Gravity-Based Energy Storage Well Pilot Program.

Senator Limón's proposal to convert existing oil and gas wells into gravity-based energy storage facilities would establish a decade-long pilot program allowing up to 1,000 wells to be repurposed for energy generation through a weight-based storage system. The program would operate from 2025 through 2035, with strict requirements for well conversion and ongoing monitoring.

Under the pilot, wells must meet specific criteria to qualify for conversion, including complete isolation from hydrocarbon reservoirs and demonstrated mechanical integrity. Operators must conduct annual integrity testing and implement continuous monitoring for fluid leaks, including methane. The program requires immediate notification to regulators, nearby schools, and residents within 3,200 feet if monitoring detects any leaks or mechanical failures. Wells that lose integrity must cease operations until repairs are made or be permanently plugged.

The Secretary for Environmental Protection would evaluate the program by January 2033, examining energy generation data, operational safety, and environmental impacts. This assessment, developed through stakeholder consultation and public meetings, would inform recommendations to the Legislature regarding a potential permanent program. Without new authorizing legislation, all converted wells would revert to idle well status when the pilot expires in 2035, subject to existing plugging and abandonment requirements.