The Osage Nation’s Effort to Clean Up Abandoned Oil Wells

The Osage Nation is undertaking a large-scale effort to identify and plug orphaned and abandoned oil wells across its reservation in Oklahoma, addressing environmental hazards left behind after decades of oil production. With over $19 million in federal grant funding, the Nation’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has verified thousands of well records and begun sealing wells that pose risks to groundwater and air quality. These wells often leak methane and saltwater, contaminating aquifers and damaging ecosystems, including areas marked by brine scars where native grasses can no longer grow.

Responsibility for cleaning up the wells is unclear. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), oil producers, and tribal authorities all play roles, but none claim full accountability. As reported by Allison Herrera, this ambiguity has caused tension between the Osage Nation and the Osage Minerals Council, which previously led its own plugging program. While the Minerals Council has voiced concerns that viable wells could be prematurely decommissioned, the DNR insists that careful checks are in place to ensure only nonproductive wells are sealed. Permitting delays and legal complexities have also slowed progress.

Beyond plugging wells, the DNR is also working to remediate contaminated land and restore environmental integrity. The long-term goal is to protect Osage resources and attract new, responsible producers to invest in the reservation’s oil fields. For many in the Nation, including longtime oilman-turned-field inspector James DeRoin, the effort is deeply personal—a full-circle journey from extraction to restoration.

Although only a small fraction of the estimated orphaned wells have been plugged so far, the effort reflects a broader vision of healing the land, safeguarding public health, and reclaiming sovereignty over Osage territory. The task is daunting, but as team members emphasize, it all begins with cleaning up what was left behind.