Oklahoma nonprofit hires veterans to plug abandoned oil wells

The wells that are not actively pumping anything out of the ground comes with some environmental concerns.

A nonprofit in Edmond wants to fill abandoned oil wells across Oklahoma, and they want to hire veterans to help them do it. “Finding a way that makes sense for the industry to plug some of these wells before they become the obligation of the state,” said Parker Bowles with Environmental Innovators of America. “There’s about 18,000 wells that the state has on its list to plug.”Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.The wells that are not actively pumping anything out of the ground come with some environmental concerns. “Contamination of the water, fresh water, is the biggest issue,” Bowles said. There are also concerns with surface damages, like salt in the soil that could potentially kill any crops planted near the well. Bowles said oil and gas operators give money upfront to plug their wells, but usually, it’s not enough. His project fills in the gaps when an operator donates a well to them. “Kind of like someone donates a car to the Salvation Army. They can donate and have a tax write-off, and then we’ll have fundraising efforts to plug those wells,” Bowles said. >> Download the KOCO 5 App“The oil and gas industry employs a lot of veterans in this state,” said Maj. Ed Pulido, an Army veteran with the nonprofit. “Environmental Innovators of America is playing a role in making sure these veterans have access to employment opportunities.”Pulido said he lost his leg in Iraq in the early 2000s, and he wants to help give veterans jobs through this oil well project. “Whether they are working on an oil site or they’re working across the country in these endeavors, we’re making a difference and we’re changing lives,” Pulido said. Top Headline Urgent search underway for man accused of being involved in shooting with Okmulgee police Suspect in custody after deadly shooting at Oklahoma City motel Choctaw neighborhood at standstill after tactical units respond to possible high-risk situation Oklahoma man hospitalized after attacked by Africanized killer bees Oklahoma breweries notice ‘sober curious’ trend gaining traction across country

EDMOND, Okla. —

A nonprofit in Edmond wants to fill abandoned oil wells across Oklahoma, and they want to hire veterans to help them do it.

“Finding a way that makes sense for the industry to plug some of these wells before they become the obligation of the state,” said Parker Bowles with Environmental Innovators of America. “There’s about 18,000 wells that the state has on its list to plug.”

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.

The wells that are not actively pumping anything out of the ground come with some environmental concerns.

“Contamination of the water, fresh water, is the biggest issue,” Bowles said.

There are also concerns with surface damages, like salt in the soil that could potentially kill any crops planted near the well.

Bowles said oil and gas operators give money upfront to plug their wells, but usually, it’s not enough. His project fills in the gaps when an operator donates a well to them.

“Kind of like someone donates a car to the Salvation Army. They can donate and have a tax write-off, and then we’ll have fundraising efforts to plug those wells,” Bowles said.

>> Download the KOCO 5 App

“The oil and gas industry employs a lot of veterans in this state,” said Maj. Ed Pulido, an Army veteran with the nonprofit. “Environmental Innovators of America is playing a role in making sure these veterans have access to employment opportunities.”

Pulido said he lost his leg in Iraq in the early 2000s, and he wants to help give veterans jobs through this oil well project.

“Whether they are working on an oil site or they’re working across the country in these endeavors, we’re making a difference and we’re changing lives,” Pulido said.

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