Oklahoma City, OK — Legislation authored by State Rep. Nick Archer of Elk City recently moved forward in the Oklahoma House.
House Bill 3173, known as the Well Repurposing Act, recently passed out of the House Energy Committee with unanimous support. The measure would allow abandoned and orphaned oil and gas wells to be converted for geothermal energy production or energy storage operations.
The bill directs the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to establish rules governing the conversion process. It defines geothermal development as the use of the earth’s natural heat above 250 degrees Fahrenheit for energy production, excluding oil, hydrocarbon gas and standard building heating or cooling systems. Energy storage is defined as capturing energy for use at a later time.
Under the proposal, the Commission would be authorized to set fees and require financial assurances for wells converted under the act. Wells actively used for energy storage would not be classified as inactive or abandoned. However, if storage activities cease for 12 months or more, the wells would be required to be plugged and abandoned according to existing state law.
Supporters say the measure offers a path to address Oklahoma’s thousands of abandoned and orphaned wells while encouraging new energy development opportunities.
If approved by the Legislature and signed into law, the bill would take effect Nov. 1, 2026.
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