WASHINGTON — The Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine announced today an award of $2.25 million to support three projects that will enable participants to acquire skills, knowledge, and credentials to enter careers involved in the decommissioning of orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells.

Orphaned and abandoned wells have emerged as significant and growing environmental, financial, navigational, and safety risks for surrounding communities along the U.S. Gulf Coast and across the nation. This neglected infrastructure can leak methane — a potent greenhouse gas — and create pathways for hydrocarbons and brine to contaminate groundwater, degrade soil quality, and spill oil into the surrounding area. To mitigate these risks, the GRP is supporting training programs for residents in the Gulf States without a bachelor’s degree to enter high-quality jobs related to decommissioning orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells.

“Legacy oil and gas infrastructure along the Gulf Coast is a significant challenge to communities, fisheries, and industry in the region,” said Lauren Alexander Augustine, executive director of the Gulf Research Program. “We are excited to work with these institutions to build an essential, skilled, Gulf-based workforce that is equipped to address this pressing issue affecting local communities, economies, and livelihoods.”

The awarded projects are:

Gulf Decommissioning Workforce Academy: Data-Driven Training for Offshore Orphaned Well Decommissioning
Project Director: Yuanhang Chen, Louisiana State University
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Award: $747,690
Project Summary: The Gulf contains more than 32,000 orphaned and abandoned wells posing ongoing environmental and safety risks. Federal investment through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has allocated $4.7 billion for orphaned well plugging, creating demand for an estimated 5,000-10,000 skilled decommissioning workers, which no existing training pathway meets.

The Gulf Decommissioning Workforce Academy, led by Louisiana State University, will train 150-180 Gulf Coast residents without a bachelor’s degree for entry-level decommissioning careers through a data-driven model. Through a series of online virtual reality scenarios, hands-on safety certifications, verified competencies with employer observers, and a paid internship with industry partners, graduates will earn six to seven industry-recognized certifications and an LSU program certificate, with credential transferability to offshore operations, wind energy, marine construction, and environmental remediation.

Gulf Coast Well Workforce Program
Project Director: Robert Bullard, Texas Southern University
Location: Houston, Texas
Award: $749,999
Project Summary: The Gulf Coast Well Workforce (GCWW) project seeks to provide workforce development training to non-degreed adults for sustained employment in the orphaned and abandoned well decommissioning workforce. Trainees will receive foundational skills, industry‑recognized credentials, and wraparound supports needed to secure long-term, mid- to high-wage employment. The 40 GCWW trainees will spend three weeks focused on job readiness that includes math, computer, and reading skill refreshers, along with resume development, interview preparation, and workplace readiness coaching. The remaining five weeks of technical skills development will focus on industry‑specific technical training and environmental fieldwork certifications aligned with employer needs and regulatory requirements. Unlike traditional workforce development training, the GCWW program will provide a holistic support structure, including a weekly stipend incentive, transportation and professional attire assistance, and counseling to enhance retention and employment.

Training Initiative for Decommissioning and Energy Skills in the Gulf Region (TIDES)
Project Director: Ram Seetharam, University of Houston
Location: Houston, Texas
Award: $749,999
Project Summary: The University of Houston’s Training Initiative for Decommissioning and Energy Skills in the Gulf Region (TIDES) will develop and deliver a modular credentialing curriculum covering well plugging and abandonment operations, subsea and topside equipment removal, safety compliance, environmental monitoring, and heavy equipment operation. The program will partner with community organizations, offshore operators, and regulatory bodies to ensure industry-aligned training. TIDES will serve at least 150 participants over three years, with a focus on recruiting Gulf Coast residents from economically distressed and energy transition-affected communities in Texas, with a focus on the Greater Houston area. Participants will receive support services including tuition assistance, transportation subsidies, and job placement coordination.

The National Academies’ Gulf Research Program is an independent, science-based program founded in 2013 as part of legal settlements with the companies involved in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. The GRP’s mission is to develop, translate, and apply science to enhance the safety of offshore energy, the environment, and the well-being of the people of the Gulf region for generations to come. It supports innovative science, guides data design and monitoring, and builds and sustains networks to generate long-term benefits for the Gulf region and the nation.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine. The National Academies operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.

Contact:
Pete Nelson, Director, Gulf Strategic Engagement
Gulf Research Program
Email pnelson@nas.edu