I think it would still be hard to write the regulation in a way that couldn't be gamed (e.g. the big, well-capitalized companies lending money to fly-by-night o

I think it would still be hard to write the regulation in a way that couldn't be gamed (e.g. the big, well-capitalized companies lending money to fly-by-night operators to dig wells for them). It would probably be easier for the government to just levy a tax on all well-owners for every year the well remains uncapped and then use that revenue to pay for capping the well themselves. This would make it impossible to wiggle out of paying and discourage dragging out the use of a well that's leaking methane but producing a tiny amount of gas for many years.