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Texas inactive wells and SB 1150 Beta

Overview · Open bids · Past awards and price per well · Texas inactive wells (SB 1150)

From September 1, 2027, Texas SB 1150 requires a well that has been inactive more than 15 years and was completed more than 25 years ago to be plugged or returned to production, unless the Railroad Commission grants an extension under a compliance plan.

• 126,554Texas wells shut in or temporarily abandoned
• 46,376of them completed 25+ years ago
• $55,629RRC's average cost per well plugged, 2026

A first screen, not a compliance determination. It uses the status and completion date in the Railroad Commission's well file. SB 1150's 15-year inactivity test needs production history, which this file doesn't carry, so some of these wells won't meet it and some wells without a completion date may. The cost is the RRC's 2026 average state-paid cost per orphan well (IEEFA, from RRC reports); an operator's own cost can be lower or higher.