Oil and gas bonding is problematic because of the boom-and-bust nature of the industry. States like Colorado and Wyoming face a reclamation crisis because of insufficient bonds, coupled with bankrupt oil and gas companies. In the face of insufficient bonding for cleanup, landowners must deal with abandoned wells on their property, and taxpayers are often on the hook for millions of dollars of cleanup costs. Learn more about state bonding requirements here.
Below are stories about oil and gas well bonding and reclamation.