Worried about oil or gas drilling in your neighborhood? You're not alone. An estimated 17 million Americans live within a mile of at least one active oil or gas well, and millions more live near abandoned or orphaned wells. These sites can pose serious environmental and health risks, often without residents realizing it.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to check for nearby drilling, break down the potential dangers, and give you specific action steps and tools to protect your family and property.
Why You Should Be Concerned
Oil and gas wells—especially the estimated 3.7 million abandoned wells across the U.S.—can leak methane, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), benzene, and other hazardous substances. These emissions can:
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Contaminate groundwater and soil
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Trigger asthma and respiratory illnesses
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Increase the risk of fire and explosion
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Reduce property values by 10% or more in affected areas
In Los Angeles, over 100 abandoned wells in Playa Vista were found leaking toxic gases into residential neighborhoods. In Pennsylvania, hundreds of thousands of abandoned wells remain uncapped, many dating back over a century.
5 Reliable Tools to Check for Nearby Drilling
1. FracTracker Alliance
FracTracker.org features national and state-specific interactive maps that display both active and abandoned wells. California residents can use their maps to see well emissions and proximity to schools or homes.
📍 Over 3,000 active wells are located in Los Angeles County alone.
Visit: https://www.fractracker.org
2. Houston Chronicle – Orphan Wells Map
A Texas-focused tool showing the location of more than 8,200 orphaned wells as of 2023. Just input your address to check your proximity.
🛢️ Texas is home to over 440,000 active wells and tens of thousands of inactive ones.
Visit: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/projects/2023/orphan-wells-searchable-map
3. Grassroots Coalition – Playa Vista Well Map
For Los Angeles residents, this tool highlights over 100 known abandoned wells beneath Playa Vista. Many have tested positive for methane and hydrogen sulfide leaks.
⚠️ A 2022 report linked leaking wells to indoor air pollution levels exceeding safe thresholds.
Visit: https://saveballona.org/content/map-abandoned-oil-wells
4. NPCA – Orphan Wells Near National Parks
The National Parks Conservation Association mapped over 30,000 orphan wells within 30 miles of national parks.
🏞️ These wells are polluting park air and water—posing a threat to both ecosystems and nearby communities.
Visit: https://www.npca.org
5. Earthworks – Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Waste Map
Pennsylvania has over 129,000 active wells and as many as 560,000 abandoned ones. Earthworks.org offers a robust map and database tracking these wells and the associated waste sites.
🧪 This data shows connections between oil and gas activity and drinking water contamination.
Visit: https://earthworks.org/resources/pennsylvania-oil-gas-waste
Action Steps to Protect Yourself
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Search Your Address using tools above to identify nearby wells.
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Contact Local Authorities or your state’s oil and gas commission for detailed site data.
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Request Public Records on mineral rights and drilling permits before buying a home.
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Install Methane and VOC Detectors if you live within a mile of any wells.
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Join Community Boards or Environmental Groups to stay informed and advocate for cleanup.
For added security, request a professional environmental site assessment (ESA) if you suspect drilling activity near your property.