Orphan Well Carbon Crediting Methodologies: A Review of Quantification Practices and Proposal to Incorporate Leak Forecasting

Payne Institute Energy Finance Lab Director Brad Handler writes about how hastening the plugging of orphan wells in the U.S., for climate, environmental and human health purposes, is encouraging the pursuit of private sources of financing through the voluntary carbon market (VCM).  The largest remaining challenge to the integrity of orphan well crediting methodologies is timing, or when the plugged well would likely have emitted methane.  June 25, 2026.