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Anderson 5 - Toole County, Montana

Estimated 72,000 CO2 Tonnes Eliminated

​Located in the Kevin-Sunburst Field, in Toole County, Montana, this orphaned Anderson 5 well (API: 25-101-09894) was drilled in 1926 to a depth of approximately 1,500 feet almost one hundred years ago. Over the years, the Anderson 5 well changed operators multiple times. It was not in operation in 2020 when the farm owner requested support to plug the orphaned oil well as it created a significant health and safety risk for his property, wildlife, surface environment, and nearby residents.  Agriculture is the principal industry in the local area. 

Toole County, Montana is stretched between the Marius River and the Canadian border covering 1,946 square miles.  The county was formed in 1914 with land taken from Hill and Teton Counties.  The county gets its name from Joseph Toole who served two terms as Montana’s governor. Toole was the first governor of Montana state, serving from 1889 to 1893.  Toole County was a boom area for oil production in the early and mid 20th century.  In 1922, just four miles north of the city of Kevin, oil was discovered. In the next five years, over 1,500 oil wells went into operation.

The Approval to Plug by the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation required filling the wellbore from 1,500 feet and plugging to the surface. Enneberg Excavation from Kevin, Montana was contracted to perform the plugging work on November 11, 2021. The Inspection Report was issued on February 3, 2022  and was deemed compliant -  the well was plugged, no discharge was detected, a signed release from the farm owner was filed, the site had been restored to allow for successful farming, and no further reclamation was required.

CarbonPath Registry and Methodology
Two 2-hour continuous monitoring events prior to well plugging by a Qualified Measurement Specialist, industry-leading flowmeters and lab-verified methane concentration


Benefits & Accomplishments
Estimated 72,000 CO2 Tonnes Eliminated
5 United Nation Envision 2030 Goals Achieved 
         -  Improved water quality  -  Air quality improvement
         -  Environmental restoration  -  Local jobs creation
 -  Community outreach  - Environmental justice

United Nations Envision 2030 Goals

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Goal 6:

Clean Water and Sanitation

Achieved by enhancing water quality, reducing pollutions, and preventing the release of hazardous chemicals and materials into groundwater. Plugging orphaned wells significantly contributes to better air and water quality..  

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Goal 9:

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Met through flow metering processes that can retrofit industries, enabling sustainability, optimizing resource utilization, and promoting the adoption of clean, environmentally sound technologies. This technology is adaptable for use in developing countries and, with mobile capabilities, can be monitored globally through cloud-based systems. 

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Goal 11:

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Met by providing access to safe, inclusive, accessible public housing for women, older persons and persons with disabilities by plugging an orphaned well that emitted methane where they resided.

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Goal 12:

Responsible Consumption and Production

Achieved by managing orphaned oil and gas wells and methane emissions in alignment with international frameworks, permanently reducing harmful releases into air and water. This proactive approach minimizes adverse impacts on human health and the environment by preventing future emissions.

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Goal 13:

Climate Action

Met through the use of innovative measurement technologies developed to anticipate and address climate goals. These technologies are continually refined and expanded for use across multiple locations, ensuring broader impact and effectiveness.