On April 17, 2017, a house in Firestone, Colorado, exploded, killing a resident and a plumber working inside [1]. Federal investigators traced the gas to a well about 170 feet away, through a pipeline a former operator had not abandoned, most likely severed during construction [1]. The Board also faulted approving homes beside production fields without complete records of where those lines ran [1].
A 2025 federal report cites the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission’s count of over 141,000 documented orphaned wells on state and private land [2].
Questions “frequently arise when owners of residential property in suburban and rural areas discover” oil and gas work nearby, Texas’s regulator says [3]. A search for “oil wells near me” means checking public records for recorded oil and gas wells around an address, producing, idle, plugged or orphaned. The trouble is that each state keeps those records in its own agency, and each agency’s map covers the wells in its own state. On one Arlington, Texas pad, a well’s underground leg ends about 5,600 feet from the spot you can see [4].
This guide is for homeowners and home buyers with no background in oil and gas records. First, it shows the wells around your address or ZIP code in TetraSoft Atlas, our subscription map of public well records. Next come each state’s free official well maps, searched one state at a time, then what to do if you find an abandoned well. Last come answers on setbacks, safety and responsibility.
Quick Answer: Open TetraSoft Atlas, our subscription platform, zoom to your street and switch to satellite: the recorded wells around it appear over the imagery [4]. Outside Pennsylvania and West Virginia, each symbol also shows the well’s status [4]. Click one to see who operates it and, outside Oklahoma, what it has produced [4]. In Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania, Atlas shows the state’s inspections of each well; it maps nearby orphan wells in seven states, not West Virginia [4].
How to See the Wells Around Your Home in TetraSoft Atlas
Zoom TetraSoft Atlas to your neighborhood, switch to satellite, and each well appears over the rooftops around it [4]. Atlas maps the recorded wells of eight states, which produced 68 percent of US crude oil and 83 percent of US marketed gas in 2025 [5]. We plan to expand Atlas to every US state [4]. Outside Pennsylvania and West Virginia, its symbol shows its status at a glance, so a producing well reads apart from a plugged one [4].
214 recorded wells within 2 miles of the center of ZIP 43725 in Cambridge, Ohio, and two producing wells opened on satellite imagery. Try it free for 7 days. [4]
Click a well to open its record beside the map: its operator and, outside Oklahoma, its production history, with Texas oil lease totals split evenly [4]. That history answers what a homeowner really wants to know: is the well still producing, or has it stopped?
An idle, unplugged well deserves the closest look. Any organization operating wells under the Railroad Commission’s jurisdiction must keep a current Form P-5, its Organization Report [6]. Texas counts a well as orphaned once it sits inactive 12 months and its operator’s P-5 is delinquent over 12 months [7]. In Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania, the record also lists each state inspection of the well [4].
Take an Arlington, Texas drilling pad, where BKV North Texas, LLC operates the well the state record lists as EDEN SOUTHWEST UNIT 4H [4]. The pad lists 18 API numbers: 12 Barnett Shale gas wells, four permitted locations, and two absent from the state’s well map [4]. The 4H well produced 803,051 Mcf of gas in 2014 and 92,202 Mcf in 2025 [4]. State inspectors visited it five times from 2015 to 2023 [4].
An Arlington, Texas drilling pad, with straight lines to the bottom-hole points of 12 gas wells and four permitted locations, then one well’s record. [4]
Find the Recorded Wells Within a Radius of Your Address
In all eight of its states, Atlas can start from your address instead of the map. Type an address, ZIP code or coordinates into Wells Near an Address, and choose a radius of 0.5, 1, 2 or 5 miles. Atlas counts every well inside it on record with the state’s oil and gas agency, such as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) [4]. It splits the count into producing, plugged and other, and lists the nearest 25 wells, closest first [4].
Switch to satellite and click any of them to open its record [4].
See Whether a Horizontal Well Runs Under Your Street
In Texas, Oklahoma and Wyoming, turn on the bottom-hole lines in TetraSoft Atlas: each runs straight from a well’s pad to where it ends underground [4]. A horizontal well does not stay under its pad: it turns sideways deep underground and can end thousands of feet away [4]. On the Arlington pad, Atlas draws lateral lines for 16 well records: 12 gas wells and four permitted locations [4]. The longest ends about 5,600 feet from the pad, more than a mile away [4].
Click the well dot on the pad, where each line starts, to see who operates it [4].
A horizontal well’s surface pad is not where it produces: each straight line joins the pad to where that wellbore ends, not its drilled path. [4]
That matters because of how Texas splits land ownership. In many parts of Texas, the minerals under a lot are commonly owned separately from the house on top of it [3]. Seeing the wells beneath you, and who runs them, is where the next questions start. Do you own those minerals, and what is being produced from them?
Check for Orphan Wells Around Your Home
Switch on TetraSoft Atlas’s orphan well layer to see documented orphan wells around your home in seven states, not West Virginia [4].
An orphan well is an abandoned well that has not been properly plugged and has no company left responsible for it [8]. Federal reviewers say orphaned wells, recorded or not, “provide uncontrolled pathways for methane and other substances to migrate upwards towards the surface.” [9] Pennsylvania’s agency says old wells have been found during landscaping and construction, and within the foundations and basements of homes [10].
Old abandoned wells can also carry gas that starts somewhere else. In January 2001, gas leaking from an underground storage well erupted in Hutchinson, Kansas, through old salt-solution brine wells, not oil or gas wells [11]. Some of those brine wells had been drilled as long ago as the 1880s [11]. The next day, gas exploded under a mobile home in town, and both residents died of their injuries [11].
The layer sits in the left panel [4]. Zoomed to your area, they appear alongside the other mapped wells, so you can spot a recorded orphan two streets over before closing [4]. For how New Mexico sorts inactive wells into temporarily abandoned, plugged and orphaned, see Abandoned Gas Wells: What They Are and Where to Find Them.
Check the Official State Well Map for Free
Colorado, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming each publish a free well map or app, and at least six accept addresses [12]. Each map shows the wells on record with that state’s regulator, so wells it never recorded are missing. In Texas, for example, the Commission’s viewer shows where a well is, while production sits in separate files [13]. Each map also covers its own state’s wells, so a property near a state line means checking both states’ maps.
The table lists each state’s map, what it can search, and where to report an abandoned well [12]. The Regulator column names the agency that keeps each state’s well records, with the initials the rest of the table uses. Two maps carry GIS in their names: a geographic information system, a computer system that analyzes and displays location-based information [14].
| State | Regulator | Official well map | Address search | Report an abandoned well |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) | ECMC GIS Online Map | Yes | ECMC complaint form, (303) 894-2100 |
| New Mexico | Oil Conservation Division (OCD) | OCD Oil and Gas Map | Yes; Near Me tool | OCD, (505) 629-6116; after hours (505) 320-0243 north, (505) 670-8745 south |
| Ohio | Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) | ODNR Oil & Gas Well Locator | Yes | ODNR orphan well report form, (330) 308-0007 |
| Oklahoma | Corporation Commission (OCC) | OCC Well Data Finder | Yes | OCC complaint form, (405) 521-2331 |
| Pennsylvania | Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) | PA Oil and Gas Mapping | Yes | DEP Report an Abandoned Well form |
| Texas | Railroad Commission (RRC) | RRC Public GIS Viewer | Yes | RRC Oil & Gas district office; 844-773-0305 for leaks |
| West Virginia | Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) | WVDEP well map | Not documented | WVDEP Orphaned Well Reporting Form, (304) 926-0499 |
| Wyoming | Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (WOGCC) | WOGCC WellFinder app | Not documented | No online form; call WOGCC, (307) 234-7147 |
Each well carries an API number, an identifier its state or federal regulatory agency assigns [15]. The American Petroleum Institute created the standard; since 2010, the Professional Petroleum Data Management (PPDM) Association has kept it as the US Well Number [16].
Whichever map you use, note each nearby well’s API number as well as its position. That number ties together its permit, completion and plugging records, as the API Well Number Lookup: What It Is and How to Read One guide explains. In Texas, production is filed by lease [13]. Note the lease name too.
Why a Well’s Map Point Is Only Approximate
A mapped well is a starting point for older wells, not a surveyed location. Ohio’s agency says its well data “are derived from multiple sources and the locational quality may be varied.” [17]
West Virginia’s agency says it “does not guarantee accuracy, precision, or completeness.” [12]
On a small lot, confirm a well’s position against survey plats and on the ground. The Oil Well Locations: Where to Find Them and What They Mean guide shows how far a horizontal well’s surface point can sit from where it produces.
What to Do If You Find an Abandoned Well on Your Property
If you smell gas or see a leak, move away and call 911 first. Otherwise, leave the well alone. Report it to your state’s oil and gas agency. Finding one does not by itself make it yours to fix, at least in Pennsylvania [10]. The agency warns that trying to produce it, profit from it or hide it can make you financially responsible [10].
In limited cases, a well tied to the property’s deed can leave the landowner responsible [10]. Pennsylvania law also requires legacy wells to be reported to the agency within 60 days [10].
The U.S. Geological Survey writes that “Orphan wells benefit no one, they waste natural resources, contaminate water, and pose a threat to the environment.” [8]
Beyond those 141,000 documented wells, the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission estimates 250,000 to 740,000 undocumented orphaned wells nationwide, wells missing from regulators’ records [2].
When you report, give the agency what makes a well findable. Send a photo, your phone’s GPS coordinates, and any API number or lease name from the map. The state-by-state table in this guide lists a reporting form or phone line for each state it covers [12].
You searched for wells near your home because you want to know whether one of them should worry you. TetraSoft Atlas answers that on one screen, showing who operates each well around your street and, outside Oklahoma, what it has produced [4]. It adds inspections in Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania and orphan wells in seven states, and the trial needs no credit card [4].
Frequently Asked Questions
How close can an oil or gas well be to a house?
Setback rules vary by state. Colorado bars new well pads within 500 feet of a home unless all its owners and tenants give informed consent in an agreement or waiver [18]. From 500 to 2,000 feet, it needs informed consent, an approved area or drilling plan, or one of two other listed conditions [18]. Texas law preempts city drilling rules but lets cities set reasonable setbacks on aboveground activity that are commercially reasonable and do not effectively prohibit drilling [19].
Is it safe to live near an oil well?
Safety depends on how close a well is and whether it is maintained or left unplugged. Colorado’s health department modeled possible short-term health effects, under worst-case conditions, from 300 to 2,000 feet of well pads [20]. Federal reviewers call orphaned wells uncontrolled pathways for methane [9].
Who is responsible for an abandoned oil well on my property?
The well’s operator or another responsible party, while one exists and can act. An orphan well has no responsible operator left, which is why states run programs to plug them. Pennsylvania says buying land with an old well generally does not make you responsible [10]. Its limited exceptions include a well tied to the deed, or one a company gave or sold you for home use [10].
Should I check for oil wells before buying a house?
Yes. Colorado’s standard home purchase contract encourages buyers to seek information about oil and gas activity on or adjacent to the property [21]. In Colorado, also check the state’s flowline map, though it does not show all buried lines [22]. Old buried lines may be missing, like the one behind the 2017 house explosion in Firestone, Colorado, which a former operator had not abandoned [22].
How much does TetraSoft Atlas cost?
Atlas plans scale with the number of seats, and self-serve plans start with a 7-day free trial [4]. The trial needs no credit card, and no sales call is required [4]. For current plans and prices, see the Atlas pricing page [4].
This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or compliance advice. Consult qualified legal counsel or a compliance professional for guidance specific to your operations and jurisdiction.
References
- National Transportation Safety Board, Pipeline Accident Brief PAB-19/02. Natural Gas Explosion at Family Residence, Firestone, Colorado, April 17, 2017. https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/PAB1902.pdf
- U.S. Department of the Interior, Orphaned Wells Program, FY2025 report to Congress. Orphaned Wells Program Office annual report, November 2025. https://www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025-11/fy-2025-orphaned-wells-congressional-report.pdf
- Railroad Commission of Texas, Oil and Gas Exploration and Surface Ownership FAQ. https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/faqs/oil-gas-faq/oil-gas-exploration-and-surface-ownership/
- TetraSoft Atlas, eight-state oil and gas dataset read September 2026. Well, production, inspection, lateral and orphan well records from the Railroad Commission of Texas and the other seven state agencies, as served by Atlas. https://tetrasoftco.com/atlas-landing.html
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, crude oil and marketed natural gas production by state, annual 2025. Crude oil: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_crd_crpdn_adc_mbbl_a.htm; marketed natural gas: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/ng_prod_sum_a_EPG0_VGM_mmcf_a.htm
- Railroad Commission of Texas, Summary of Requirements and Responsibilities. https://www.rrc.texas.gov/oil-and-gas/requirements-and-responsibilities/summary-of-requirements/
- Railroad Commission of Texas, Orphan Wells with Delinquent P-5 Greater Than 12 Months. https://www.rrc.texas.gov/oil-and-gas/research-and-statistics/well-information/orphan-wells-12-months/
- U.S. Geological Survey, Orphan Wells. Central Energy Resources Science Center. https://www.usgs.gov/centers/central-energy-resources-science-center/science/orphan-wells
- U.S. Department of the Interior, Orphaned Wells Program, FY2024 report to Congress. https://www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024-11/fy-2024-owpo-annual-congressional-reportfinal-publishing.pdf
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Legacy Wells: Landowner Information. https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dep/programs-and-services/oil-and-gas/legacy-wells/landowner-information
- Kansas Geological Survey, Allison, The Hutchinson Gas Explosions: Unraveling a Geologic Mystery, 2001. https://www.kgs.ku.edu/Hydro/Hutch/Refs/Hutch_KBA_final.pdf
- State oil and gas agency well maps and contact pages, read November 2026. ECMC GIS Online Map and complaint form; NM OCD Oil and Gas Map, user guide and contact page; ODNR Oil & Gas Well Locator and complaint and orphan well report form; OCC Well Data Finder, user guide and complaint page; PA DEP Oil and Gas Mapping and abandoned well form; RRC Public GIS Viewer and complaints page; WVDEP Office of Oil and Gas map and report-a-well page; WOGCC WellFinder and orphan well program.
- Railroad Commission of Texas, Data Sets Available for Download. https://www.rrc.texas.gov/resource-center/research/data-sets-available-for-download/
- U.S. Geological Survey, What is a geographic information system (GIS)? https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-a-geographic-information-system-gis
- Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission, well data glossary, Api Well Number. https://ecmc.state.co.us/COGIS_Help/glossary.htm
- PPDM Association, US Well Number Standard. https://ppdm.org/ppdm/PPDM/IEDS/Well_Identification/US_Well_Number_Standard/PPDM/US_Well_Number_Standard.aspx
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Oil & Gas Well Locator. https://ohiodnr.gov/business-and-industry/energy-resources/well-information/well-locator; app description at https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=5fd9c17bc933417d9bd8d7c1dff404aa
- Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission, Rule 604. Complete Rules, effective October 30, 2025. https://ecmc.colorado.gov/sites/g/files/lrnvjt1211/files/documents/Complete%20Rules_%28100%20Series-1300%20Series%29_Effective%20October%2030%202025_.pdf
- Texas Legislature, House Bill 40 (2015), Natural Resources Code Section 81.0523. https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/84R/billtext/html/HB00040F.htm
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, oil and gas health risk study, 2019. https://cdphe.colorado.gov/press-release/state-health-department-publishes-oil-and-gas-health-risk-study
- Colorado Division of Real Estate, Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate (Residential), 2026. Section 8.8.4, for use on or after January 1, 2026. https://dre.colorado.gov/sites/dre/files/documents/Contract%20to%20Buy%20and%20Sell%20Real%20Estate%20%28Residential%29%20V2%20%28fillable%29_for%20use%20on%20or%20after%20January%201,%202026.pdf
- Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission, Flowlines GIS Data. https://ecmc.colorado.gov/data-maps-reports/maps-gis/flowlines-gis-data
Interactive tool
Find wells near a property, state by state
Pick your state to see the official map that finds oil and gas wells near an address, what it can search, and how to report an abandoned well.
Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC)
Takes an address and draws a radius around it.
- Search by address
- Yes
- Radius or buffer tool
- Yes. Radius tool
- Shows orphan wells
- Partly. Plugged wells shown; orphans are in a separate Orphan Well Query
Found an abandoned well?
Contact the RRC Oil & Gas district office; leaks and spills go to the 24-hour line
Open the agency page 844-773-0305
Read from each state agency's own pages, September 2026. "Not documented" means the agency's pages do not say the tool does it, not that it cannot. Mapped well locations are approximate; every agency here says so. Nothing leaves your browser.
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