Chautauqua County, KS oil and gas wells
15,469 wells: 2,227 active, 7,350 plugged, 506 orphaned, run by 412 operators.
Chautauqua County, KS ranks #10 among Kansas counties by wells on record, with 3% of the state's 519,691 wells. 2,227 of its wells (14%) are active, below the statewide share of 21%. Another 1,398 are shut in or temporarily abandoned. 506 wells are flagged as orphaned, with no responsible operator. Of the 12,002 wells here with a type on record, 64% are oil wells, 17% dry holes and 12% disposal or injection wells. Drilling records here go back to 1864. Of the 5,953 wells with a drilling date, 209 (4%) were drilled in 2016 or later, the most recent in 2026. 477 wells are listed as permitted or being drilled. 1,645 wells have been plugged since 2016. Wells with a recorded depth average 1,377 ft. 412 operators have wells here. The largest by active wells is Kansas Energy Company, L.L.C., with 209 active (9% of the county's active wells).
Figures from the Kansas Geological Survey, updated 2026-10-09.
Top operators in Chautauqua
| Operator | Active | Wells here |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Energy Company, L.L.C. | 209 | 862 |
| Jones Oil Exploration, LLC | 171 | 287 |
| Jones & Buck Development, LLC | 129 | 266 |
| Keen Oil Co | 119 | 152 |
| Elmore, John A. and Patricia R. | 105 | 378 |
| Shamball Oil | 79 | 156 |
| Reata Petroleum LLC | 64 | 97 |
| Bull Oil Company, LLC | 49 | 65 |
| Roberts, Randy | 46 | 51 |
| Z & L Oil LLC | 41 | 45 |
| R. D. Energy, Inc. | 37 | 72 |
| Lone Wolf Oil & Gas Co., LLC | 34 | 45 |
| Vesa Enterprises LLC | 31 | 31 |
| Finney Oil Company | 30 | 35 |
| Little Chief Energy Corporation | 27 | 86 |
| Buck, Paul Jordan | 26 | 58 |
| Patteson, Thomas Wade | 26 | 29 |
| VanRoyen Oil and Gas, L.L.C. | 26 | 29 |
| Hummingbird Oil, LLC | 26 | 27 |
| Speedy Well Service | 25 | 234 |
| Wildcat Energy, Inc. | 22 | 46 |
| TDOT Oil, Inc. | 20 | 49 |
| Summer Sun Gas, Inc. | 20 | 27 |
| Beye Family Enterprises, LLC | 20 | 20 |
| Darnall, Eric W | 19 | 25 |
Wells
Not plugged · All wells · Plugged · Orphaned
| Well | API / ID | Status | Type | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. L. Hartzell 22? | 1044005141 | Status not reported | Oil | — |
| A. L. Hartzell 23 | 1044005143 | Status not reported | Oil | — |
| A. L. Hartzell 24 | 1044005145 | Status not reported | Oil | — |
| A. L. KIRKPATRICK 1 | 15-019-21392 | Plugged | Oil | 🔒 Sign in free |
| A. L. KIRKPATRICK 4 | 15-019-21515 | Plugged | Oil | 🔒 Sign in free |
| A. L. KIRKPATRICK 3 | 15-019-21516 | Plugged | Oil | 🔒 Sign in free |
| A. L. KIRKPATRICK 4 | 15-019-21517 | Plugged | Oil | 🔒 Sign in free |
| A. L. KIRKPATRICK 6 | 15-019-22297 | Plugged | Oil | 🔒 Sign in free |
| A. L. KIRKPATRICK 7 | 15-019-22301 | Cancelled / expired | Unknown | — |
| A. L. KIRKPATRICK 8 | 15-019-22315 | Plugged | Oil | 🔒 Sign in free |
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Chautauqua County, KS well questions
How many oil and gas wells are in Chautauqua County, KS?
15,469 wells are on record: 2,227 active, 1,398 shut in or temporarily abandoned and 7,350 plugged, with 506 flagged orphaned.
Who operates the most wells in Chautauqua County, KS?
Kansas Energy Company, L.L.C., with 209 active wells and 862 wells on record here. The table above lists the top operators.
Are new wells still being drilled in Chautauqua County, KS?
Yes. 209 wells were drilled in 2016 or later, the most recent in 2026, and 477 more are permitted or being drilled.