SMRTR Science & EngineeringMay 17, 2026Wired

Old Oil and Gas Wells Could Find Second Life Producing Clean Energy

SMRTR summary

Millions of abandoned oil and gas wells across the U.S. are leaking methane and polluting groundwater, but states like Oklahoma, Alabama, and Colorado are now exploring converting them into geothermal energy sources. Oklahoma alone has 20,000 such wells, costing up to $150,000 each to plug, making repurposing an attractive alternative.

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