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RRC Project in Refugio County First to Take Advantage of Federal Orphan Well Funding

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RRC Growing Following Expansion of Duties New Rule Prioritizes Natural Gas Supplies for Weather Emergencies                          10 Natural Gas Suppliers Began Reporting Critical Designations in January                        12 Map of Critical Infrastructure for State’s Electricity Supply Adopted                           14 Texas Pursuing Primacy of Class VI Injection Wells for CO2 Storage                           16

RRC Growing Following Expansion of Duties New Rule Prioritizes Natural Gas Supplies for Weather Emergencies                          10 Natural Gas Suppliers Began Reporting Critical Designations in January                        12 Map of Critical Infrastructure for State’s Electricity Supply Adopted                           14 Texas Pursuing Primacy of Class VI Injection Wells for CO2 Storage                           16

RRC was able to quickly take advantage of federal funding to plug orphaned wells Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.In fact, the agency was the first in the country to begin such work in midOctober with the plugging of an abandoned gas well in Refugio County in South Texas, which was completed on the 18th. The RRC anticipates the initial grant will be used to plug approximately 800 abandoned wells in FY 2023. These would be in addition to 1,000 wells the agency anticipates will be plugged this fiscal year by the successful State Managed Plugging Program (SMP), using industry fee and fine revenue from the Oil and Gas Regulatory and Cleanup Fund. “The RRC’s success and expertise with SMP was instrumental in quickly standing up the plugging project using federal funds,” said Clay Woodul, RRC Assistant Director of the Oil and Gas Division for Field Operations. “Our established workplans and contracting will continue to help ensure neighborhoods and the environment across Texas are kept safe through our well plugging work.” The RRC has a web page on the federal grant funds for abandoned oil and gas well plugging. That page also includes information on the wells being plugged.

VIEW THE FEDERALLY FUNDED WELL PLUGGING PAGE

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The Railroad Commission of Texas' 2022 Year in Review