SMITH COUNTY - We're told well owners are supposed to plug their oil wells after they stop producing.
For some, the cost associated with plugging a well can run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
We're told an abandoned well has the potential to contaminate ground water and, even though there can be issues, one expert says it's not necessarily against the law.
Donna Lattanzi with Princess Three Operating tells KETK, "It's not illegal. The Railroad Commission monitors all the wells that each operator has and they're aware of which wells have not been plugged. The Railroad Commission forces the operators through there administrative process to be sure that the wells are plugged."
To find out how the Railroad Commission of Texas can help you click here. [1]