Texas Voluntary Marginal Conventional Well Plugging Program (TxMCW)
Voluntary grant program for the plugging and abandonment of low-producing conventional oil and gas wells in Texas.
Owners and operators of marginal conventional wells in Texas may be eligible for assistance to voluntarily plug and abandon select wells. Marginal conventional wells are those that produce a low volume of oil or gas.
Program Status
TxMCW is currently under development.
A Request for Information (RFI) is currently posted to solicit feedback to enhance our understanding of the technologies, practices, pricing structures and challenges associated with methane measurement and the plugging and abandonment of marginal conventional oil and gas wells.
Access to the full RFI document can be found on the Smart Buy webpage . Responses are due by Aug. 29, 2025 at 2 p.m. CST. Additional submission requirements and guidelines may be found in the posted RFI.
Additional program guidance and opportunities are coming soon.
Sign up for updates to receive notifications about the program and be the first to know.
Wells that Qualify
A qualifying well must be a marginal conventional well (MCW), which is defined as an onshore conventional well producing less than or equal to one of the following over a calendar year:
- 15 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOED); or
- 90 thousand cubic feet (Mcf) gas per day.
Note: 1 BOE = 6 Mcf.
Well Prioritization Plan
TCEQ’s Well Prioritization Plan describes how TxMCW will select wells for plugging. Prioritization criteria include but are not limited to existing emissions data or initial screening data, production rates, the number of wells operated by an owner, and potential human health and environmental impacts, among others.
Methane Measurement Plan
TCEQ's Methane Measurement Plan describes how the detection and measurement of methane emissions before and after well plugging activities will be conducted at participating MCWs. Methane detection is required for all MCWs selected for funding under the program. This plan is based on DOE's Methane Measurement Guidelines for MCWs .
Upcoming Events
TxMCW will be presenting at the 2025 University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) Oil & Gas Conference.
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 UTA Oil & Gas Conference | December 2-3, 2025 |
Hilton Americas 1600 Lamar St Houston, TX 77010 |
Background
TCEQ was awarded $134.1 million under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP). With this funding, TCEQ has developed TxMCW.
Past Presentations
- TCEQ Environmental Trade Fair and Conference (June 2025)
- Permian Basin Environmental Regulatory Seminar (May 2025)
- State Implementation Plan Meeting (February 2025)
- Advanced Air Permitting Seminar (October 2024)
Contact Us
Email: TxMCW@tceq.texas.gov
Phone: 512-239-4950