About The Data

Mineral Resources

The Mineral Resources interactive map provides graphical information on the more than 41,000 wells and 6,000 mines across the State of New York regulated by the Department of Environmental Conservation.

The Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Mineral Resources (Division) is responsible for ensuring the environmentally sound, economic development of New York's non-renewable energy and mineral resources for the benefit of current and future generations. The Division carries out these responsibilities through administration of the Mined Land Reclamation Law and the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Law.

Regulated Mines

Under the Mined Land Reclamation Law, the Division regulates over 3,000 surface and underground mines in New York to protect public health, safety and the environment, provide for the management and planning for the use of non-renewable mineral resources and ensure the reclamation of affected lands. Regulated mines affect approximately 62,000 acres of land for which reclamation is ultimately required. The mining industry in New York produces a wide range of raw materials, including sand and gravel, crushed aggregate, salt and zinc, with an annual value of some $1.34 billion (2015). The Division also maintains records of nearly 3,000 mines reclaimed since 1974.

Regulated Mines Site Details. This data set includes the following categories:

• Unconsolidated mines. Over 86 percent of the mines in New York extract unconsolidated material including sand and gravel and construction aggregates. Unconsolidated mines also extract peat and top soil.
• Consolidated mines. These mines extract construction aggregates and industrial minerals.
• Underground mines. Underground mines in New York extract a variety of industrial minerals and construction aggregates.

Mining in New York State

Mines Metadata

Oil, Gas, Solution Mining, Underground Storage and Other Wells and Facilities

Oil, gas, solution mining, underground natural gas storage and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage wells and facilities in New York are regulated under the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Law (see ECL Article 23) to protect public health, safety and the environment, to prevent waste and to protect the rights of resource owners. Deep geothermal, stratigraphic, monitoring and brine disposal wells are also regulated under the Law.

Division records indicate that over 75,000 wells have been drilled in New York since the 1860's. The Division has records on some 41,000 wells in its database. There are approximately 15,000 wells in New York whose status and production are reported annually. These wells produce some $54.2 million of oil and gas (2015) and some $100 million of solution salt, annually. Over nine hundred fifty wells in 30 underground natural gas and LPG storage facilities are used to buffer production supply limits and peak demand by utilities and end-users.

The Regulated Wells data set includes the following categories:

• Natural gas wells. These wells produce natural gas. Some gas wells also produce oil.
• Oil wells. These wells produce oil.
• Underground natural gas and LPG storage wells. These wells are used for natural gas and LPG storage operations; some had previously produced natural gas before being converted to underground storage wells.
• Solution mining wells. Wells that are used to solution mine salt. Solution mining wells are drilled into underground salt formations. Water injected into the salt formation through the wells dissolves the salt, which is brought to the surface and recrystallized.
• Other wells. These include stratigraphic, geothermal, monitoring, and brine disposal wells drilled deeper than 500 feet. It also includes wells that have not been drilled.
• Dry holes. These are unsuccessful wells in that they did not produce economically viable quantities of gas or oil. They are typically drilled to develop or extend an existing oil or gas field or to explore for new ones. Department regulations require that they be properly plugged to prevent environmental problems.

Wells presented in the interactive map which have been plugged to prevent environmental problems are shown with a variation of the well type symbol.

Oil, Gas and Solution Salt Mining in New York State

Oil and Gas Wells Metadata

Contacts

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Division of Mineral Resources
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