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Front

What is an oil well?

Back

An oil well is a hole drilled into the ground to extract oil and natural gas from underground reservoirs.

Front

How many oil wells are there approximately in the U.S.?

Back

There are about 100,000 oil wells across the U.S.

Front

What do oil wells use to bring oil and natural gas to the surface?

Back

Oil wells use pumps and pipes to bring oil and natural gas to the surface.

Front

What happens to oil wells when they are no longer in use?

Back

Oil wells should be sealed properly to prevent leaks, but not all are sealed correctly.

Front

What harmful substances can leak from oil wells?

Back

Oil wells can leak greenhouse gases and other harmful chemicals.

Front

What are greenhouse gases?

Back

Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

Front

How do greenhouse gases affect Earth's temperature?

Back

Greenhouse gases trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere, causing temperatures to rise.

Front

What is methane (CH₄)?

Back

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that is produced during the extraction and burning of fossil fuels.

Front

How much heat can methane trap compared to carbon dioxide over 20 years?

Back

Over a 20-year time frame, methane traps 84 times as much heat as carbon dioxide.

Front

What is the environmental impact of abandoned oil and gas wells?

Back

Abandoned oil and gas wells can leak harmful substances into the environment.