Oil wells are a major part of America's energy infrastructure. This map displays the location and status of oil wells across the United States, helping users discover active sites, historic drilling zones, and nearby environmental alerts.
What Are Oil Wells?
Oil wells are drilled to extract crude petroleum from underground reservoirs, often found in sedimentary rock formations. Advanced technologies like horizontal drilling and enhanced recovery are used to access deeper or unconventional reserves.
Key Insights:
- More than 1 million oil wells have been drilled in the U.S., with dense activity in Texas, North Dakota, and California.
- Texas alone has over 500,000 registered wells, including many aging or abandoned sites.
- The U.S. remains one of the top oil producers globally, thanks to shale plays like the Permian Basin and Bakken Formation.
Environmental & Health Concerns from Oil Wells
- Soil and Water Contamination: Oil spills, brine leaks, and casing failures can release hydrocarbons and toxic drilling fluids into groundwater aquifers. In states like Oklahoma and Texas, spills are often associated with aging infrastructure or poor maintenance practices.
- Flaring and Air Quality: Flaring of excess gas emits CO₂, methane, black carbon, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), leading to smog formation and contributing to climate change. Residents near oil fields in the Permian Basin report increased asthma rates and respiratory issues.
- Earthquake Risk from Injection Wells: In regions like Oklahoma and West Texas, disposal of oilfield wastewater into deep injection wells has been scientifically linked to increased seismic activity.
- Health Hazards: Communities near dense drilling zones have reported elevated rates of birth defects, cancer, and neurological disorders due to chronic exposure to benzene and hydrogen sulfide.
- Abandoned Wells: Over 2 million abandoned and orphaned oil wells exist in the U.S., many of which are undocumented. These can leak methane or collapse, posing environmental and physical hazards.
- Noise and Light Pollution: Around-the-clock operations generate industrial noise and light, which disrupt wildlife patterns and reduce quality of life for nearby residents, especially in rural oil-rich areas.
Regions with the Most Oil Well Hazards
- Texas – Permian Basin: The largest concentration of oil wells in the U.S. with ongoing issues related to flaring, groundwater depletion, and abandoned well management. Midland and Odessa are especially affected.
- California – Kern County: Home to the largest oil fields in the western U.S., such as the Midway-Sunset and Kern River fields. Air quality in Bakersfield ranks among the worst in the nation due to drilling-related emissions.
- North Dakota – Bakken Shale: Rapid shale development has caused spills, gas flaring, and increased demand on limited water resources. Winter spills often go unnoticed under snow cover.
- Oklahoma – Anadarko Basin: Wastewater injection wells in this region have been tied to a dramatic rise in human-induced earthquakes, including a magnitude 5.8 event in Pawnee in 2016.
- Louisiana – Gulf Coast Region: Wetland degradation and saltwater intrusion are linked to legacy oil and gas canals. Offshore oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico, like Deepwater Horizon, remain a serious regional threat.
- Colorado – Denver-Julesburg Basin: Increasing oil drilling near suburban neighborhoods has triggered health complaints and raised concerns about school proximity to active well pads.
Oil Well Regulations
Oil drilling is regulated by state agencies and federal bodies like the EPA and BLM. Rules vary by state, but typically include well spacing requirements, emergency response plans, and decommissioning guidelines for end-of-life wells.
Resources
Conclusion
Oil remains a dominant energy source, but also brings local and global challenges. Use this interactive map to investigate nearby oil wells, track industry activity, and stay informed about environmental risks in your area.
