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Texas company acquired 100 oil and gas wells in Utah, then disappeared into bankruptcy

Weststar Exploration failure illustrates how unplugged wells threaten the environment and public safety and could taxpayers millions

(Brian Maffly | The Salt Lake Tribune) This oil well located on BLM land 40 miles south of Vernal, has not produced in several years, yet the site, photographed Aug. 4, 2022, remains unplugged and unclaimed while the wellhead audibly emits gasses into the atmosphere. The operator, Texas-based Weststar Exploration, has walked away from about 100 wells on state and federal land in Utah. The company has declared bankruptcy and no longer exists as a functioning business, leaving a massive reclamation liability on the Bureau of Land Management and the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration.

(Brian Maffly | The Salt Lake Tribune) This oil well located on BLM land 40 miles south of Vernal, has not produced in several years, yet the site, photographed Aug. 4, 2022, remains unplugged and unclaimed while the wellhead audibly emits gasses into the atmosphere. The operator, Texas-based Weststar Exploration, has walked away from about 100 wells on state and federal land in Utah. The company has declared bankruptcy and no longer exists as a functioning business, leaving a massive reclamation liability on the Bureau of Land Management and the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration.

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