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LOCAL OKLAHOMA CITY COMPANY AWARDED CONTRACT TO PLUG ORPHANED WELLS

AT DEEP FORK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Red Dirt Energy, LLC to plug orphaned oil wells, remove environmental pollution

OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 15, 2023) — Red Dirt Energy, LLC (RDE), a locally-owned oil and gas service company in Oklahoma City, was recently awarded a contract to plug approximately 21 orphaned and abandoned oil wells at Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge (Deep Fork NWR). This contract is a part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which is providing long-term funding to plug and cap orphaned oil and gas wells on national wildlife refuges and reclaim the sites to eliminate environmental and public safety hazards.

 “Orphaned wells have been a persistent problem for the refuge — their presence is holding us back from cleaning up old contaminant sites and returning habitats to their natural state,” Deep Fork NWR Manager Todd Gallion said. “Capping these wells will benefit native species and improve hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing for visitors to the refuge. Basically, addressing this problem means that we can reclaim the land for everyone’s benefit.”

 These orphan wells have long been a cause for concern due to the threats they pose to both the community and the environment. In a state of disrepair, orphaned wells can leak hydrocarbons, methane and contaminated brine, posing a threat to human health. According to a 2021 report by the Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission, Oklahoma has an estimated 123,772 orphaned wells.

 “We recognize the urgency of addressing the environmental pollution caused by these abandoned wells and the responsibility we hold towards the health and safety of our communities,” RDE Chief Operations Officer Scott St. John said. “By ensuring the restoration of Deep Fork’s ecosystem, we help remediate environmental harms and advance long overdue environmental justice.”

Orphan well capping is a comprehensive solution that involves plugging the wells to prevent further contamination and then sealing them below the surface. The process not only protects the environment, but eliminates the risk posed to humans and wildlife by rusted surface equipment.

 To learn more about Red Dirt Energy, LLC and its work in sustainability and environmental protection, visit reddirtenergy.net.

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 About Red Dirt Energy, LLC

Red Dirt Energy, LLC is an oil and gas service company located in Oklahoma City. Through services such as reducing emissions through methane testing and mitigation, restoring the land for new projects through plugging and remediation and monetizing remediation through carbon credits, Red Dirt Energy provides the energy industry with expertise, experience, integrity and technology. To learn more about Red Dirt Energy, LLC and its work in sustainability and environmental protection, visit reddirtenergy.net.