Office of Oil and Gas

Overview and Mission

To protect the public health, environment, and other natural resources through the regulation of oil and gas resource development, and the protection and restoration of abandoned oil and gas sites, while understanding the need for the development of additional oil and gas resources.

The Office of Oil and Gas is responsible for monitoring and regulating all actions related to the exploration, drilling, storage and production of oil and natural gas.

  • It maintains records on over 55,000 active and 12,000 inactive oil & gas wells.
  • It manages Abandoned Well Plugging and Reclamation Program.
  • It ensures surface/groundwater is protected from oil and gas activities.

Pollution and Emergency Spills

Call 1-800-642-3074

Abandoned Well Program

The Abandoned Well Program will inventory, assess the environmental risk, and plug abandoned wells to mitigate their environmental impact and remove their impediment to mineral development.

Oil and Gas Regulatory and Technical Support

Oil and Gas regulatory and technical support is the environmental regulatory program for the oil and gas production and transportation industry in West Virginia.

Horizontal Drilling

Provides information about permitting activity related to horizontal well development which falls under the Natural Gas Horizontal Well Control Act.


Permitting


Rules and Regulations


Reference Documents

  • Erosion and Sediment Control Field Manual

    Revised: May, 2012

    The purpose of this manual is to present the best management practices (BMPs) for controlling erosion and sedimentation from soil-disturbing operations conducted during oil and gas industry activities in the state of West Virginia.

  • Centralized Pits-Design and Construction Standards

    The following design standards for centralized pits utilized by natural gas production operations to store wastewaters (e.g. drilling or hydraulic fracturing fluids) shall be accomplished in such a manner as to protect the health and safety of the people, the natural resources, and environment of the State.


Data

  • Database and Map Information

    The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) makes oil and gas well information and production data available to the general public through this internet service free of charge.

  • Oil and Gas Operator and Agent Information

    Zip file containing files of registered operators of oil and gas wells. The files also list the agent of record for each operator. There are three file formats of this data to view in multiple computer applications.

  • Geographic Information Server

    This is the WVDEP Technical Applications and GIS Unit (TAGIS) page where a variety of geospacial information is available for download, including oil and gas well location information, and approximate horizontal well lateral locations. Explore these options and you may download information that suits your needs.