Osage Nation accelerates orphan well cleanup following federal policy changes

The Osage Nation is accelerating efforts to plug abandoned orphan wells across its territory, Grist reported. A change in federal policy has allowed the tribe to address these abandoned oil wells more quickly, though questions remain over long term responsibility for thousands of unsealed sites. [1]

Fred Beartrack of the tribe's Department of Natural Resources encountered inaccurate historical records while working at Harvest Land Farms, according to Grist. Although official documents indicated that a cement plug covered a specific well, excavation revealed no cement, leaving an open hole down to 2,400 feet that required full cleanup. [1]

The Osage Nation is a federally recognized Native American tribe located in northeastern Oklahoma. The tribe purchased its 1,470,559 acre reservation in the 19th century and retained subsurface mineral rights under United States trust, leading to major oil extraction in the early 20th century. [2][3]