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Kirby 5 - Caddo Parrish, Louisiana

Estimated 150,000 CO2 Tonnes Eliminated

Located in the Caddo-Pine Island Field in Caddo Parrish, Louisiana, was the first very large oil and gas field discovered in Louisiana. This orphaned Kirby 5 well (LA-222416, API: 170-17327850) was drilled to a depth of approximately 789 feet. Kirby 5 well is located in the Five Bayous critical wildlife habitat that is fed from Caddo Lake, an internationally protected wetlands area. The well was spudded on August 19, 1998 and drilling commenced into the Nacatoch formation. The well was operational from February 1, 1999 until September, 2019 when the last operator, Roy Gish, went out of business and the well formally became an orphan and the responsibility of the State of Louisiana.

The first recorded use of natural gas in the area, in the late 1800’s with the Shreveport Ice Plant well where gas was used for illumination.  The earliest oil pipeline in the northern Louisiana area was completed in 1910 by Standard Oil of Louisiana, connecting the oilfield to Standard’s Baton Rouge refinery.  More exploratory wells quickly followed and by 1910 almost 25,000 people were working in and around Oil City, which became the first “wildcat town” in the Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas region. 

The Approval to Plug required filling the wellbore from 788 feet to the surface, running a minimum of 50 feet of cement into the annulus and then plugging to the surface.  Tolbert Construction, a local plugging company, was contracted to perform the plugging work on October 9 , 2024.  The Lease Facility Inspection Report was issued by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Office of Conservation on October 21, 2024 and was deemed compliant - the well was plugged, no discharge of E&P was detected, no fire hazards were observed, and the site was restored.

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 150,000 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
Kirby 5
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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.