Our Lady of the Angels, Cleveland, Ohio
Where Our Lady of the Angels is Located
Located above the Rocky River in the City of Cleveland, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio this orphaned well was drilled in 1908 into what was likely the “Clinton Formation”. As one of Ohio’s oldest natural gas bearing shale formations, to a depth of approximately -2,700’+/-. The well (API: 340-35-60778) was producing up until the 1950s when it was idled and filled with a clay material, a common industry practice during that era.
Why Our Lady was Chosen
In 1979, Our Lady of Angels Apartments, Inc. DBA Franciscan Village, a nonprofit collaboration, was formed to serve the anticipated future demand for affordable independent senior citizen housing. As the first residents began to occupy the two-building, 135-unit Franciscan Village, a waiting list of approximately 2,000 people soon developed. In 1992 the Franciscan Village expanded by constructing a third building and adding 41 additional units for a total of 176. An expansion project in 2022 exposed that an orphaned well was leaking methane in the courtyard and VitalEco and our partners adopted it.
How VitalEco Made a Difference
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources issued the plugging permit on April 8, 2022 and Moore Well Services of Mogador, OH began work. The team drilled out the old plugging material and removed the failed casing pipe. They drilled a larger diameter 8″ hole for a clean well bore and installed approximately 170′ of new 8″ steel casing which was cemented on the backside between the casing pipe and the formation. Moore then cleaned out the well bore and together with Petroset and Appalachian Well Surveys, cemented the cleaned well bore, set an 8″ bridge plug, and placed cement all to the surface on April 28, 2022!
CarbonPath Registry and Methodology
- Two hours of continuous monitoring events prior to well plugging by a Qualified Measurement Specialist
- Industry-leading flowmeters
- Lab-verified methane concentration
Eliminated 25,947 CO2 Tonnes and 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.