The Unknown field

75,314 wells — 14.5% of the Kansas register.

What stands out in the Unknown field

The operator named on most of these records is Cities Service CO, on 696 of them (0.9%), ahead of Empire (625) and Eagle Picher (619). The oldest well here was completed in 1876 and the most recent in 2026, and the deepest reaches 24006 feet — Paulson 52, drilled in 1918.

Depth, over the 58,245 wells in this field where a figure was reported (77%) — a median, never a mean
Measurement	Median	90th percentile	Kansas median
Total depth	1488 ft	3564 ft	2831 ft — shallower here

What happened to these wells — in the Unknown field

28,334 of the 75,314 wells in the Unknown field are classed as plugged and abandoned. 1,827 were plugged at the State’s expense because no responsible party could be found, and 1,691 sit on the register as inactive — neither producing nor plugged.

⚠️ Two fields in this register disagree, and we show both rather than pick one: across Kansas, 245,220 wells are classed as plugged but 92,867 of them carry no plugging date, while 26,002 wells carry a date under another class. Here, 17,213 of these wells have a date on file. What each class means.

Producing formations

Formation	Wells	Share
Bartlesville	998	1.3%
Squirrel	871	1.2%
Mississippian	604	0.8%
Mississippi	397	0.5%
Arbuckle	313	0.4%
Niobrara	169	0.2%
Peru	151	0.2%
Wayside	109	0.1%
Squirrel Sand	56	0.1%
Lansing-kansas City	56	0.1%

The formation is recorded on only 21 % of Kansas wells, so this table describes the minority that carry one.

Where the field lies

County	Wells	Share
Montgomery	3,911	5.2%
Greenwood	3,538	4.7%
Butler	3,512	4.7%
Allen	3,413	4.5%
Woodson	2,841	3.8%
Wilson	2,829	3.8%
Miami	2,568	3.4%
Neosho	2,532	3.4%
Chautauqua	2,297	3.0%
Anderson	2,226	3.0%
Franklin	2,033	2.7%
Cowley	1,998	2.7%

Who operates there

Operator	Wells	Share
Cities Service CO	696	0.9%
Empire	625	0.8%
Eagle Picher	619	0.8%
Kelt Energy	438	0.6%
Kdot	412	0.5%
Kansas Geological Survey	257	0.3%
Oxy Usa, INC	253	0.3%
Running Foxes Petroleum INC	249	0.3%
Skelly Oil CO	235	0.3%
Phillips Petroleum CO	227	0.3%
Wells-battelstein	219	0.3%
Layton Oil CO	218	0.3%
Quest Cherokee, LLC	218	0.3%
Empire Gas & Fuel	214	0.3%

An old well on land in Kansas?

1,827 wells in Kansas were plugged at the State’s expense, out of 75,314 on the register — the sign that an operator was gone. If you find a well on your land, report it and do not tidy it up: knocking over casing can make you the responsible party. This site reads the register; it does not plug wells. Tell us where and we pass the request to Kansas operators and consultants.

We recommend nobody and we are nobody's agent. We have no arrangement with any firm today — we are collecting these requests in order to go and find them. What we do with this.

The wells

The Unknown field — the last column reads *yes* where the register records the well as plugged, *State* where it was plugged at public expense, and a dash where neither. A 0 depth means none was reported. The legal description is on the record, never on a page.
Lease and well	Operator	Field	Depth (ft)	Year	Plugged
Lucas 3 API 15-015-90567	Franco-central Oil CO	Unknown	2743	1954	State
John Schifferdecker 8 API 15-037-20016	A H Alcock	Unknown	0	—	State
Dent 7-inj Was 17 API 15-133-01663	—	Unknown	0	—	State
Yount-whitaker You-17 API 15-001-02887	—	Unknown	800	—	State
Yount-whitaker You-47 API 15-001-02901	—	Unknown	800	—	State
Stich South-esslinger Bar-14 API 15-205-19894	—	Unknown	850	—	State
Dexter Dex-04 API 15-019-19772	—	Unknown	425	—	State
Stauffer 9-4 API 15-207-27048	Gator Energy, LLC	Unknown	1550	2006	State
C. R. Acheson 4 API 15-065-01752-0002	Concord Oil Company, INC	Unknown	3762	1991	State
Borrell 1 API 15-101-21417-0001	Galloway Pet Expl	Unknown	4600	1988	State
Apt 'a' I-11 API 15-207-25502	B. W. Klippel, Jr	Unknown	1120	1987	State
Robert Olsen 1 API 15-103-20685	Mid-gulf, INC	Unknown	1322	1986	State
Miller 1 API 15-177-20007	Cath Industries	Unknown	2550	1986	State
Parker-ames W-5 API 15-205-24402	Weger Petroleum Corp	Unknown	1015	1986	State
Parker Ames 3-3 API 15-205-24377	Weger Petroleum Corp	Unknown	900	1986	State
Parker Ames 4-5 API 15-205-24399	Weger Petroleum Corp	Unknown	1050	1986	State
Parker Ames 2-5 API 15-205-24400	Weger Petroleum Corp	Unknown	1000	1986	State
Parker Ames 3-5 API 15-205-24401	Weger Petroleum Corp	Unknown	1042	1986	State
Parker-ames W-3 API 15-205-24406	Weger Petroleum Corp	Unknown	900	1986	State
Wolf 1 API 15-061-20041	Cfa Oil Company	Unknown	2163	1985	State
Hall 24 API 15-133-24996	Burris J R Drlg	Unknown	550	1985	State
Sebesta 'b' 2 API 15-053-01007-0001	Petroleum Energy, INC	Unknown	3610	1985	State
Hester Jch-21 API 15-125-27919	Stekoll Petroleum Company	Unknown	416	1985	State
Pickett Brothers 2-b API 15-049-21816	Pickett Brothers	Unknown	680	1984	State
Moherman 28 API 15-059-23547	Continental Exploration	Unknown	700	1984	State
Hester Jch-23 API 15-125-27036	Marion H. Stekoff	Unknown	448	1984	State
Hester Jch-24 API 15-125-27041	Marion H. Stekoll	Unknown	441	1984	State
Halsell 1-ws API 15-073-23259	Omega Minerals, INC	Unknown	1550	1984	State
Lothholz 2 API 15-045-20370	Gault Oil	Unknown	966	1983	State
Hester Jch-26 API 15-125-26184	Stekoll Petroleum Company	Unknown	416	1983	State
Hester Jch-25 API 15-125-26185	Stekoll Petroleum Company	Unknown	448	1983	State
Hester Jch-17 API 15-125-26186	Stekoll Petroleum Company	Unknown	448	1983	State
Havilin 1 API 15-125-25251	Mega Oil Company	Unknown	850	1982	State
Havilin 2 API 15-125-25252	Mega Oil Company	Unknown	850	1982	State
Hester Jch-16 API 15-125-25409	Stekoll Petroleum Company	Unknown	448	1982	State
Martin 2 API 15-207-23988	B. W. Klippel Jr	Unknown	1000	1982	State
Leka-ruyle 2 API 15-099-21755	Mineral Property Mgmt, INC	Unknown	625	1982	State
Leka 1 API 15-099-21638	Mineral Property Management, INC	Unknown	567	1982	State
William Crum 1 API 15-049-21233	Nicholas Casing Pulling	Unknown	770	1981	State
Day 1-34-16 API 15-049-21062	Masek Oil Company	Unknown	840	1981	State
Day 1-33-16 API 15-049-21071	Masek Oil Company	Unknown	890	1981	State
C. Prothe P-1 API 15-121-23161	Emery Energy	Unknown	300	1981	State
Veith B-23 API 15-125-23779	Sunrise Oil Corporation	Unknown	1000	1981	State
Veith 12 API 15-125-23860	Sunrise Oil Corporation	Unknown	855	1981	State
Hester 15 API 15-125-24094	Stekoll Petroleum	Unknown	416	1981	State
Finley 2 API 15-205-22285	Eor Petroleum Company	Unknown	980	1981	State
Carlson 6 API 15-205-22378	Gulf Coast Royalty Company	Unknown	800	1981	State
Vieth B-106 API 15-125-19302	Sunrise Oil Corp	Unknown	750	1981	State
Vieth C-102 API 15-125-19303	Sunrise Oil Corp	Unknown	730	1981	State
Judson-tulloss 33-c API 15-059-70051	Rantoul Energy	Unknown	500	1980	State
Erbert North Slope 2 API 15-051-21888	North Slope Properties	Unknown	4041	1980	State
Judson-tulloss 35-c (10-a) API 15-059-70053	State of Kansas	Unknown	550	1980	State
Elizabeth Rissman Company 2 API 15-019-21644	Plains Drilling Company	Unknown	225	1980	State
Caylor 2 API 15-059-20962	Rantoul Energy Corp	Unknown	500	1980	State
Fleming 1 API 15-091-20220	Ross Gault	Unknown	750	1980	State
A. C. Pflug Acp15 Was 15 API 15-121-21448	Scimitar Resources	Unknown	759	1980	State
Adams Swi-8 API 15-133-21406	Wells-battelstein	Unknown	650	1980	State
Ben Ritter Project 2 API 15-039-20382	Spaceage Valauble Enrgy	Unknown	2548	1979	State
Ben Ritter Project 3 API 15-039-20384	Spaceage Valauble Enrgy	Unknown	2377	1979	State
Beggs N-11 API 15-001-21896	Inexco Oil Company	Unknown	750	1979	State
Willard Miller 2 API 15-059-20711	Sieg Drilling Company	Unknown	880	1979	State
R. Cook 8 API 15-099-21009	Hickory Creek Oil CO	Unknown	150	1979	State
R. Cook 9 API 15-099-21013	Hickory Creek Oil CO	Unknown	150	1979	State
Rodrick 2 API 15-125-22214	Plains Drilling Company	Unknown	780	1979	State
Martindale O-5 API 15-079-30073-0001	Home Stake Production CO	Unknown	3368	1979	State
Eichman 2 API 15-167-19346-0001	Jay Hutchinson Oil Operations	Unknown	3232	1979	State
Stan Lipps 3 API 15-099-20834	S & S Oil	Unknown	625	1978	State
Carrol D. Daniels (s. Murrow) 3 API 15-001-20998	Rainbow Oil, INC	Unknown	695	1977	State
Carrol D. Daniels (s. Murrow 80) 6 API 15-001-21001	Rainbow Oil, INC	Unknown	730	1977	State
Carrol D. Daniels (s. Murrow 79) 19 API 15-001-21190	Rainbow Oil, INC	Unknown	475	1977	State
Wackerle 1 API 15-099-19029	Petro Vest, INC	Unknown	575	1976	State
Hall 1 API 15-021-20070	Spradling Drlg	Unknown	605	1975	State
Burrows 2 API 15-021-20079	Spradling Drilling INC	Unknown	720	1975	State
Youth For Christ Ranch 'a' 1 API 15-091-20035	Kans Cty Yth For Christ	Unknown	340	1971	State
Barber 'b' 2 API 15-159-20036	Woco	Unknown	3469	1969	State
L. M. Lee 'b' 1 API 15-007-30211-0001	Vincent Oil Corp	Unknown	4728	1969	State
Casey Jones Flood Unit 4 API 15-065-02816-0001	Don E Pratt Oil Oper	Unknown	3830	1968	State
Hobbs 'a' 2 API 15-065-20016	Donald C. Slawson	Unknown	3940	1967	State
Boyle 1-s API 15-037-01190	Orville Krokstrom	Unknown	210	1966	State
Kuppetz 'a' 1 API 15-195-30114-0001	Birmingham-bartlett Drlg	Unknown	4056	1966	State
Engel, M. R 4 API 15-051-02914-0001	The Texas Company	Unknown	4105	1965	State
Harbaugh 1 API 15-167-01019	Muir-thompson	Unknown	3204	1964	State
Mason 'a' 2 API 15-073-70040	State of Ks Fee Fund	Unknown	2200	1962	State
Shaffer 3 API 15-167-19003	Terrel Drilling & Producing	Unknown	3400	1962	State
Burke 'b' 5 API 15-073-01205	—	Unknown	2230	1961	State
Kaiser 'b' 3 API 15-051-15729	Birmingham-bartlett	Unknown	3980	1960	State
Bankers Life 13 API 15-103-19111	Not Confirmed	Unknown	1400	1960	State
Barker O-7	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	740	1956	State
Burke 'a' 14	State of Kansas	Unknown	2210	1955	State
Barker 'a' W-15t	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	755	1955	State
Barker 'a' O-13	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	756	1955	State
Barker O-12	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	757	1955	State
Barker O-11	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	747	1955	State
Keith 'a' 3 API 15-065-01599	Champlin Refining CO	Unknown	4055	1955	State
Houston O-20 API 15-133-70564	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	700	1955	State
Miron Goff 3 API 15-065-02742	E K Carey	Unknown	3750	1954	State
Barker O-30ta API 15-133-70990	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	750	1954	State
Barker W-10t	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	745	1954	State
Barker O-9	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	732	1954	State
Burke 'a' 12-inj API 15-073-90518	State of Kansas	Unknown	2250	1954	State
Houston O-7 API 15-133-70543	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	700	1954	State
Houston O-15 API 15-133-70621	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	800	1954	State
Houston O-9x API 15-133-70623	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	800	1954	State
Houston O-14 API 15-133-70624	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	800	1954	State
Houston O-17 API 15-133-70664	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	700	1954	State
Houston O-8 API 15-133-70773	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	800	1954	State
Andreson 4 API 15-163-04060	Petroleum Management INC	Unknown	3744	1953	State
Weimaster 'a' 6 API 15-167-05662	Murfin Drilling CO	Unknown	2336	1953	State
Elks Lake W-30 API 15-133-70974	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	750	1953	State
Elks Lake W-34 API 15-133-70971	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	750	1953	State
Elks Lake W-16t API 15-133-70841	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	900	1953	State
Barker Wsw-2	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	1275	1953	State
Barker W-2t	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	741	1953	State
Barker W-35t	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	797	1953	State
Apt 45 API 15-207-19413	D.p. Oak	Unknown	1110	1953	State
Barker W-21 API 15-133-90042	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	850	1953	State
Burke 'a' 10-inj API 15-073-90510	State of Kansas	Unknown	2115	1953	State
Houston O-8x API 15-133-70544	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	700	1953	State
Houston O-13t API 15-133-70665	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	750	1953	State
Houston O-3 API 15-133-70892	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	750	1953	State
Barker O-3	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	745	1953	State
Schooley Sch 01 API 15-011-01269	Kcc Fee Fund Plug	Unknown	740	1953	State
Mason 'a' 1 API 15-073-70042	State of Ks Fee Fund	Unknown	2200	1952	State
Barker O-30t	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	762	1952	State
Barker O-28	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	754	1952	State
Barker W-27	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	759	1952	State
Wackerle 2 API 15-099-19030	Neosho Valley	Unknown	525	1952	State
Barker W-37 API 15-133-70569	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	800	1952	State
Barker O-29	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	768	1952	State
Barker O-24	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	752	1952	State
Barker W-34	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	757	1952	State
Dickerson (zimmerman) 5-ao API 15-001-02672	M. C. Colt	Unknown	650	1952	State
Dickerson (zimmerman) 4-ao API 15-001-02671	M. C. Colt	Unknown	650	1952	State
Semisch 10 API 15-015-40339	Dunne & Strait	Unknown	2822	1952	State
Barker W-22t	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	757	1951	State
Barker W-33	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	763	1951	State
Barker W-29	Belleair Oil Corporation	Unknown	767	1951	State
Dickerson (zimmerman) 1-ao API 15-001-02624	M. C. Colt	Unknown	650	1951	State
Dickerson (zimmerman) 2-ao API 15-001-02669	M. C. Colt	Unknown	715	1951	State
Dickerson (zimmerman) 3-ao API 15-001-02670	M. C. Colt	Unknown	650	1951	State
Semisch 7 API 15-015-40338	Dunne & Strait	Unknown	2823	1950	State
Lueker 2 API 15-115-19349	Monroe	Unknown	2389	1949	State
L.s. Tarr Ii 4-4 (t44) API 15-121-02616	Kcc Fee Fund Plug	Unknown	700	1947	State
Witt A 1 API 15-167-19452-0003	Soho Petroleum	Unknown	3300	1945	State
Community 1 API 15-045-00013	J M Huber Corp	Unknown	1813	1945	State
Coysh 2 API 15-099-19082	—	Unknown	3670	1942	State
P Stitch (maloney) Sth01 API 15-133-02188	Case, Pomeroy and CO	Unknown	30	1942	State
Beardmore 4 API 15-163-01429	Broadview Oil CO	Unknown	3210	1941	State
Beardmore 5 API 15-163-01430	Broadview Oil CO	Unknown	3208	1941	State
Beardmore 6 API 15-163-01431	Broadview Oil CO	Unknown	3202	1941	State

Fields of a comparable size

Neighbours by the number of wells, not a ranking: the list slides with the field, so every one of the 109 field pages is reachable from the others. All of them.