This webinar hosted by HEI Energy reviewed the current understanding of the scale and location of abandoned and orphaned oil and natural gas wells across the United States, possible human exposures associated with releases to air and water from these wells, and the technology involved with properly abandoning oil and natural gas wells to prevent releases. All speakers addressed the question of research needs to better understand and address exposures related to abandoned and orphaned wells.

The webinar increased understanding of specific UOGD processes that might result in releases to surface water or groundwater and trends in the releases – learning from experience and looking to future changes that can influence human exposure. Releases to water might be authorized under federal or state requirements, while others might result from accidental or unauthorized events.

The webinar explored UOGD processes that might result in noise and how they are managed, state-of-the-practice principles for monitoring noise, and efforts to assess community exposures to noise from UOGD. All speakers addressed questions of research needs to better understand and address noise exposures. The webinar informed policymakers, communities, and others making health-based decisions about UOGD and academics who must factor this information into their study designs to ensure the utility of their human exposure research.

The webinar increased understanding of specific UOGD processes associated with air emissions and trends in the emissions – learning from experience and looking to future changes that can influence human exposure. The webinar informed policymakers, communities, and others making health-based decisions about UOGD and academics who must factor these trends into their study designs to ensure the utility of their human exposure research.