Abandoned and Orphaned Oil and Natural Gas Wells: Potential Human Exposures

This Research Brief summarizes literature about the potential for releases to the environment and human exposures associated with abandoned and orphaned wells in the United States. Conventional oil and gas wells currently dominate the U.S. inventory of inactive wells and are the primary subject of the literature reviewed here, although more UOGD wells will become inactive over time. It is part of a series of Research Briefs summarizing literature about potential exposures and health effects associated with UOGD.