Marginal Well = A producing well that requires a higher price per barrel of oil or Mcf of natural gas to be worth operating because of low production rates, and/or high production costs from its location, and/or its high co-production of substances that must be separated out and disposed of (like salt water and non-combustible gases mixed with natural gas). On land, this is often, but not always, a stripper well. A marginal well becomes unprofitable to operate whenever oil and gas prices drop below its critical profit point.
Temporary Abandonment = 'Cessation of work on a well pending determination of whether it should be completed as a producer or permanently abandoned.' (Williams & Meyers)
Idle Well = 1) A well that is not producing or injecting, and has received state approval to remain idle; or 2), a well that is not producing or injecting, has not received state approval to remain idle, and for which the operator is known or solvent. (IOGCC)
Plugged and Abandoned = Wells that have had plugging operations during the calendar year. Does not include wells that been plugged back uphole in order to kick the well. This category does not necessarily exclude those with site restoration remaining to be completed.
U.S. STRIPPERS?.......TTIWWOP................oh, wait.............
Has Bill Clinton been notified?
This is good news. A lot of the crappy wells hold acreage at 1/8 royalty. The leasehold will go back to the mineral owners, who can re-lease to a more robust operator that can drill horizontal (eventually).
It is a simple matter to turn off high cost wells when prices get low and to start them back up again when prices go back up.