26 APRIL 2025 WorldWide Drilling Resource® From the Map to the Field ~ Part 2 Adapted from Information by Berkeley Lab Verification of an undocumented well starts remotely, with researchers studying satellite images and historical aerial photos to detect features indicative of oil infrastructure, such as oil pads, pump jacks, storage tanks, and disturbed ground. Since many wells were capped at or below the surface level, they remain invisible in reference images, requiring researchers to conduct fieldwork to determine if a well exists. To locate a well, researchers first predict its location and look for any surface structures. If none are present, they employ a grid or spiral search pattern, utilizing a magnetometer to identify disturbance in the magnetic field caused by buried metal well casings. After surveying the area, they record the magnetometer file, and note whether or not a well was found. If a well was found, they take a site photograph, record GPS coordinates, and test for methane leaks. For the verified wells, the Berkeley Lab team found the undocumented orphaned wells (UOWs) were located approximately 328 feet from the location predicted by the algorithm and map. The team believes this AI (artificial intelligence) approach is the first to accurately identify the location of potential UOWs at county scales, and the technique can be scaled up and applied to other regions using the extensive mapping coverage of the United States. The AI mapping verification effort contributes to a larger project to address UOWs: the Consortium Advancing Technology for Assessment of Lost Oil and Gas Wells (CATALOG), led by Los Alamos National Laboratory, with collaborative research teams from Berkeley Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, National Energy Technology Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories. According to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission’s 2021 estimates, the United States has between 310,000 and 800,000 UOWs, necessitating a large-scale collaborative effort. Regulations for drilling and plugging were implemented at varying times in different states, long after the initial wells were drilled. As a result, many wells were left open or sealed with inadequate plugs, allowing gas, oil, or chemicals to escape. Once identified, these wells can be properly abandoned by filling the borehole with cement, preventing oil and methane from contaminating water and the atmosphere. CATALOG aims to improve the detection, measurement, and prioritization of methane-emitting wells by integrating data from various sources and developing cost-effective AI-driven tools for well prediction. With nearly 1.5 million acres, the Osage Nation offers unique opportunity for CATALOG to test its technology, and partners from the Nation deliver essential feedback to identify the advantages and disadvantages of the equipment and data accuracy. “The collaboration between the Osage Nation and CATALOG has been mutually beneficial and productive,” said Craig Walker, Director of Osage Nation Natural Resources. “Utilizing AI and state-of-theart detection equipment has filled data gaps in records and led to the discovery of some undocumented wells in the area, and has streamlined various processes within the Osage Nation Orphan Well Program.” As the lead of the CATALOG project at Berkeley Lab, Scientist Sebastien Biraud is heading the effort to evaluate sensors and new methods for detecting and quantifying methane emissions. Researchers investigating orphan wells face a challenge in rapidly assessing methane leakage rates due to the expense of high-tech methane sensors. Biraud and his team are developing a system that combines inexpensive, off-the-shelf sensors, including an anemometer to measure wind speed, fan, gas analyzer, GPS, and advanced calculations, to provide an alternative method for estimating methane emissions. A rapid method for detecting methane leaks is crucial for evaluating newly developed UOWs and for initiatives aimed at sealing existing wells. Next month, we’ll discuss how researchers apply their findings in the field to the sky with new technology. Sebastien Biraud carries a backpack-mounted sensor to measure magnetic fields. Photos courtesy of Jeremy Snyder with Berkeley Lab. A state-of-the-art methane emission quantification tool works like a reverse leaf blower, sucking in air for rapid analysis in a backpack-carried system. ENV
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