Curtis Shuck, chairman of the Well Done Foundation joined Steve Bakken and Jason Spiess on Townsquare Media Supertalk 1270AM’s Talk of the Town to discuss the new methane regulations, carbon certifications and their recent feature with the Smithsonian Channel (now streaming on Paramount+).
Well Done Foundation (WDF), a national nonprofit whose mission is to plug orphaned oil and gas wells across the United States, recently launched a Qualified Measurement Specialist (QMS) certification program in partnership with Well Done Montana LLC and Ventbuster Instruments available nationwide beginning November 1, 2023.
Orphaned oil and gas wells are estimated to contribute 20-30% of methane leaks in the US, which affect drinking water, harm wildlife, ruin the land, and create flooding risks. Plugging orphaned wells has an immediate impact on the environment and provides instant relief to those affected.
Shuck also comments on the recent methane regulations and how they impact industry and how the Well Done Foundation can help.
Last year, the Well Done Foundation entered into a partnership with Newlight Technologies, which is a biotechnology company producing advanced sustainable materials.
Over 10 years of research and development, Newlight developed a biotechnological process to harness microorganisms found in the ocean to convert greenhouse gas into a meltable energy material found in all living things: a naturally-occurring, biocompatible material that can be used to make fibers and solid parts, and help reduce the flow of carbon and synthetic plastic into the environment.
Following commercialization in 2013, AirCarbon was named “Biomaterial of the Year” by the Nova Institute in 2013, “one of the 100 most technologically significant innovations of the year” by R&D Magazine in 2013, and “Innovation of the Year” by Popular Science in 2014, and received the prestigious EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge award in 2016. Today, Newlight is focused on growth through both internal and licensed production to help fulfill the company’s mission: to protect and improve life by accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable, regenerative materials.
This partnership continues the momentum of corporate sponsors helping plug orphan wells across America. Texas-based distillery Tito’s Handmade Vodka and the Felty Family Challenge recently funded the non-profit’s first well-plugging project of 2022. The well, known as Fenner #2, was installed near Caddo Lake on the Louisiana/Texas border in 1985, and abandoned in 2017.
Before Shuck made his way to the bayou, he and the crew with the Well Done Foundation just completed a plugging in Ohio at the Franciscan Village where residents complained for years about smelling gas in the courtyard of the subsidized senior-living complex in Kamm’s Corners for 11 years.
Although the smell was not constant, at times the leaking gas odor would be so strong that residents enjoying the flowers, benches and statue of St. Francis would have to get up and leave.
According to Shuck, a contractor discovered the well casing in the courtyard during construction on an atrium. Working with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Cleveland Fire Department, management of Franciscan Village and Moore Well Services the collective group of people and organizations banded together to plug the orphan well.
There may have been more than an orphan well discovered too. Shuck explains how state records show the well had been drilled more than a century ago to extract natural gas, but was plugged in the 1950s with a substance called fire clay.
“This was the industry standard at the time,” Shuck said. “However what they found was that what was commonly used by the industry at the time, had cracked and shrunk over time.”
Shuck said this discovery will now be reverse data engineered to see if there are other wells plugged with fireclay. This may impact the number of orphan wells in the nation as well as a number of other variables in the Big Data of oil and gas reclamation.
According to the Well Done Foundation website, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates there are 2.5 million unplugged abandoned wells in the United States. That includes 31 states, emitting 7.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year. They say that is equal to 798 million gallons of gasoline used, 1.54 million passenger vehicles for a year, or 7.85 billion pounds of coal burned.
The Biden administration authorized $4.7 billion nationwide for the plugging of orphan wells. An orphan well has been abandoned and have no registered owner. Abandoned Well typically refers to an unproductive well with a known owner/operator, however in either case, the wells remain uncapped.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Well Done Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate across a range of activities related to reducing emissions and the proper plugging of orphaned or abandoned natural gas and oil wells.
BONUS INTERVIEWS
Click Here: The Crude Life interviews Curtis Shuck, Chairman of the Board, Well Done Foundation regarding a major announcement of a 10-year partnership with Newlight Technologies as well as their four-well-plugging awareness effort.
Click Here: Geoff Gordon-Creed of the Well Done Foundation joined Jason Spiess on The Crude Life and KLXX 1270AM’s Talk of the Town with Steve Bakken to discuss orphan wells, his recent presentation at COP27 and what’s next for for the non profit in 2023.
About WDF’s QMS
Qualified Measurement Specialists are essential in plugging orphan wells, as they are required to measure the methane levels, analyze the surface conditions, and monitor the plugged well long-term to ensure it is no longer contributing hazardous gas into the environment. Whether measuring orphan wells for the state or federal government or to generate carbon offsets, orphan wells must be measured by a QMS before they can be plugged.
"We feel strongly that a safe and well-trained workforce is needed to perform the orphan well methane quantification services needed to keep pace with the industry" say Curtis Shuck, Founder and Chairman of Well Done Foundation. "We have been training 'Carbon Wildcats' for years but are excited to finally offer a formalized certification program and help our QMS students find work as part of our 'Paychecks with a Purpose' Program."
The QMS candidate eligibility requirements include:
Must be over 18 years of age
Candidates must be physically fit and able to walk for long periods of time, lift and carry objects up to 50lbs, as well as climb stairs
Comfortable with being outdoors and working in all types of weather conditions, including rain, snow, and extreme heat or cold
Must communicate effectively
Have excellent problem-solving skills
Strong attention to detail
Practice safety and take precautions to avoid accidents
WDF course curriculum includes a combination of Computer Based Training (CBT), which can be completed remotely and facilitator lead classroom sessions, along with boots on the ground, hands-on, closely supervised field work with real orphaned oil and gas wells, totaling 37.0 hours over 3 days. This is a fast paced, total immersion experience, complete with early mornings, long days and late nights.
Classes will be held regionally, where WDF has resources, equipment, and orphan wells for live training exercises. This training will meet and exceed the requirements for the American Carbon Registry and the Department of Interior's Methane Measurement Guidelines, dated July 2023. Tuition for the WDF QMS Certification Program is set at $4,250 per student, however scholarship opportunities and financial assistance are available. WDF promises that no student will be denied the opportunity to participate in the program due to payment of the tuition.
The schedule of in-person WDF certification classes are below:
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply at www.welldonefoundation.org to receive an information packet and course registration information.
The 'Well Done Foundation' works with farmers and landowners, local and state governments, corporations and not-for-profit organizations to locate abandoned wells, measure and document the CO2 emissions, then plug the wells and restore the surrounding surface area to its original state.
To learn more, click here to visit the website.
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Well Done Foundation Continues Capping Orphan Wells and Educating the Masses about Methane