Reviving Distressed Wells
Tue Jan 27 2026
An Ounce of Prevention explores where energy, law, and real-world operations collide. Each episode pairs timely legal insight with practical conversations from operators who know the field, focusing on the decisions that actually move the industry forward.
In this episode, the spotlight is on distressed oil and gas wells, assets that are often overlooked, underfunded, or written off as companies move on to flashier plays. You’ll hear how experienced operators see opportunity in these forgotten wells, using disciplined operations, automation, and wellbore-only strategies to bring production back online.
It’s a grounded look at how value is created not through hype, but by knowing what to fix, when to act, and when a simple switch can make all the difference.
Caselaw Update:The update covers Miko, LLC v. Targa Gas Marketing, LLC, a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
The dispute arose out of Winter Storm Uri (February 2021) and focuses on how far a natural gas seller can go in relying on a force majeure clause under a NAESB (North American Energy Standards Board) gas contract.
Time Stamps:
00:57 – Caselaw Update: Winter Storm Uri and force majeure
04:53 – “Stick to the contract” takeaway and risk mindset
05:19 – Introducing John Benevides and New Height Energy
05:59 – What “distressed” oil and gas wells really mean
06:37 – Why vertical wells get ignored as operators chase horizontals
07:28 – Wellbore-only deals explained
08:43 – Shared infrastructure and legacy asset challenges
10:19 – Turning shut-in wells back on with minimal intervention
11:15 – Automation and personnel efficiency in distressed assets
14:28 – Why aggressive bids on distressed wells often fail
15:45 – Performance bonds, plugging liability, and hidden risks
19:19 – Case study: ~2 BOPD turned into 100+ BOPD
21:06 – Growth strategy built around distressed wells
More
An Ounce of Prevention explores where energy, law, and real-world operations collide. Each episode pairs timely legal insight with practical conversations from operators who know the field, focusing on the decisions that actually move the industry forward. In this episode, the spotlight is on distressed oil and gas wells, assets that are often overlooked, underfunded, or written off as companies move on to flashier plays. You’ll hear how experienced operators see opportunity in these forgotten wells, using disciplined operations, automation, and wellbore-only strategies to bring production back online. It’s a grounded look at how value is created not through hype, but by knowing what to fix, when to act, and when a simple switch can make all the difference. Caselaw Update:The update covers Miko, LLC v. Targa Gas Marketing, LLC, a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit The dispute arose out of Winter Storm Uri (February 2021) and focuses on how far a natural gas seller can go in relying on a force majeure clause under a NAESB (North American Energy Standards Board) gas contract. Time Stamps: 00:57 – Caselaw Update: Winter Storm Uri and force majeure 04:53 – “Stick to the contract” takeaway and risk mindset 05:19 – Introducing John Benevides and New Height Energy 05:59 – What “distressed” oil and gas wells really mean 06:37 – Why vertical wells get ignored as operators chase horizontals 07:28 – Wellbore-only deals explained 08:43 – Shared infrastructure and legacy asset challenges 10:19 – Turning shut-in wells back on with minimal intervention 11:15 – Automation and personnel efficiency in distressed assets 14:28 – Why aggressive bids on distressed wells often fail 15:45 – Performance bonds, plugging liability, and hidden risks 19:19 – Case study: ~2 BOPD turned into 100+ BOPD 21:06 – Growth strategy built around distressed wells