For years, the Well Done Foundation has had its boots firmly planted on the ground, tackling the silent, creeping threat of orphaned oil and gas wells one at a time. We’ve proven that we can take on the methane issue and permanently seal the wells that leak harmful emissions, contaminate soil, and endanger communities.
Today, we are thrilled to announce an exciting and necessary evolution of our mission: the official launch of the Well Done Marine Division.
The Water Frontier of the Orphan Well Crisis
Our new division is dedicated to extending our well-plugging expertise to combat leaking orphan wells that are submerged in our nation’s bodies of water. These “marine” wells—whether found in rivers, wetlands, or coastlines also pose a dual threat: they leak potent greenhouse gases like methane and toxic hydrocarbons directly into our fragile aquatic ecosystems, and these gases also bubble out and into our atmosphere.The Well Done Marine Division is already responding to two urgent environmental emergencies in the Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. These sites are on our public lands, and they require immediate attention to protect the incredible wildlife and the vital waters of the United States. Our specialized team is already mobilizing and handling the complex logistics of plugging wells under these conditions.
The Vast Need for Marine Action
The need for this specialized work is staggering. The challenge is immense, from the many orphaned wells scattered across the U.S. that are impacting local rivers and reservoirs to the thousands of neglected wells submerged in the Gulf of Mexico. These wells, often relics of early and less regulated drilling, are aging rapidly and present a significant, ticking environmental time bomb for our coastal communities and critical marine habitats.By training our teams in the unique requirements of water-based well-plugging, the Well Done Foundation is stepping up to close a major gap in climate and environmental defense.
How You Can Help the Marine Division
- Donate: Support the highly specialized equipment and training required for these new, complex water-based operations.
- Follow & Share: Help us raise awareness about the marine orphan well crisis, especially in the Gulf of Mexico and other coastal regions.
- Sign up for the Newsletter: Stay updated on our progress at Deep Fork and the launch of future Marine Division projects!