Students from Cary are making strides in environmental advocacy by addressing a hidden threat to climate health: orphaned oil wells. Sebastian Ng, a senior at Panther Creek High School, and his friends are working to plug orphaned and abandoned oil wells, an issue that has been largely overlooked.
The U.S. is home to an estimated 3.9 million abandoned oil and gas wells. These so-called "orphaned" wells – those with no responsible owner – pose a substantial environmental hazard. They can release methane, a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential nearly 30 times that of carbon dioxide over a century, and even more powerful over shorter periods. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, these wells collectively emitted about 303,000 metric tons of methane in 2022, equivalent to the annual emissions from roughly 23 gas-burning power plants.
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Ng’s journey began when he and his friend Mateo De La Rocha discussed the issue during soccer practice. "When Mateo told me about orphan wells, I hadn’t heard of them before,” Ng said. “Once I researched, I realized how critical it was and how little awareness there was.”
Driven by this newfound knowledge, Ng, De La Rocha, and another friend, Lila Gisondi, launched a fundraising initiative through their group, the Youth Climate Initiative.
Their efforts have been impressive. The group raised $11,000 to help plug an orphan well in Akron, Ohio. Despite the high costs associated with the project – around $60,000 per well – the students’ perseverance paid off. "We started with a goal of $10,000, and through a mix of social media outreach and personal connections, we exceeded our target," Ng explained.
The Youth Climate Initiative’s latest endeavor focuses on an orphan well in Montana, a state known for its abundance of such sites. “When I visited the well, there were dead birds around it, and the area showed signs of contamination,” Ng said. “It was a powerful reminder of why this work is so essential.”
Curtis Shuck, chairman and founder of the Well Done Foundation, a nonprofit working with the students to address orphan wells, praised their efforts. "The work done by Sebastian and his team is exemplary. They’re not only raising funds but also spreading awareness about the environmental impact of these wells," Shuck said.
His foundation, active since 2019, has plugged 44 high-priority wells, including the one adopted by the Cary students. Despite the $4.7 billion allocated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 to address this issue, the vast number of wells and their widespread distribution mean these funds are only a starting point. "Plugging these wells has an immediate and significant positive effect on the environment,” Shuck said.
The Youth Climate Initiative's success highlights the power of grassroots efforts in environmental advocacy. Ng's personal transformation reflects a broader shift among young people toward active climate engagement. "When I was younger, I didn’t see the value of individual actions. But now, seeing the difference we can make, it’s incredibly fulfilling," Ng said.
Currently, Ng and his team are raising money to plug a well in Montana. They have already raised more than $3,300 of their $20,000 goal. Ng says any donations will be matched by the Reimer Family Climate Crisis Fund.
Ng plans to major in environmental science in college, aiming to continue his work in sustainability. As the initiative looks to future projects, potentially in states like Texas and Pennsylvania, Ng remains optimistic. "We’ve seen the impact of our work firsthand. It’s motivating to know that even small actions can lead to significant environmental benefits," he said.
The collaboration between local students and national organizations underscores a powerful message: Change begins with awareness and action, no matter how small.