Utilizing Smartphones to Improve the Accessibility of Magnetometry Methods for Locating Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells

Authors: Cailin Stauffer, Sina Saneiyan

Field of Study: Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Math

Faculty Mentors: Sina Saneiyan

Easel: 75

Timeslot: Morning

Abstract: Standard techniques for detecting unplugged petroleum wells rely on commercial methods that require funds, knowledge field methods, and time. Thus, methods that are time and cost efficient, and simple are key to locating abandoned wells. Previous studies have attempted this with UAV survey techniques that decrease time and labor, however it has several requirements that are prohibitive for locating orphaned wells effectively. In this study, magnetic data of an abandoned well is collected using smartphones. Smartphone magnetometry exceeds other techniques in accessibility, as the instrument is likely already owned by the surveyor. To demonstrate this, this study employed two surveys that gathered about 5,000 magnetic data points within fifteen to seventy minutes. Results from both approaches show a high-resolution anomaly representing the abandoned well. The success of the informal smartphone survey opens the door for millions of potential magnetic surveys to be conducted by any person with a smartphone.