Texas is accepting applications from oil and gas operators seeking federal grants to permanently plug and abandon marginal wells. The Texas Voluntary Marginal Conventional Well Plugging Program, funded with more than $100 million from the federal Inflation Reduction Act's Methane Emissions Reduction Program, aims to reduce methane emissions and air pollution from aging, low-producing wells.
Eligible wells must be onshore in Texas and produce no more than 15 barrels of oil equivalent per day or 90,000 cubic feet of gas per day annually. Wells must be vertical, previously unplugged, and have a known owner or operator, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Eligible applicants include individuals, corporations, state and local governments, and other legal entities. Applications will be accepted until November 9, 2026, at 5 p.m. CST, with wells selected on a competitive basis.
The program's goal is to reduce harmful air emissions and pollutants by permanently plugging and abandoning marginal conventional wells. More information and application instructions are available on the TxMCW website, or applicants can contact the program at 512-239-4950 or TxMCW@tceq.texas.gov.