This project involved the permanent plugging and abandonment (P&A) of 7 marginal oil wells in Toledo Bend, Louisiana, to eliminate ongoing fugitive methane emissions, restore well sites to environmentally stable conditions, suitable for agricultural or conservation use, and protect groundwater. The project was developed by Cajun Well Solutions LLC under ISO 14064‑2 and the ICR v6.0 standard, with a 10‑year crediting period (2024–2034).
Baseline measurements showed methane emissions 179,405 kg CH₄/year from the marginal wells, which are not legally required to be plugged. Through P&A operations, including cement plugging, welded steel caps, and site reclamation—post‑abandonment methane emissions were reduced to zero (0.00). After accounting for minor project emissions from diesel use, total net reductions equal 47,721 tCO₂e over ten years, after downward conservative adjustments by the methodology calculations.
The project meets all eligibility and additionality requirements: the wells lack a regulatory plugging mandate, receive no public funding, and are economically non‑viable without carbon finance. Activities follow strict Texas RRC, EPA, and API RP 1004 safety and environmental rules. Monitoring uses calibrated SOOFIE® and SENSIT HXG‑3 instruments, with annual verification and QA/QC oversight.
Overall tonnage
Registry
Project ID
Rating
Verification
Completion date
Location
Sustainable
Development Goals
Documents
Positive Benefits for Well Operators, Landowners, Community and Global Climate Impact
The initiative generates measurable co‑benefits, including improved air and water protection, land restoration, and local job creation, contributing to multiple UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals 3, 6, 8, 13, 15). Risks—including design, environmental, and performance risks—are mitigated through conservative assumptions, insurance buffers, and ongoing monitoring.
Overall, the project permanently eliminates methane leakage from aging wells, ensures environmental compliance, and delivers reliable long‑term climate benefits.
The Human Impact for Landowners and Operators:
Beyond the lake itself (water, fisheries, recreation/tourism), the surrounding region sits within a historically energy-productive part of northwest Louisiana / east Texas. One of the most important modern resources is natural gas from the Haynesville Shale, a deep shale formation that became a major shale-gas producer starting around 2008.
Pre-shale era (decades prior to 2008): Northwest Louisiana and adjacent East Texas have long hosted conventional oil & gas exploration and production (vertical wells, legacy fields), which left behind older infrastructure and wells of varying status.
Shale boom (2008 onward): The Haynesville Shale drove a major wave of leasing, drilling, and production across the region due to its scale and proximity to Gulf Coast gas markets.
Today: Haynesville-sourced gas remains strategically important, with ongoing investment tied to Gulf Coast demand and pipeline build-outs connecting Haynesville production to LNG/export corridors.
The original landowners have sold off land, leases and mineral rights due to the declining production and have left a trail of hardships and environmental challenges to the newer generations of landowners with decaying oil infrastructure on their property.
The financial burdens of compliance with the state’s Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources along with the myriads of costs to maintain the environmental integrity of these wells soon becomes a growing pain point for these landowners with no scenario of relief in sight. Ultimately, the continued decay of this aging infrastructure would force these landowners to “abandon” their claims and convey the burden of managing the land and wells to the State. These costs are then shouldered by the community and taxpayers with the fear of potential legal penalties and fines by listing the wells as “orphaned or abandoned”.
The wells from Toledo Bend 3-7 leases provided the backdrop for a potential environmental renewal and reclamation for both landowners and operators and the opportunity to embark on a project with a positive environmental impact was presented by Cajun Wells Solutions with the mission to “Capture Fugitive Methane” as core values.
By leveraging Cajun Well’s years of operational expertise, use of revolutionary technology and a certified project development methodology governed by ISO 14064-2 GHG principles, the potential to provide a solution to the challenges of owning and maintaining these aging wells was set into motion.
This project was a welcome answer for the landowners, ultimately allowing them to be stewards of their land without the burden of the oil industry’s wake of decay on their property. This project also infused the operator with a renewed business focus that provided their team and employees with the needed work to help revitalize their families and the community.
Ultimately, the results of Cajun Well’s project will yield not only positive environmental impacts, but also an unforeseen emotional benefit to the landowner. The removal of decaying equipment, environmental hazards, and regulatory uncertainty allows families to reclaim pride in their land, protect its legacy, and envision future agricultural, or conservation uses without fear of contamination or legal penalties. In essence, the project not only restores the physical landscape, it restores peace of mind, financial stability, and a renewed sense of stewardship for the property that previous generations worked hard to preserve.
This story highlights the human impact of our work and the wonderful co-benefits that are achieved. It must be stated that the benefits don’t end there, there are additional local and global community co-benefits that are obvious as well. Some of which include, improved air, water and ground quality, fewer health risks and consequences, and the prevention of leaking methane and other co-emitting chemicals into the atmosphere. This results in real substantial climate change and improvements that benefit all global citizens.
Abatement of these methane leaking wells is having a huge benefit to the surrounding eco-systems as we are surrounded by water that has been polluted by these wells for decades. Cleaner air and cleaner water protects the health of the community.
This project began in August 2024 and plugging was completed in August 2024.
This project delivered a verified reduction of 47,721 tons of CO₂e.
