Colorado's orphaned wells threaten homes, water supplies
Larimer County residents are facing a silent, growing threat: abandoned oil and gas wells leaching contaminants into their neighborhoods and groundwater. The legacy of Prospect Energy’s 2025 bankruptcy has left dozens of these “orphaned” wells scattered across the county, some disturbingly close to homes, swimming pools, and farms. Now, a $5.2 million grant offers a lifeline to cap these hazards, but the ticking clock underscores the urgency of the situation.
A century of drilling, a modern crisis
The issue isn't new. Many of these wells date back a century, predating modern environmental regulations and establishing a complex web of development around potentially hazardous sites. Matt Sura, special counsel for Larimer County on oil and gas issues, succinctly stated, “Oil and gas development can be done safely. It doesn’t belong in residential areas.” While the county has diligently worked for the past six to seven years to address air and water quality concerns, the sudden closure of Prospect Energy has shifted the responsibility squarely to the state.
The grant, secured through the Energy and Carbon Management Commission, is funded by contributions from oil and gas companies – a mechanism designed to prevent taxpayers from bearing the burden of corporate failures. This proactive measure aims to cap 50 wells in Larimer County, a fraction of the over 1,200 needing attention statewide. But the scale of the problem is stark: 40 wells remain uncapped within the county, with another 10 posing a risk within Fort Collins city limits.
What’s particularly alarming is the proximity of some wells to residential areas. CBS News Colorado investigations revealed wells mere feet from homes and less than 50 yards from neighborhood swimming pools. These uncapped wells release a cocktail of potentially harmful chemicals, including methane and benzene, jeopardizing air quality and, critically, underground water sources. “They range in areas from directly in the neighborhoods to being out on farmer properties,” explained Matthew Lafferty, principal planner for Larimer County. “There are various chemicals that come out of them that could cause air quality issues, especially for people who have asthma.”
The county’s immediate focus is assessing which wells present the greatest risk. The ambitious goal is to have all 50 wells capped by the end of 2028, a timeline that, if achieved, would represent a significant victory for residents. The project promises not only to mitigate immediate health and environmental risks but also to potentially return land to generational owners forced to abandon their properties due to prior drilling activity.
This isn’t simply an environmental cleanup; it’s a restoration of community health and a testament to the state’s willingness to address the long-term consequences of a century of resource extraction. With the grant secured and the work about to begin, Larimer County is demonstrating that even neglected legacies can be confronted, and communities protected.