CEC is contributing to the national effort of locating orphaned wells and evaluating their risk. From the air to the ground, CEC’s innovative and full-service approach ensures the safety of communities and natural resources.
Our teams have elevated their ability to locate orphaned wells by suspending dual sensor magnetometers from our gas-hybrid unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). In the search for orphaned wells, the magnetometer’s lightweight aerodynamics paired with our UAS’ 1.5-hour flight time helps us efficiently assess wells for abandonment and eliminate their associated environmental hazards. Following aerial surveys, handheld and backpack magnetometers are used to pinpoint the location of wells not visible at the ground surface. This allows our crews to isolate digging locations to confirm whether the anomaly is a well or associated infrastructure.
Once the presence of a well or associated infrastructure is realized, CEC assesses the potential environmental impact and risk, recording the data using customizable forms on electronic tablets. Data collection for risk assessment evaluation includes signs of leaking fluids or gas (methane or hydrogen sulfide odors and explosive gas readings with handheld instruments), the presence of infrastructure associated with the well, the proximity of inhabitable structures, and the proximity of sensitive human and ecological receptors. The electronic data collection methods allow the data to be uploaded to our GIS system in the field so professionals in the office can perform real-time evaluations.
CEC has developed unique post-processing methods to directly import our magnetic data results into interactive GIS web applications scalable to each client and project solution. Whether creating applications to track project progress or for field data collection, our real-time maps and databases bolster project management through streamlined communication between parties. Our team members believe that accessible, live data enables smart and easy planning while also providing a comprehensive data management solution.
