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To: Figment

Every time I see the reference to “capped wells” at this forum, I cringe.

That’s not the terminology in the oil business. Unused wells are either “plugged” or “temporarily abandoned”.

Plugged usually means pumping a few tons of concrete into them, while temporarily abandoned means setting bridge plugs at various depths. Most states limit the amount of time you can keep a well temporarily abandoned.

The notion that there are thousands of “capped” wells which would magically produce a bunch of oil if only they were “uncapped” is simply wrong. While it is certainly possible to re-enter an abandoned well and attempt something new, there are limitations depending on well design and the condition of the downhole equipment.

No oil company is keeping a “capped” well capable of producing oil in anticipation of the White House suggesting that they “uncap” it.


23 posted on 07/06/2008 1:17:49 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Dog Gone
“Plugged usually means pumping a few tons of concrete into them, while temporarily abandoned means setting bridge plugs at various depths. Most states limit the amount of time you can keep a well temporarily abandoned”

Exactly. If wells were simply capped as many think of the term, our aquifers would be severely contaminated with leaked crude oil

62 posted on 07/07/2008 4:21:26 PM PDT by Figment ("A communist is someone who reads Marx.An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx" R Reagan)
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