Perhaps one million or more of these wells exist across the country, leaking methane, contaminating groundwater and releasing harmful pollution into the air. They’ve been found under homes, schools, retirement communities and convention centers in 27 states, and many of them predate government record-keeping.  

Under the Biden administration, Congress agreed to $4.7 billion in federal funding to tackle this issue. But states need to document the location of wells that need plugging in order to apply for the money.   

In Pennsylvania, the Department of Environmental Protection relied on old paper coal mine and farm maps, university partnerships, outside contractors and volunteers like Kolojejchick to locate unregistered orphaned and abandoned wells. But it was a labor-intensive process, and — without funds to plug all the wells they already knew about, let alone the hundreds of thousands yet to be discovered — it was a low priority for the Commonwealth.

So this fall, the race to find orphan wells in Pennsylvania went high tech, using state-of-the-art drone technology pioneered by the U.S. Department of Energy. (No, these are not the mysterious drones fueling conspiracy theories in New Jersey.)

In an initial run in October — a joint effort between Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Department of Energy, Moms Clean Air Force, McGill University and Environmental Defense Fund — three drones took to the skies in northwest Pennsylvania to hunt for orphan wells.   

The drones fly at an altitude of about 100 feet and are equipped with GPS and advanced magnetic sensors that can detect metal well casings underground. Additionally, the drones are outfitted with methane detectors to identify any emissions from leaking wells.   

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In just two weeks, the team identified 260 possible well sites in eight square miles, including well casings buried 30 feet below ground, which are nearly impossible to detect from ground surveys.   

Now that the sites have been identified, Pennsylvania’s DEP is sending out ground crews to verify the drones’ findings, and teams from the DOE, EDF and McGill University will visit the wells to quantify their methane emissions. The drones will take to the skies again in the spring to survey an additional 12 square miles of land.  

The goal is to create a simple, cost-effective way to map undocumented orphan wells, so that Pennsylvania and states across the country can get the resources they need to finally address this festering climate and public health threat. In addition to climate-polluting methane, wells can leak benzene and other cancer-causing and toxic chemicals into the air, surface water and groundwater.   

“These wells are not just relics of the past; they are ongoing threats to our children’s health,” said Patrice Tomcik, National Field Director for Moms Clean Air Force, who lives in Pennsylvania.  

“It’s not going to get better if we just leave them alone. It can only get worse,” said Peltz.   

Although the incoming Trump administration has threatened to slash funding for environmental programs, Peltz is cautiously optimistic that federal funding for plugging wells will be spared.   

“This funding was passed with bipartisan support, and it helps regular people in states from coast to coast to address a serious health and safety concern, all while creating family-sustaining jobs,” he said.  

Kolojejchick, now 80, says his days of trekking through the woods for hours hunting for undocumented orphan wells are over. But he is excited to see the work continue and that the issue is finally getting the attention and resources it deserves.     

“If you’re my age and grew up in this part of Pennsylvania, you probably used to play on oil and gas drilling equipment,” said Kolojejchick. “It was just part of the landscape, but I’m hopeful we can finally address that toxic legacy and offer kids today something better.”