Oklahoma Studies Using Redcedar Trees for Biochar

Lawmakers are exploring the conversion of invasive redcedars into biochar to help seal abandoned oil and gas wells.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Environmental

A pile of chipped cedar wood sits next to a heap of dark biochar fragments on a prairie landscape. — Oklahoma officials are evaluating a proposal to convert invasive eastern redcedar biomass into biochar for sealing abandoned oil and gas wells. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should the state fund projects to turn invasive trees into resources for environmental cleanup?

Oklahoma officials recently held an interim study to examine the potential of converting invasive eastern redcedar trees into biochar. This material could serve as a sustainable solution for both land management and the plugging of abandoned oil and gas wells.

Why it matters

Converting invasive trees into biochar offers a dual benefit by managing water-consuming vegetation while remediating soil and groundwater contamination. This process could provide a robust, eco-friendly method to improve the integrity of barriers used to plug orphaned wells.

Biochar is created by heating organic material to alter its chemical composition, allowing it to remove heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and PFAS from water. The process can also be integrated into cement to improve the structural integrity of orphan well plugs.

The players

Oklahoma Conservation Commission

This state agency is responsible for overseeing the redcedar removal cost-share program to manage invasive species.

Rebellion Energy Solutions

Based in Tulsa, this entity is involved in the broader sector of energy site management and restoration efforts.

The details

The state faces ongoing environmental challenges from eastern redcedars that have spread across the landscape over the last 50 years. By utilizing the Oklahoma Conservation Commission's existing redcedar removal cost-share framework, officials hope to transform this biological waste into a tool for environmental restoration.

Eastern redcedars have spread throughout the state over the last 50 years.
The Terry Peach Watershed Restoration Act was signed into law in 2023.
Lawmakers held an interim study on redcedar biochar use in October 2026.

The Big Picture

This study aligns with the restoration goals established by the Terry Peach Watershed Restoration Act. It marks a significant shift by connecting invasive species management to the specialized engineering needs of oil and gas site remediation.

Residents could see improvements in local groundwater quality and soil health as abandoned wells are more effectively sealed with biochar-infused materials. These efforts may also help stabilize water supplies in regions previously depleted by the spread of invasive redcedars.

The takeaway

The conversion of invasive vegetation into industrial biochar represents an innovative approach to reclaiming orphaned oil drilling sites. Implementing these biological solutions can turn a landscape management problem into a long-term asset for environmental safety.