 10% of the wells. Repurposing oil and gas wells can help fulfill national energy transition goals and emission reduction targets, while providing an additional funding stream to manage their environmental risks.