Abandon:
1.To cease efforts to produce oil or gas from a well, and to plug a depleted formation and salvage all material and equipment.
2.
To cease producing oil and gas from a well when it becomes unprofitable.
A wildcat well may be abandoned after it has proven nonproductive.
Several steps are involved in abandoning a well; part of the casing may be removed and salvaged; one or more cement plugs are placed in the borehole to prevent migration of fluids between the different formations penetrated by the borehole; and the well is abandoned.
In many states, it is necessary to secure permission from official agencies before a well may be abandoned.
